B&M 20260 SHIFT User Manual
Installation Instructions
Shift Improver Kit
1965-1987 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400
TH-400/TH-475 (3L80/3L80-HD)
Part Number 20260
© 2000, 2001 by B&M Racing & Performance Products
IMPORTANT NOTICE: HydraMatic introduced a revised transmission case just after the beginning of the
1988 model year. If you are installing
the B&M TH-400 Shift Improver Kit in
a late model vehicle which has had the
transmission replaced after 1988 you
must check the Julian date stamped on
the transmissions I.D. tag (See Fig. 1)
before attempting to install this kit. Do
not use this kit (#20260) in transmissions built on or after November 23,
1987 (Julian date 327), use instead our
#20261 Shift Improver Kit which is
designed to be used with the new style
case. If the I.D. tag is unreadable or
missing you will have to remove the oil
pan and valve body from the transmission to determine if your transmission
has an early or late style case (See
Fig. 2). This kit (#20260) will work
correctly in all 1965 through 1987 TH400 transmissions.
We recommend that you read
through the instructions completely
before beginning the installation so
you can familiarize yourself with
the installation procedure and tools
required.
Check the tool list at the end of
these instructions for the tools required to install your B&M TH-400
Shift Improver Kit.
Installation of the B&M TH-400 Shift
Improver Kit can be accomplished by
anyone with minimum mechanical experience. It is however, important to
closely follow the instructions. Read
each step carefully before proceeding,
if you do not understand, go back and
read the step again.
NOTICE: The B&M TH-400 Shift Im-
prover Kit is not a cure-all for an ailing
transmission. If your transmission is
slipping, chatters or is in poor general
shape, the installation of this Transpak
may worsen the condition. However on
a properly operating transmission in
average condition, the B&M TH-400
Shift Improver Kit will provide the kind
of transmission performance you are
looking for.
When installing your B&M TH-400
Shift Improver Kit there are several
other B&M performance products you
may wish to consider:
TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER We
feel that it is very important that every
vehicle used in heavy duty and hi performance applications (racing, towing,
RV, etc.) should have an oil cooler.
Heat is the major cause of transmission failures, and an oil cooler is an
inexpensive safeguard against overheating and transmission failure. B&M offers a wide variety of transmission cool-
ers to suit every application.
TRICK SHIFT PERFORMANCE ATF
#80259 Trick Shift performance auto-
matic transmission fluid is the industry’s only real performance ATF. A
specially blended oil with foam inhibitors, extreme pressure agents and
shift improvers, this fluid assures protection while delivering the fastest possible shifts. You literally “Pour in performance.”
DRAIN PLUG KIT #80250 The TH-400
transmission is not factory equipped
with a drain plug. The B&M Drain plug
kit is inexpensive and easy to install. It
eliminates the mess of pan removal and
gasket replacement normally required
when changing fluid.
DEEP PAN #20289 B&M offers deep
pans for the TH-400 transmission that
provide 3 to 4 quarts additional oil capacity which significantly contributes
to the cooling ability of the oil. No
modifications to the dip stick are necessary and a fluid pickup extension is
provided.
TORQUE CONVERTERS B&M offers
a wide range of street torque converters for the TH-400 transmission. See
your B&M dealer for details of the
correct torque converter for your vehicle.
ADJUSTABLE VACUUM MODULATOR
Printed in the U.S.A.
9500019-11
Transmission I.D.
Nameplate Location
JULIAN DATE
QU 000 A
80 QUA 0000
Model Year
80=1980
83=1983
86=1986
Figure 1
#20234 This replacement vacuum
modulator for the TH-400 has the added
feature of being adjustable. The adjustable feature allows you to tailor your
shift points within a range of 2-4 mph.
FILTER SERVICE KIT #20287 The filter service kit replaces the stock factory filter with a special filter that uses
a much finer felt micronic element which
also has more total filter area so that
the finer filtering element does not cut
down on oil flow. This kit includes a
special heavy duty oil pickup tube that
is seated to the case with a double Oring seal and is spring loaded to eliminate air leakage.
TEMPERATURE GAUGE KIT #80212
Most transmission and converter fail-
Vacuum modulator
Serial Number
A= TH-400/475
(3L80/3L80-HD)
The 1988 and later TH-400 has a checkball in this location and must
use Shift Improver Kit (#20261). If you have no checkball in this
location, this kit (#20260) is the correct one.
Figure 2
ures can be traced directly to excessive heat. The B&M transmission temperature gage can save you a costly
repair bill by warning you ahead of time
of an overheated transmission. The B&M
temperature gage is extremely accurate and dependable, it comes with all
necessary hardware and is easy to
install.
B&M SHIFTERS; B&M manufactures
a complete line of automatic transmission shifters ideally suited for use with
the TH-400. These shifters provide you
with positive transmission control as
well as stylish appearance for your
vehicles interior.
TH-400 KICKDOWN SWITCH #20297
When installing a TH-400 transmission
Remove bolt to remove filter
in a custom installation in place of a TH350 or a TH-700 this kit provides a
kickdown switch that will fit into the TH350 or TH-700 throttle cable bracket.
INTRODUCTION
The B&M TH-400 Shift Improver
Kit can be installed in a few hours by
carefully following the instructions.
Transmission components are precision fit, work slowly and do not force
any parts. Burrs and dirt are the number
one enemies of an automatic transmission. Cleanliness is very important, so
a clean work surface from which oil can
easily be removed is necessary.
This kit contains all the parts nec-
essary to obtain two different levels of
Filter, 1965-67 models
Figure 3 - 1965-67 Figure 4 - 1968-87
2
Filter
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