Automatic Transmission 2-Speed thru 10-Speed GM Autos | Converters | Shift Kits
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Lets talk manual valve bodies..

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 06:51 PM
  #1  
JustAFooL's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (45)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 1
From: Tennessee
Default Lets talk manual valve bodies..

My transmission **** on itself last Saturday on a local cruise. I've already talked to Performabuilt and am ready to have them get me a new lvl2 trans. I just found out that they can add a FMVB for an additional $299.

I have always toyed with the idea of doing this whenever I had to get a new trans but now I'm really not sure. The thought of having to down shift myself from a roll and not having to push in a clutch just doesn't seem right. But, it does seem nice to think anytime I want to knock it into another gear, there is no hesitation. I hope that some people can chime in and tell me how they like/dislike theirs and what some of the pros/cons are of having it.

A local performance store owner also told me that he had a Hurst Quarter stick shifter and assured me that it would fit on a factory 4l60, anyone know this for a fact??

Ryan
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2011 | 09:55 PM
  #2  
Mooneyed's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Default

I hated mine.. Having to shift/down shift all the time, especially in the city is a PITA!!

I always thought of it this way:

I have an automatic to go fast. I'm not more consistent then a computer telling the transmission when to shift. If you want the to bang gears, get a t56. If your want to be consistant AND fast, let the computer do what its designed to.

I would never pay more money to have to manually shift my automatic..
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2011 | 06:18 AM
  #3  
Gilbert@Ace Racing's Avatar
FormerVendor
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: D-F/W
Default

Thats a good way to put it. I have built many manual shift 60's. Of them there was only one guy who could shift it consistently, but he had been racing for many years. He was good at it.

The problem is that the 1/2 shift comes very quickly, especially if the car has any gear in it. I would recommend against a manual shift 60e. They are fun for about a week, then it gets old. If a 60e is built right you should be able to everything a manual unit can do but retain the automatic features.

Just my two cents buddy, hope it works out....

g
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2011 | 05:27 PM
  #4  
JustAFooL's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (45)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 1
From: Tennessee
Default

The car has never seen the track, and may never will. I'm not out to impress anyone with my times or dyno numbers. I'm out to enjoy my car, and when I feel the need, to give myself a rush.

The car is a heads/cam car with 3.73 gears and the new trans with prob have a 36-4k stall. My old stall was 3500 but I think I will probably go just a little bigger.

The first post is the one that makes me wonder whether or not I would like the FMVB. I will street race on occasion, usually from a dig. But, there has been spots on the interstate when I need to take off. It seems like it could be a pain in the *** to have to reach down and pull it back to D to be in the power as opposed to letting the computer do it. But then again, it would be awesome to knock it into 2nd at any given time and let the power take me from one side of the road to the other.. I'm so torn.
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 07:43 AM
  #5  
BOBS99SS's Avatar
Captain Double Post
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 2
From: Elyria Ohio
Default

you know i was wondering about this as well, i have some very bad back issues and it has gotten at times very hard for me to drive my car, its a m6,sometimes my leg on the clutch side just fails to work,or hurts to bad to move 24,7. im really thinking of swaping to a auto, i love to shift though,again i go to the track a few times a year and dont drive the car that much , so i dont think i would hate it, another question i have is with my big *** cam is it going to be more of a pita to drive then it all ready is with the t56,just need some info guys , sorry for the hijack but i thought this kinda fit the info you were looking for op.i also think the auto would help me at the track, it seems like with the t56 its just going to keep me in the 11s lol, now im not saying a t56 car cant go 10s but seems like it would be easier with a auto off a trans brake
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 07:45 AM
  #6  
BOBS99SS's Avatar
Captain Double Post
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 2
From: Elyria Ohio
Default

again i have never been a auto guy so bare with me lol,again op sorry for the hijack just thought i could get a lil bit of info i need that might help you out and not start another auto newbie thread lol
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:03 AM
  #7  
soundengineer's Avatar
8 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,651
Likes: 17
From: Chicago IL
Default

I would suggest you stay away from a fmvb if you are even on the torn edge of a decision....
It's a yes or no kind of thing.... And you need to be certain about it.

You could always do a hybrid transmission setup...
Built 4l80e, with the Powertrain Control Solutions trans controller or the TCI ez-tcu
Then you can be full auto when you want, and with the flip of a switch you can be manually shifting via steering wheel paddles or buttons on the *******..

There are several other options for a trans you can do this with...but not all will be as simple for your budget...
TCI 6x is a great option(my personal favorite)... But it does come with a slightly higher price tag...
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 09:05 AM
  #8  
soundengineer's Avatar
8 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,651
Likes: 17
From: Chicago IL
Default

There's also always the option of an expensive hydraulic/electric shifted fmvb trans setup....but it gets real pricey, real quick
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-4

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-8

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 04:34 PM
  #9  
bmf5150's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,679
Likes: 0
Default

I agree if u want to bang gears go with stick otherwise stick with full auto,my performabuilt level two feels great on shifts under full throttle!
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 07:13 PM
  #10  
JustAFooL's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (45)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 1
From: Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by bmf5150
I agree if u want to bang gears go with stick otherwise stick with full auto,my performabuilt level two feels great on shifts under full throttle!
While we are on the subject of the lvl2 from PB, would it be hard to manual shift the transmission occasionally? I know its kinda pointless to do since the computer is shifting, but the 1-2 shifts and the occasional 2-3 shifts can be held longer especially when the car is spinning and your not quite ready for the next gear yet..
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2011 | 07:22 PM
  #11  
BLINGOLE's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: lakeland floirda
Default

i like manual valve bodies, just not Forward manual valve bodys. There will be a time you go into neutral and rev the hell out of it on accident.
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 08:50 AM
  #12  
PBA's Avatar
PBA
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 969
Likes: 119
Default

The shifters nowadays are pretty much bullet proof so there is no need to build a reverse pattern valve body. If you have an engine going away or seizing up, you have to bdownshift through the gears to find neutral and that could be very dangerous. The only reason the reverse pattern valve bodies were made was because of the early shifters were not very good. The shifters have been very good now for well over 30 years. I will not build a reverse pattern valve body for the above reasons.
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 09:00 AM
  #13  
soundengineer's Avatar
8 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,651
Likes: 17
From: Chicago IL
Default

If you get a good shifter with the proper gate.... It will have a stop to keep you from accidentally putting it into neutral...
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2011 | 04:01 PM
  #14  
JustAFooL's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (45)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 1
From: Tennessee
Default

With a Hurst quarter stick or B&M Ratchet on a FMVB, how hard will it be to find neutral?? Are these shifters like a "slap" style shifter? I know they have a reverse lockout which is great, but is neutral just like it is with the factory shifter?
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:12 PM.

story-0
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-4
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-5
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-6
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-9
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE