Can you use a RMVB in conjunction with forward bands in a 2wd TH400? I want to maintain engine braking, but I also want to be able to downshift to pass/accelerate.

The closest thing I can find to what I am looking for is along the lines of the Jakes Stage II Offroad 4x4 transmission. But I want it 2wd.

I'm pretty sure I could come to a complete stop in any gear and take off in any gear with such a setup, while still being able to shift manually and downshift to accelerate.

It just seems like it would make for a fun weekend warrior setup in a lightweight vehicle with a torquey engine, and some 3.08-3.28 rear gears.

 

Why do you want to maintain engine braking so bad, lots of hills in OR?

A 400 without braking does everything you're saying already except for dragging on the motor. I downshift just fine to pass or race with my 400.

Jakes recently made a bunch of bad transmissions so I would avoid them. Look at RPM or ATI etc.

 

There is a surprising amount of terrain around here, actually. Lots of stupid-steep streets, much like Seattle or SanFran, must be a coastal thing to not have any level streets. Even Montana seems to have more level streets unless you are going over a freaking mountain pass.

Anyways, I may have been mistaken. I was under the impression that you still needed the forward band to shift freely between 2nd and 3rd. The engine braking itself is not that important, I thought it was just a byproduct of the forward bands being used. I obviously have a lot more research to do on this matter.

Probably won't ever shift to 1st from a roll, as I do not think I would ever need to immediately double my current rpms, but a 1.5x 2nd gear just takes you from 3000rpms at cruising speed to 4500rpms to pass, and you can ride 2nd gear all the way to 7000rpms before dropping into 3rd, putting you around ~4750rpms.

And thanks for the heads up about Jakes transmissions.

 

I recently had an otherwise reputable shop in AZ who evidently can't follow simple instructions and fill a transmission with fluid or properly install the torque converters.
I had Hughes Performance warranty one locally, and they killed it too, so it's not a build problem. It's a ******* idiot problem

 

Even the best components can fail if they put together by an idiot, that is very true. To mitigate this aforementioned ******* idiot problem, I think I will just buy the pieces and rebuild the transmission myself. I trust me.

Any word on CK Performance? I'm looking at their high performance rebuild kit and their reverse manual valvebody (without the trans-brake).

CK Performance seems to be the only manufacturer willing to actually describe their improvements on their website, and I happen to like being provided with information. FTI and TCI do not list any specific design improvements, whilst CK Performance denotes exact changes to the 3rd/reverse circuits as well as shortening the 3rd gear circuit. Like I said, I like information, so I am leaning towards CK Performance unless they have quality issues/******* idiot problems.

 

I use CK stuff all the time, Never had an issue.....I order their T-brake TH400 RMVB about once a month. I really like their Spirolock Intermediate snap ring & order those 20 at a time.

 

Awesome. Thanks for info. I was definitely looking at their spirolock snap ring, as well.

 

I've known Chris at CK for years.
I had some issues with his valve bodies quite a few years back (part of the reason I developed my own) but we occasionally use some of his other parts still.
I believe he's gotten more into selling parts and less into building transmissions. Probably a good thing.
I'm sure he will serve you well.

 

Turbo Action valve bodies always worked well for me

 

Thank you everyone for your input. I checked out Turbo Action valve bodies, but I didn't care for their cheesy political website. I am looking for car parts not religious/political opinions. Out of everything I have seen, Jake's fully rollerized Stage II rockcrawler RMVB w/ engine braking is the closest thing to what I want. I just cannot afford a $2500 rebuild, no matter how much I wish I could.

I think I can afford the CK High Performance Overhaul Kit ($290), RMVB ($250), billet Sun Gear Shaft ($130), and Spiralock snap ring ($15). And a Hurst Quarter Stick should just about finish it off right around $1000 total.

 

Feel free to give us a call at the shop! One of our transmission techs will be more than happy to answer questions you may have about our units.

-Dalton

 

I had a TH400 with engine braking from CK and it worked well for me and its still going strong in another car. Was a nice feature to have in a true street car.

I've also had a TH400 by FTI and it worked great as well I just didn't have the engine braking.

 

Dalton, I will definitely be giving the boys at FTI a call when it comes time to spec a converter, as I have never heard so much as a whisper of bad news pertaining to your converters. I wish I could buy a complete built transmission from you guys, but that just is not in the budget right now.

SlowSedan, thanks for the feedback on CK Performance.

 

Give us a call anyway on the transmission. Let's if we can't work something out!

-Dalton