TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both?
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From: Appleton, WI
TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? I would like to get a TH-400 built but can't decide where to start with the valve body. Can I get one that will shift automatically, but has a manual mode for shifting like a full manual...or doesn't that exist? I'd like to go fully manual, but I was told that you shouldn't downshift when moving...? Can anyone help me understand this?
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From: CT,
Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? I had many full manual valve bodies and they were great always had to start off in 1st but when i did some turning on the roads sometimes u have to click down from 3rd to 2nd should have no probems its kinda like a 3 speed standard without a clutch u will get used to it.
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From: Melbourne, FL
Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? There's no reason you can't downshift when moving with a full manual valvebody in a TH350/400/powerglide... There are just no automatic shifts/downshifts.
Obviously, you'll want to be careful since you do have absolute full control manually, and could inadvertantly shift into low gear at to high a speed.
Obviously, you'll want to be careful since you do have absolute full control manually, and could inadvertantly shift into low gear at to high a speed.
Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? Just to point out something. If you have a reverse manual valve body there is no engine braking in 1st and second gear . So in other words you would be going 100mph and downshift to first and it would just be like putting the car in neutral. The only way you could have ill effects is if you left you foot planted when you did so.
Will
Will
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From: Melbourne, FL
Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? Will that's a good point you bring up. The lack of compression braking in 1st and 2nd takes a little getting used to on the street.
That brings up another important point. When I ordered my TH400 from Carl Rossler, we spoke for a good bit on all kinds of misc. tranny issues. He told me to never shift a turbo tranny (350/400) out of high gear at high speeds, such as after going through the traps at the racetrack. The reason being is that when you pull the car down into 2nd gear (or neutral) when the engine is turning a lot of rpm, the high gear drum rapidly accelerates to a much greater rpm than the engine is turning. This can easily cause the drum to basicly disintegrate and explode. The shrapnel will not even be slowed down by the tranny case and floorboard of the car, and can literally cut you in half! Something to keep in mind for safety's sake.
That brings up another important point. When I ordered my TH400 from Carl Rossler, we spoke for a good bit on all kinds of misc. tranny issues. He told me to never shift a turbo tranny (350/400) out of high gear at high speeds, such as after going through the traps at the racetrack. The reason being is that when you pull the car down into 2nd gear (or neutral) when the engine is turning a lot of rpm, the high gear drum rapidly accelerates to a much greater rpm than the engine is turning. This can easily cause the drum to basicly disintegrate and explode. The shrapnel will not even be slowed down by the tranny case and floorboard of the car, and can literally cut you in half! Something to keep in mind for safety's sake.
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From: Appleton, WI
Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? Thanks a lot for the replies guys!! It is greatly appreciated. So you're saying that if I am driving into town and slowing down to 25-35 mph and want to go from 3rd to 2nd with my foot just barely on the throttle, that would be ok.....?
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Verdad Gallardo Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? That's one thing I love about the TH400. I can be going about 30mph in 3rd gear. floor it and downshift to second right away and get full converter flash and the car BOOGIES. Damn near picks the tires up when I have the ET streets on. <img border="0" alt="[Firebird]" title="" src="graemlins/formula.gif" /> WHEEEEEEE
Will
Will
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From: akron/canton, ohio
Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? all these transmissions posts, i dont know what i want to do! ahhhhhhhhh. one day its build the 4L60E, the next a nicely equipped 200-R4 sounds great, now the TH400 is looking awefully good, esp. price. thats the big drawback of building my 4L60E-$$$$$$$$. can the TH400 be built to shift like the 4l60e and manually shift as well? is this a good choice for a car that will have roughly 500rwhp and 600rwtq? the car is rarely driven on the freeway and i keep my currect trans in D around town anyways.
Re: TH-400: Full Manual, Full Automatic or Both? My opinion,not that it matters.I drive my car about 5K a year at most so its not really a big deal to have a 400 but I stll have the 4L60E.I've kept the 4L60E because its nice to have 4th and a LU.
JG Trans or ROSSLER will build u a great 400 with a brake.Add a good 3500/4500 converter and u have no worrys about breaking again.
Dont get me wrong I have 40 runs so far on my JG built 4L60E,but I cant see it lasting more than 200 runs.Once it craps out,I'll go to a 400/BRAKE and be done with it.
JS
<small>[ October 14, 2002, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>
JG Trans or ROSSLER will build u a great 400 with a brake.Add a good 3500/4500 converter and u have no worrys about breaking again.
Dont get me wrong I have 40 runs so far on my JG built 4L60E,but I cant see it lasting more than 200 runs.Once it craps out,I'll go to a 400/BRAKE and be done with it.
JS
<small>[ October 14, 2002, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>