904 Manual Body for Street

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aengineguy

aengineguy

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Am I going to get too harsh of shifts if I go to a manual body, eliminating the carb linkage which controls pressure in the trans? My 71 Dart with 408 and pushing 500 hp will be driven mainly on the street. I would rather not deal with the extra linkage and adjustments.

some info...

3200 lbs with me
3500 stall
Kolene Steels, Red Altos, bolt in sprag

Thanks!!!
 
I have run them a few times, and have numerous friends that do. I don't find that they shift too hard at all. I think a looser stall converter takes some of the "bang" out of the shift. Deleting the linkage is a big plus for me too. If you are concerned, I am pretty sure that the valvbody companies, (I used Turbo Action), can build them to shift softer, while still being fully manual.
 
No. they don't shift too harsh. Now, when you are really into the gas, it will shift pretty frikkin harsh, but that's when you want it. The main advantage of a manual valve body is that it makes the transmission shift AS SOON AS you move the shifter. I am plannin on one behind my slant.
 
I ran one in my Demon and loved it. Built 340, manual valve body 904, and 456 spool and it was street driven 95% of the time. Great fun car on the road. I was using a Cheetah shifter. Once you get it installed and final adjusted to your liking its a ton of fun... Once you drive it a couple times you can get it to shift as hard or as soft as want based on how much you are into the gas when you shift, but if you are looking for holding a gear a little longer for some really power and speed its it will do the job for you.

GO FOR IT!!!
 
If you shift at reasonable engine speeds and below the convertor's stall they are "normal feel" when shifting. If you hold them and shift after or around the stall, it will chirp the tires on 1-2. I buitl a trans for guy, in a week he got 3 tickets for chirping because he liked to hold the car in gear and hear the engine. I replaced that trans witha stock valve body unit after the 3rd one...lol
 
A & A makes a nice valve body. They offer both a forward pattern and a reverse pattern. Street version and a race version. Your call! I enjoy the "control" of the manual shift automatic. I kinda puts you in control of the "engine" power and performance.
 
Rob Eppler said:
A & A makes a nice valve body. They offer both a forward pattern and a reverse pattern. Street version and a race version. Your call! I enjoy the "control" of the manual shift automatic. I kinda puts you in control of the "engine" power and performance.
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X2 i have an A and A. There is no 2-3 overlap whatsoever like my cheetah had.
 
My opinion, and maybe I am just getting too old. My 66 Cuda has a pushbutton manual shift valve body. Mainly a strip car, but driven to cruises on occasion. A manual valve body gets to be a pain in the butt, in traffic. For a mainly street car I would use a "beefed" valve body, with auto shifting, and connect the "kickdown" linkage. You can always use a cable kickdown.
 
Charrlie_S said:
My opinion, and maybe I am just getting too old. My 66 Cuda has a pushbutton manual shift valve body. Mainly a strip car, but driven to cruises on occasion. A manual valve body gets to be a pain in the butt, in traffic. For a mainly street car I would use a "beefed" valve body, with auto shifting, and connect the "kickdown" linkage. You can always use a cable kickdown.
Click to expand...

I had a 68 Charger with a built 727 trans, 2800 stall, 4:10 gears. The transmission was built so that basically it was better to keep your foot on the floor and let it shift out on its own. Fine tuned the kickdown linkage and never looked back. Man that car was fun to drive. It quick hard shifts when you needed it but tame if you didn't.
 
I also ran one in my cuda for years and kept ther shifter on the column. Would always get a look when it chirped second ans the guy next to you would see the shifter onthe column. I think it will be going behind the 6.1 for awhile when I put it together.
 
Charlie, I tend to agree......but in this conversation I had goin on in the back of my mind that you'd have sumthin else to drive everyday. Although I did drive my 65 Valiant everyday for over two years with a manual valve body. lol I probably wouldn't wanna do it again. I reckon I'm gettin old, too.
 
everything i have with exception of my ramcharger has to be shifted manually... either has 3 pedals or a manual valve body. I just prefer the full control of the trans, 2nd gear starts in the snow or whatever. to each is own
 
I like um too and since I already gotta Ranger for my DD, my Scamp is gettin a manual valve body. I'll probably end up moddin the stock one I have cause money's tight, but I've done a ton of them before and it's easy.
 
U should like it.

I got a column shift and 99% of the time I can handle it but yep I'm in the getting old camp and once this summer went from 1st to 3rd gear @ wot. The little new sports car goes charging out in front--I was oh nuts, shift it back down to 2nd..I go climbing back up and hit 3rd--this time at good speed, car goes charging way ahead.

I think the poor chap thought I hit the nitrous button, ha ha..

Police in some places ticket U for chipping tires, wow--I'm staying in bankrupt Michigan, lol
 
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