I was just wondering what would be the cons of running a ratchet shifter on a TH400 tranny using it as a manual and not using "drive" at all. Me and a buddy were talking about it and weren't too sure of the repercussions.
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I was just wondering what would be the cons of running a ratchet shifter on a TH400 tranny using it as a manual and not using "drive" at all. Me and a buddy were talking about it and weren't too sure of the repercussions.
if you want to use it like a manual all the time...get a manual. I can understand doing it for play but guess I'm missing the reason.
I have one,came with the car when I bought it.....................I have ordered a new Lokar to replace it and it can't arrive quick enough!
Well, say that there are doubts that the tranny will function the way it is supposed to. How harmful would it be to use a ratchet shifter as the only way to shift gears kinda thing? It's mostly hypothetical. A friend and I were just discussing if they were harmful on the tranny basically.
if it wont function the way it`s supposed to on it`s on then it has a problem that manual shifting wont make go away ..
IMO the trans needs a manual valve body to operate faithfully internally and a gate type shifter instead of ratchet. Ratchet shifters are notoriously faulty from what I have see and read.
Kitz
Now-I have had probably 10 of them and I like them-I only use the Quicksilver because of the quality. You couldnt give me another Lokar because of the way they will move under power and hard to get the right gear when your gittin it!
Well, the tranny itself is fine. It was just rebuilt not too long ago and I've only driven the car about an hour total around the driveway. But I haven't been able to leave the driveway yet and see if the tranny is going to work. A better question would be what should I check on the transmission to ensure its going to work properly?
Man I have read this thread a couple of times, and I am still at a loss as to what "Really" is going on. While I am not to certain any of this is real, a Shifter is just that a Shifter, nothing more and nothing less. It shifts the tranny ( If there really is one) From one gear to the next Manually The automatic part is totally the work of the transmission ans either works or doesnt work.
Now with that said and with a drive way loooooong enough to drive around on for an hour, you should already know what does work and what doesnt work. That is totally dependant on the shifter you have on there now. Unless you have some little critter setting on the transmission and doing the shifting for you, know what a mean? A little critter like a rabbit or maybe a Troll......
RS
By driving around the driveway I meant pulling it out of the garage and just going out into the driveway playing around then putting it back in the garage. There is a shifter, not a rabbit, or a troll..... I can put it in gear but i haven't been able to see if it shifts from 1 to 2 and so one so forth. My biggest question was really whether or not ratchet shifters are hard on transmissions when used like a manual.
you can always block it up(extremely well) and see if it goes from first into second. I don't think I would go too fast with the ass up on jackstands if you are inexpierienced. but to get out of first should work. just don't get it rocking too much or you'll endup in the livingroom when it comes down
The short answer is no, ratchet shifters are not hard on the trans; the driver has a lot more to do with how long the trans actually lives.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbcPonty81
I have to agree with Hombre259 What differance dose it make what shifter you use. You can manualy shift any automatic. On the column or floor even push button. If you realy want to find out what it will do TAKE IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY:eek:
The question is not very clear. I think what the OP means is could he use a ratchet shifter with a stock or slightly modified trans. Well sure. Just put it in drive for normal driving. When you are feeling like a Pro stocker shift it manually. However I think a T-400 will upshift automatically regardless unless you have a highly modified real full manual valve body. A T-350 will not. My T-350 will stay in low or upshift to 2nd if the lever is in 2nd. Drive is full auto. There is no kickdown needed or desired.
Now if you have a real full manual and a ratchet shifter it will get real ugly when you are caucht in heavy traffic. Sure is nice to just put it in drive and let the auto do it's thing. My 1 ton dually with a 5 speed manual is another story in traffic. Clutch foot gets a good work out.
Remember as stated the shifter does nothing but position the valve body so it can shift, the trans does the rest. A full manual up and down is a race only thing, not needed or necessary on the street. If you like shifting get a manual trans.
Never had a problem with a Quicksilver either. A good shifter IMO. Ran one for yrs.
I run a full manual reverse vb th400 on the street, not many sticks will handle 1000hp and 900 tq, no different than having a 3 speed except no clutch to fool with...Dennis
I have used them in cars and a couple big 4X4's which were ok.
But to me for a fast clean shift I would not run a ratchet shifter.
I think the sloted shifters or push button sifters are faster in a pinch.
I had a B & M spring loaded shifter years ago that I loved all you did was pull
the shifter straite back then push it forward then pull it back again and you
just went thru all your gears. Then it had a lock out for revers, now that was a shifter.
Of course I am talking about auto verses manual, but to me with the ratchet you pull it back or push it forward then there was a hesitation where it would then spring back then lock in to the gear. Just seamed to take to long for the spring back to me.
Kurt
I knew a guy years ago that had a 68 Camaro with a Turbo 350, B&M shift kit and a B&M ratchet shifter. Thing ran like a scalded ape and the shifts were as solid as a manual trans.
Oh I ain't saying that they can't shift solid thats more trany then shifter.
I am just saying how long it takes to engage at each shift.
Your right about that. I guess a really good trans and a well adjusted stock type floor shifter would be just as good.
edit:
Although with a ratchet shifter you would not have to worry about accidentally shifting from 1st to neutral. It would only go from 1st to 2nd.
Vara4, according to your previous post, if I am reading it correctly, did you say that you had a 4-5 speed and you had a B&M shifter that all you had to do was move the shifter back and forth, not up/down and over to change gears? Do you remember which shifter that was?
i had a mopar 727 torque flight trans, transco shift kit, B&M ratchet shifter.
to go from park to low gear you had to hit the shifter 5 times. on a down shift it would shift to the gear you selected and stay in that gear no mater how fast you were going. on up shift, if in drive it will shift when the trans was ready
the problem was
if you did a down shift you had to be on the throttle, the throttle linkage moves the lever on the trans to supply pressure in the valve body to the bands. no pressure to the bands means it will slip and soon you will have a burnt trans.
some transmission's run off vacuum or electronic. the main thing is you need pressure on the bands and clutch's to get a solid shift.
I hav a 1970 ford maverick with 302 motor and mani. Transmission. Want to convert auto ratchet shifter to run with it. How?
First, welcome to the club! What are the plans for the Maverick? Have you looked at many shifters? What's you're goal? To say "how" there's more info needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Triple G
Like why? Are you just after an auto transmission or is the current tranny broken or tired?