manual valve body

[68chargerboy]

     Hi,
       i am in the process of making a street car to run 12-11 seconds at the strip.  i was wondering if i were to install a reverse manual valve body if i would still be able to drive my car around town/ to school with this.  thanks alot

                     Zach

[dodge freak]

I have one and its great, with my 3.91 gears I can take off in third if I like, or second which can keep up with most other cars. My trans guy put it in, it shifts fast but not hard, what he did I don't know. He set it up so it just crips the tires when you shift but it could shift much harder. On the street it would be too much, it be breaking stuff and the cops would have a fit. But it can work, he told me he could have it shift as soft or hard that I like. He did say that he only likes the Cheetah brand, but how he adjust the shift so its good for the street don't know. Ask a few trans guys if they could set it up for you. I like mine so much I never go back, no kick down linkage is great also.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I've had one in my car since '98 with over 10k miles on it with no problems.  You have to know how to drive with one that has no engine braking in 1st like mine.
Its a standard Cheetah RVMB.  There are newer ones out that are more "street friendly'" now that do have engine braking in 1st gear (less chance of grenading the front sprag)

[Jon Smith]

if you're buying a new one look for one with the low band apply feature
this is what gives you the engine braking in 1st and its safer, though i ran one without it for years with no problems

[NYCMille]

I agree with Just 6T9_CHGR -  I have the Cheetah unit as well coupled to GV Overdrive - no worries whatsoever - just like driving a stick except with no clutch.

[firefighter3931]

if you're buying a new one look for one with the low band apply feature
this is what gives you the engine braking in 1st and its safer, though i ran one without it for years with no problems

Turbo action now carries manual valve bodies with the low band apply feature in both forward and reverse patters. I went with the forward pattern low band apply for mine. 


Ron

[dodge freak]

The nice thing about the old ones on first gear you can leave it in first and when you are doing 20 mph or so you can let your foot off it and the engine goes right back to idle but the car stays about 20 mph. Seems to stop just find if needed. I like the old style, if cars are in front of me I use second, never first, unless they are a fast car and are 10 car lengths or so in front. Its second gear that the speed really needs some engine braking to help slow down. It is nice to be able to leave it in first and let up on it without the engine begin drag down, just takes a little getting use too. Heck you can always throw in in second while you are braking if needed. The revers pattern I like cause 2nd to 3rd you can't screw up and hit neutral, and at that speed theres more improtant stuff to pay attention to.

[firefighter3931]

The revers pattern I like cause 2nd to 3rd you can't screw up and hit neutral, and at that speed theres more improtant stuff to pay attention to.

That's what ratchet shifters are for 


Ron

[andy74]

the way i understand it is that with a old style manual valve body if you let off in 1st with no rear band apply,that you either have to hit second or come to a stop,no back on the gas,am i right? i thought that was one of the advantages of having a low band apply,besides not blowing your fu##ing foot off when it grenades? 

[dodge freak]

Andy74- no, you don't have to stop, you can step right back on it, it hits hard if you punch it all the way fast. As for those ratchet shifters, I still have the column shift, go ahead and laugh but it works just fine, and I have a nice "bed" on the front seat. Now all I need is a nice "date" to go with me.

[Jon Smith]

i thought getting on and off like that is what can damage the sprag, which is what causes the explosions
i ran one for years before i knew any of this, and mine never blew up, but i've seen some pretty scary photos
i went with low band apply when the box was rebuilt

[dodge freak]

If you are not racing it on the track there is no need to punch it as fast as you can. Thats how u-joints break too. Those ones you seen blown up were behind 13-1 compression motors spinning at 7500 rpms most likely.

[68chargerboy]

ok im a little lost whats a sprag? thanks

             Zach

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

i thought getting on and off like that is what can damage the sprag, which is what causes the explosions
i ran one for years before i knew any of this, and mine never blew up, but i've seen some pretty scary photos
i went with low band apply when the box was rebuilt

RVMB's with NO low band apply in first mean NO getting back on the throttle in 1st if you let off....

If you let off in 1st or lose traction in first you MUST either shift to 2nd BEFORE the wheels regain traction or want to get back on the throttle or just idle to a stop.

Also you cannot downshift from 3rd to second if your OFF the throttle.  A very harsh shift/bang (almost like a neutral drop) occurs.   If you want to downshift you must be on the throttle.

I use a Shift-R-Gate from Duncan-Motorsports.  Its a replacement gate for the stock up to 70 console shifter.  I was the test mule for the reverse pattern one.

1-2 shift is like a slap-stick....no button needs to be pressed.

2-3 requires a button press.  I NEVER miss 2nd gear now.

3-1 downshift requires no button press either & has a neutral lock out.

Highly recommended in a 1st or 2nd gen

[dodge freak]

Well my trans guy must have did a great job setting mine up for street use. I can shift from 3rd to 2nd and its not bad at all, even with my foot not even touching the gas. I drive in first also and get back on the gas with no problems. He did say for me not to even try to put it in myself, said he had to install it and drive it a few times. Never told me what he did to it, just said its all done with a smile on his face. Summit Racing told me over the phone not to get it for street use, said its shifts too hard. I told the trans man that and he told me not after he puts it in, he can getting to shift how ever soft or hard he like it to. Was hoping somebody here knew what he did to it, guess not.