B&M Ratchet Shifter on RMVB TH400?

[95ImpySS]

So 2 miles after getting my car dyno tuned, 3rd gear in my mucho expensive 4l60e is gone :(. With no cash or faith for another 4l60e I plan to swap in a RVMB TH400 that I purchased a wile back. In the rush to get ready for the swap this weekend I ordered a B&M 80842 Pro Ratchet Shifter. After playing with the mechanism (making WOT shift noises, etc) and reading through the instructions I read something that sounds like bad news.

In the section titled "Operation", it says basically, slap up for up shifts, and down for down shifts. Then in parenthesis, (with a standard pattern valve body). I don't have a standard pattern valve body, I have a Reverse Manual Valve Body.

Will this shifter work in my application? Or should I plan on returning it? If I think this though, having a RVMB, and using this shifter, slapping it down would be an up shift and forward would be a down shift. Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't that put reverse in the opposite of where it should be. Rather than the shifter pushed all the way forward, engaging reverse, the shifter would have to be all the way back to engage reverse using a RMVB? This is all new to me, and I have never tired this tranny nor ever used a RMVB tranny.

Any thoughts or facts are GREATLY appreciated.

Brad

[firebird_1995]

Well I hope I'm right about this or we're both f'd because we just bought the same shifter and just installed it on a rmvb 400 turbo in the camaro. I believe the reverse pattern only applies to the forward gears. Meaning where it used to be (p r n d 2 1) its now (p r n 1 2 d). Hope I'm right....

[JPack]

Works either way. should have had stickers in there for either way.

EDIT here : http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmm-80842/applications

[BIG CAT]

it will work fine. you just need to remember the pattern. also never down shift at speed and only do 2/3 burnouts.

[95ImpySS]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. Cant wait to get in my car again.


it will work fine. you just need to remember the pattern. also never down shift at speed and only do 2/3 burnouts.

Sorry if I go full retard here, but why not down shift at speed? I plan to AutoX the car one day that will involve lots of up and down shifting at fairly high speeds. 50-60 mph or so. Also 2/3'rds burn outs or 2nd and 3rd gear? Why so, Good chance of hitting neutral on accident? Anything that the TH400 doesn't like? Downshifts at speed, or 1st gear burnouts?

Thanks a bunch.

[JPack]

Unless you don't like having feet, don't downshift. It will explode through the floor. Mvb transmissions lack a lot of parts that a normal trans has.

There is no band on the drum to slow it down. The drum over revs and centrifical force makes it explode. You also don't do a fulll throttle run and slip to neutral. This type of trans is really a drag only set up, not for autocross at all.

[JPack]

You do a burnout with a start in second and quickly shift to 3rd after tires start spinning. Never ever in first.

Here is a pic of a third to second downshift...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/jpack24/107104d1191880353-a3-guys-throw-neutral-end-your-run-img_0184.jpg

[BIG CAT]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. Cant wait to get in my car again.



Sorry if I go full retard here, but why not down shift at speed? I plan to AutoX the car one day that will involve lots of up and down shifting at fairly high speeds. 50-60 mph or so. Also 2/3'rds burn outs or 2nd and 3rd gear? Why so, Good chance of hitting neutral on accident? Anything that the TH400 doesn't like? Downshifts at speed, or 1st gear burnouts?

Thanks a bunch.

Start your burn out in 2nd and go to 3rd as quick as possible. You run the risk of damaging the sprag if start in 1st.

Down shifting at speed can make the internals spin at more than double engine speed. You will want to talk to your tranny guy about the auto x. I am not sure how it will affect it. My trans has very little engine braking.

[MeanTA]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. Cant wait to get in my car again.



Sorry if I go full retard here, but why not down shift at speed? I plan to AutoX the car one day that will involve lots of up and down shifting at fairly high speeds. 50-60 mph or so. Also 2/3'rds burn outs or 2nd and 3rd gear? Why so, Good chance of hitting neutral on accident? Anything that the TH400 doesn't like? Downshifts at speed, or 1st gear burnouts?

Thanks a bunch.

NEVER NEVER use a mvbt to autocoss! like he said i can explode throwing shrapnel into the car.

If plan on autox that car you want a full auto. Or preferable a M6.

[95ImpySS]

Many many thanks guys. :hail: I do like having my feets. :jest:. I just learned a good deal about my impulse buy. Looks like its strip and city driving for the car. Tranny came out of a twin turbo caddy fleetwood, I planned a similar build for my b body many moons ago....

So, during a 1/4 mi run. I pass the 1/4mi mark, I keep it in 3rd, let off the gas and let the brakes slow the car, tranny and engine down. What's roughly a safe down shift rpm? 3000 and under?

[BIG CAT]

Many many thanks guys. :hail: I do like having my feets. :jest:. I just learned a good deal about my impulse buy. Looks like its strip and city driving for the car. Tranny came out of a twin turbo caddy fleetwood, I planned a similar build for my b body many moons ago....

So, during a 1/4 mi run. I pass the 1/4mi mark, I keep it in 3rd, let off the gas and let the brakes slow the car, tranny and engine down. What's roughly a safe down shift rpm? 3000 and under?
I wait till I am ready to make the turn out before I down shift. But you should be fine below 40.

[quik95lt1]

if you need to downshift or neutral it check out coan they have parts for the th350/400 too allow a clean neutral without the drum exploding, their alum drum is made to withstand the high speed, its what im building in my new th350 for my car so i can neutral it after the stripe instead of winding the motor down.......as for the shifter you can also just mount it backwards so it will go PRN123 from back to forward......thats the way my PPP mounts