Who knows how to make a standard Buick turbo 400 transmission into a stage 1 turbo 400 transmission? Or is it not possible? I do know that the valve body is set up differently or maybe even the valve body is different altogether. But again does anybody know how to make this happen on a standard Turbo 400? Eric / Oregon
That 1970 BB valve body is the secret, and very sought after. AFAIK, there is no way to fully convert any valve body to the 70 BB specs, but you can get closer and make it behave like one. This article by Mark Deconti (DCM422) talks about switch pitch transmissions, but there is some info on what made the BB do what it does and how to select a valve body that is close. http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/SPTrans.htm As a side note, I remember, (in Norwalk, Ohio I think), listening to Denny Manner explain how he had to fight with Hydramatic to get them to calibrate that BB valve body to do what he wanted it to do. There is no doubt that the 35 MPH downshift from 3-1 was at least partially responsible for the GS stage1's reputation on the street.
My X already is a BB and also shifts down to first up to around 40 as well... I just thought it would be cool to make my 69 vert turbo 400 with that same killer down shift as the X. And thanks Larry, as always for your input and Merry Christmas! Eric / Oregon
I was driving Carl’s car from his house to Marcus Dairy one afternoon. We were getting on 84 when Carl told me to nail it. Of course I was reluctant , but Carl was persistent, so I matted it at about 35. It went down to first, was instantly at 5800, and then hit second and we were gone. Pretty killer on the street is right.
