To brake or not to brake that's the question

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by Buizila, Apr 19, 2011.

  1. Buizila

    Buizila GO BROWNS !!!!!!

    Well I have been considering putting a trans brake in Buizila but I'm not sold on the idea of up and down shifting on the street. Anyone running a brake on the street? Would like to hear some pros and cons to running a brake. Obviously, the gains at the strip is a heavy pro to it,but I interested in knowing if it's a real pain in the :moonu: on the road. Your input will help me in my decision. Many thanx in advance to the replies.
     
  2. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Mike, for what it's worth I've been column shifting my manual TH400 since the late '80's. If I get lazy I don't even bother with 1st gear from a stop, I just keep high stall on for a moment and accelerate from the light in 2nd. Manually shifting the trans just another one of those things that might be annoying at first but becomes second nature in no time...even less hassle if the shifter is in the console.

    Devon
     
  3. Buizila

    Buizila GO BROWNS !!!!!!

    Thanx Devon. So that's 1 for Brake. How's decelerations with a brake? Do you have to downshift as you slow down or can you what till ur stopped? Just to let you know there is a 4500 stall in it.
     
  4. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    Stop it! how much do you drive it on the street,put in a brake,push the button,floor it and let it go,hang on,nothing like it,don't be such a wuss.
    gary
     
  5. stagetwo65

    stagetwo65 Wheelie King

    Besides running a manual valve body and trans brake in my '65 since we built the car twenty years ago, I also ran a manual valve body in a street car ('69 Grand Prix) back in the early '80s and the guys who built the trans for me told me "if you down-shift this transmission to slow down, you WILL break it!" They told me to come to a full stop before down-shifting.
    I used to almost always do that, except maybe dropping from 3rd to 2nd at 10-15 mph once in a while. That didn't seem to hurt it, but ultimately, it was an accidental 3rd to 1st downshift at highway speed that blew a check ball through the valve body plate, ruining the trans. Ouch! :Dou:
    BTW....as much as I LOVE letting go of the trans brake button and getting blasted back into the seat, my car only runs a half a tenth slower if I just stab the gas off the line. I guess it feels faster and more exciting when it leaves high & hard, but timeslips don't lie.
    Of course, feeling like I've been shot out of a cannon is what floats my boat, and it's the thing I love most about driving my car, so I'm not about to go back to foot-braking! :TU:
     
  6. Buizila

    Buizila GO BROWNS !!!!!!

    Nicely played old man :laugh:

    BTW I do drive her on the street. I think I put about 1-2..........hundred miles on her last year:pp
     
  7. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    I don't downshift until I'm close to a stop or already stopped. I'd imagine excessive downshifting for deceleration would wear out the bands.

    Devon
     
  8. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    I'm a wuss. Both my cars: automatic valve body, no trans brake, no 2-step, no delay box, not much converter, foot brake, 3.50/3.73 gears.....but 9.70s and 10 teens not too bad. And won a few races......:laugh:


    Bruce
    JAGUICK 82 XJS 464
    BQUICK 71 GS 464
     
  9. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    My bad,but don't worry about downshifting too much,with the 4000 converter you'll be ok.
    And Bruce,no wuss in your nom de plume, your car flies as is,but wouldn't you like to try a brake just once??Like doug said,feels like being shot out of a cannon.
    gary
     
  10. Buizila

    Buizila GO BROWNS !!!!!!

    Sounds to me like it's a no brainer. It's time for a brake and time to drive her on the street more often :3gears:. With that said what's a good kit to run? I should mention I'm running a TH350 if that matters on T/B kits.
     
  11. standup 69

    standup 69 standup69

    you will like, it I did wire a switch to shut the brake off while street crusing so no accidental button pushing that could get ugly besides its cool if some punk pulls up beside you and gives it a couple revs you can put it on the brake and scare the crap out of them
     
  12. nitrousfish

    nitrousfish Dave Fisher

    I'm putting a brake in my spare tranny,can't wait...
     
  13. Buizila

    Buizila GO BROWNS !!!!!!

    Hahahaha you speak of experience Adam
     
  14. BuickRacer69

    BuickRacer69 1320, Mark of the Beast

    I am also thinking about doing this, let us know what kit you go with and the cost. Please and thank you!
     
  15. BuickRacer69

    BuickRacer69 1320, Mark of the Beast

    I am also thinking about doing this, let us know what kit you go with and the cost. Please and thank you!
     
  16. online170

    online170 Well-Known Member

    Ive never had a brake, but used to have a 78 camaro with a 305/TH350 manual body trans. It had atleast a 2500 stall in it and a quick silver shifter.

    I LOVED the shifting manually part. During regular street driving, left it in third and didnt downshift until fully stopped. Usually left the light in 2nd, and it even helped gas mileage. Sometimes id forget I was in 3rd, but the car would still take off from the light and not complain a whole lot.

    My only complaint was the shifter itself. I had to parallel park the thing a few times, and the manual valve body (not reverse) gets to be a pain, since 1st and Reverse are at opposite ends, and you have to ratchet through each gear.

    The plus side of it was, I could go from 3rd to neutral and coast often to further help gas mileage. Its all the pluses of a manual trans, without the worry of a clutch pedal in traffic. You can control how soon or how late you shift. If youre lazy about shifting, leave it in 2nd or 3rd and it will be fine. No complaints here about the manual shifting.
     
  17. standup 69

    standup 69 standup69

    maybe:Brow:
     
  18. Buizila

    Buizila GO BROWNS !!!!!!

    So no one has any advise on a brake to use. You mean I'm going to have to pick one by process of elimination!:puzzled:

    nice
     
  19. Staged70Lark

    Staged70Lark Well-Known Member

  20. nitrousfish

    nitrousfish Dave Fisher

    I see a lot of guys using hipsters,I've been doing some searching and have not found a lot...I'll be calling a friend that idea one and get his opinion as well...Fish
     

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