I was thinking about adding a trans brake to my turbo 400 this winter. I'm getting a new tranny built and thought about adding one. I was wandering if anyone could give me some insight as to pros and cons of a trans brake. And/or good ones versus bad ones to buy.
I'm no expert on transbrakes, but I bet the experts will be wondering which car you're talking about, and will want to know a few things about the rest of "the combination" before giving you an opinion. (Car weight, Engine HP, Gears..etc) :beer
Oky Dokey, My 71 Skylark, Stage 2 ported heads with 253-256 cam 12 to 1 compression and 4:33 gears. With full 3 X-pipe exhaust my best run has been 11:58 at 116 mph, but that was with the tranny slipping in 3rd and me bouncing off the rev limiter from the 880 ft. mark on. My best 60ft. has been 1:66. I have only had this car to the track 3 times so far but things are starting to come together. But as you can see theres still plenty of room for improvement.
Go with a fluid brake. Name brand is your choice. Hope you have a good drive shaft and rear end. :laugh:
I am interested too. Can you tell me what is a fluid brake, and what other kinds would there also be. I was told from GotBuick, that he loves the trans brake, and he would never go back.
A fluid brake works like a regular trans brake. The only difference is when you put the car in reverse you have to hold the trans brake button down (engage the trans brake) to back up. This brake is also a safty unit. You can hit the button going thru top end and the brake wont work.
Thats what I need. Now, one reason that I have not went to a trans brake is because I drive the car to the track and around town. From what I have heard, the shifting pattern is PRN123, right? And you have to shift it manually. That would take away from putting it in drive and letting the tranny do all of the work. Now, if they had a trans brake that would shift on its own, THATS WHAT I WOULD BE FIRST IN LINE FOR!
I believe this is the type of transbrake TCI sells. I have a brake that uses the govener spot for the soleniod, but I'm not currently using it since I don't know who made it and don't have any gaskets or know the modifications that need to be made to make it work porperly.
The trans brake will work with forward and reverse shift patterns. The solinoid goes where the modulator was.
Brakes... On trans brakes being they use a maunal valve body, they don't "drag" in gear when you let off. In other words, in 1st and (I believe) 2nd, when you let off the gas it just coases instead of dragging the engine. This is awsome for cruising on the street at 10-20mph because you can creep along without the engine racing and when you hammer the gas the engine races up and engages at whatever speed you at so it like dropping the clutch in a milder way. It is hard on the driveline but no more than a standard(4-speed). Once you go transbrake, you'll never look back. I think there plenty streetable with a good shifter. If your just cruising and taking it easy, I just use 2nd and 3rd. It takes off from a light fine in 2nd if your taking it easy and are running 3.73 or better. It's best to install a transbrake while you have the trans out since you have to do internal mods for them to work. You would hate to have to take it out and pull it all apart later, wouldn't you?
Once you go transbrake, you'll never look back. I think there plenty streetable with a good shifter. If your just cruising and taking it easy, I just use 2nd and 3rd. Thanks Rick, thats exactly the response I wanted to hear, since I was already leaning that way... Now I just need to announce to my wife "I'm getting a Transbrake!"
Thanks for the explanation 434 Olds, I have a fluid type on my '68 & didn't know it. i knew my brake was different from everybody elses, but didn't know why. ou: Randy
Pro Brake The trans brakes that require you to hold the button while backing up are also called "pro" brakes. They cost a little more than a regular trans brake, but have a quicker release time, which is important if you race heads up on a pro tree. If you braket race off a full tree and have a delay box (dirty word to alot of people), the pro brake is not helping you any. I'm not sure if there are both types of brakes for a TH400. I had both types in my Powerglide. If you end up w/ a pro brake, I would suggest locating the button on the shifter or console. It can be hard to back and steer while holding a button on the steering wheel. You also may find your convertor stalls higher w/ a trans brake if your rear wheel brakes could not hold the car previously. Most racers w/ brakes also use a two step rev limiter with the low side set just below the convertor stall speed. Your first pass using a brake is going to change your life! You'll either find the car's weak link, or be seriously pressed back in the seat. Jeff
I have a Coan transbrake on my T-400 trans, it will not apply in 2nd or 3rd gear(an obvious safety feature) I can back the car up using reverse or putting the trans in neutral and "hitting the button" I probly have upwards of 600 passes on this trans & brake with no problems what-so-ever. IT WILL BE A FEELING THAT YOU WANT TO GET USED TO!!! :TU:
Brake! I have a JW brake in my 400 trans and it does NOT have to use the brake to backup. When I was building the car I had to find a brake that did not require the use of the transbrake to backup. The classes I run in NSCA and PRO do not allow a brake and I could not have a button in the car. Actually PRO makes me have it unplugged at the soloniod or be kicked out if they find any wires going in the car. I had planned to race some headsup stuff with it but have used it only at the 2002 GS Nationals for Quick 16. Like the others said, I like the air and the feel of it and actually had a .502 light first round, which was my 3rd pass on a brake. Thought this was great until the next weekend in Rising Sun Maryland the car broke the ring and pinion and I had to spend Friday night replacing it in the rain. To my surprise, the car ran the same 60' and 1/4 mile ET times as with the brake. I just footbrake now even at the Nationals. If I put a Pro Gear in the car I may try it again but with the street geat I will footbrake. Jim N. B/NSS 671 NSCA
John Csordas Jr and Frank Farro both have glides with brakes that must be engaged to back up. Jr has a 2nd switch down by his shifter, just for backing up, and Frank uses his horn button both for launching and backing up. I've told them both and I'll tell you guys now...You couldn't pay me enough to deal with that nonsense! :TU: I insist on keeping the stupidity to a minmum in my car and I absolutely refuse to do anything other than stick the shifter in "R" to back up. I've watched Frank back up while holding his steering wheel and depressing his horn button simultaneously! ou: FORGET IT!! What a pain in the a$$! Pro brake...Shmoe brake! If that's what's required, you can keep it! I shall now step down off of my soap box and go take a nap. I've tired myself out! :sleep: :laugh:
Agree Doug! Doug, I have driven a friends Chevy with a Pro Brake and it is a pain to backup and steer while trying to hold down the button. I think I could like the brake if I ran a class where it was legal. Charlie didn't want me matting the throttle until the tree started down. So first run I tried it that way and wow the light is on and time to go before I was ready. So next run I staged last and put it to the floor on the chip at 4000 and I was ready that time. Draw back to racing that way, would be setting there 4 seconds to run a slow car. Couldn't do it that way, so I will footbrake for now until I start running some headsup classes. Jim N.
I absolutely LOVE the transbrake! It's what racing is all about for me. Let go of the button and POW! For my starting line procedure, I roll into the beams, hit the button, bring it up and hold it at about 2000 rpm and then I mat it on the first yellow. I let go on the last yellow and POW. Oh wait, I said pow already. Well, I can't think of a better word. Pow, it is. :laugh:
On the shifter.. I've got my transbrake button on the shifter and which makes it easy. I know how to pat my head and rub my tummy. I'm a "2-hander" type guy. :laugh: I have a nitrous button on my steering wheel but I don't plan on using while I'm backing up.
