Manual Valve Body Question

Hanover Mopar · Aug 24, 2015

I have an A&A reverse manual valve body pushbutton 727 in my 63 Dodge 330 (ex-drag car).

I already found out the hard way that you shouldn’t down-shift this unit unless going very slow.

First to second shifts are fine at any speed and second to third shifts work if you keep the RPM’s up when shifting.

My question is; at lower speeds (under 20) can this transmission be put into neutral to clear out the carb when it starts to load up in traffic. I don’t have courage to try it.

Thanks in advance
Jack

Badvert65 · Aug 24, 2015

I have had a reverse manual valve body in my Fury for years (since the late 80's). I was told back in the day that downshifting was a no-no. I have only ever put mine in neutral (while driving) from first gear as my ratchet shifter doesn't really accommodate getting to neutral from second or third. I have a tunnel ram on my 440 and sometimes need to clear its throat. I have found that the manual valve body is great for drag racing but kind of a pain for stop and go traffic. I have a high stall converter, 3.91 gears and a high torque engine so I have been able to get by leaving the trans in third gear for stop and go driving. If the engine starts to load up, I have to pull over and clear things out.
These things aren't for everyone, that's for sure.

Hanover Mopar · Aug 24, 2015

Same situation. High stall (4500), 4.56 gears, big torque.

Do you have any worries about transmission damage driving in third gear all the which I also do because it will pull right away for a dead stop.

I would guess not if you have been doing it as long as you have

Thanks

67 B-body · Aug 24, 2015

I simply avoid shifting into third when I'm tooling through town. I shift back to first once the car stops at traffic lights.
I have 4:10 gears, so second fits the bill pretty well through town.
My conv is a bit higher too... Somewhere around 5000......

Badvert65 · Aug 24, 2015

Biggest problem is heat. Gotta have a good external trans cooler. I haven't had any problems with mine tooling around in third gear. I usually keep things pretty mellow. If I want to show off, I run it through the gears. (I have a 3500 stall in my trans).

Hanover Mopar said:
Same situation. High stall (4500), 4.56 gears, big torque.

Do you have any worries about transmission damage driving in third gear all the which I also do because it will pull right away for a dead stop.

I would guess not if you have been doing it as long as you have

Thanks

mopar 3 B · Aug 24, 2015

Manual valve body but not reversed. I down shift all the time but only in no load situations. 4:10 gears and about 3000 stall. I always start in 1st will not even begin to move in 3rd till over 3000 and very unpredictable as to when it moves. My carb is an 800 TQ have more trouble with loading going down the road at to low an rpm than crusing.

383man · Aug 24, 2015

I use the reverse manual valve body also. My question is does yours have the low band apply meaning does it apply the low/reverse band in first gear. If it does you will have eng braking when downshifting to first. Mine does not apply the band in first so I have no eng breaking and I never downshift to first until I stop. But I will downshift from third to second at normal speeds all the time if needed. I also never get off the gas in first and then back on the gas as thats very hard on the overrunning clutch. Once I take off in first if for any reason I let off the gas and I am still moving I just shift to second gear. Myself I have not ever tried to go back to neutral while driving down the road since I would have to shift back through all the forward gears. At the track I just let of the gas in the traps and slow down until I get slow enough to downshift to second gear which is around 40 to 50 mph and dont go back to first until I stop to get my et slip. Ron

Hanover Mopar · Aug 25, 2015

It has low band apply.

mopar 3 B · Aug 25, 2015

Also have low band apply. Blew the rear hub in a 3-2 down shift under power. Have up graded the hub and planetary but no longer do 3-2 downs under load.

383man · Aug 25, 2015

Yea I cant say I do 3-2 downshifts under load as I just do them when normally slowing down. I have not seen anyone blow a rear hub from downshifting but I guess you showed it can happen. I dont blame you for no longer doing the 3-2 downshifts under a load. Ron

Hanover Mopar · Aug 27, 2015

I tried shifting to neutral at about 30 MPH and got a hell of a bang. So I guess neutral shifts will be limited to very low speeds.

I'm learning

Manual Valve Body Question

Hanover Mopar

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Badvert65

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Hanover Mopar

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67 B-body

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Badvert65

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mopar 3 B

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383man

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Hanover Mopar

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mopar 3 B

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383man

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Hanover Mopar

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