Is there anything about a transbrake that would preclude it from being used in a street/strip application? I know that people are doing it, but is there a reason not to? I know that they are all full manual shift only, but that issue would be up to a person's taste. And I know some have weird reversing characteristics, but...is there a reason to not use one on the street? What would be really nice ray: is if you could get a manual/automatic type transbrake like you can a normal valvebody. That would remove any doubts I might have about using one on the street. :TU: :Brow:
I had one in my 69 302 Falcon. It was full manual an I enjoyed every shift. I think that all true gear-heads appreciate a full manual valve body.
Here is the downfalls to running a transbrake on the street. First, on some valve bodies you have to engage the brake in order for the trans to go into reverse. Second, You have to worry about accidental engagement while driving. Also, remember that if you run a separate toggle switch to power up the momentary button, it is going to make it that much harder to put the car in reverse. Third and most importantly, you have to be VERY VERY careful about decellerating. Warnings will come with your T brake valve body that warn you that if you are in second gear and the RPMs are up there that you should not take your foot out of it till you shift to third. There is a drum in there that will spin was faster then it was designed to. It is possible that the drum can come apart due to too much centrifical force. So to be safe about it you should really run a trans shield. The problem with a trans sheild is that they are sometimes difficult to fit in the car and you may have to bang up your floorpans. I say all this as a warning but I should also tell you that I own a street driven camaro that has a T brake in it. Nothing like that feeling of letting the button go and feeling like you just got rear ended by a school bus! Good luck and have fun!
If you buy the "Pro Tree Transbrake" you will have to hit (engage) a button to get it to back up. If you don't then it will engage reverse when you put the shifter in reverse (plain transbrake). As far as using one for a street driven vehicle, I never have, but do have some friends that do with no problems.
All good thoughts.:TU: Keep 'em comin.:bglasses: There has got to be a way to make a manual/automatic transbrake.uzzled: o No: :Brow:
There is! Its called a 4 wheel brake line lock. The GN guys tried it with the 200R4 transmission and a loose convertor.
As far as the decelleration part I do belive that that is with all trans brakes. As far as the hitting a button to engage reverse, some do and some dont. I run an older tci valve body and I DO NOT need to hit the button to engage reverse. I have friends that run newer TCI brakes and they do have to engage the button.
I ran a "Hipster" trans brake for years on the street. Manual shift mandatory, other than that no problem! Just don't ever put the car in neutral at speed.... big bang - not good!!
Hi Steve, I run a Hipster in my clone GSX...what actually happens inside the trans when you put it in neutral at speed? I think I remember doing that a couple timesou:
Hi Guy! I never had it happen to me, but my trany builder told me to NEVER do it! Perhaps you know him, Dave Baetten? Never had any trany problems from him and always had good results, and I'm tough on trannies. The same Hipster brake is now in my new race car awaiting it's maiden voyage. o No: Later, Steve
I never heard of the 2nd gear issue ever. I will ask my tranny builder if its true in his builds. I have one in my car, shifts hard. But keep the line psi down 165 main is good for 1000 hp no problem im told.
To get to neutral, wouldn't you have to go back through second and first gears? I don't know what would happen if I tried to go to neutral, because I'm afraid of having to go back through the lower gears to get there. I know they "free wheel", but I'm still afraid to even try it.
Yes, but I would just go through the shifts really fast...and now that I think about that I did do that many times.
