I have heard and seen the torque converter in a 67 wildcat (not sure what else this is featured in) can change its stall rating electronically based on a switch attached to your throttle linkage. Wondering if anyone has any info on this setup: what else its featured in, ways to adjust it, simple methods for running the switch inside the car so it can be changed at will rather than just at full throttle. Thanks ~Christian
You are referring to the VP (switch pitch transmission). Read more about it here: http://www.buickperformance.com/switchpitch.htm It's really very simple. On the drivers side of the transmission are 2 contacts. One is vertical. Apply 12 volts to that contact and the transmission downshifts. The other contact is horizontal. Apply 12 volts to that, the converter goes to hi stall. Take the 12 volts away, back to low stall. You can wire the contact with a toggle switch, and/or to the switched side of the brake light switch. There are also aftermarket timer boxes to control stall speed. There is also a sticky thread showing how to identify the switch pitch converters right in this forum. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=143723 Just because you have a 67 Wildcat does not mean you have the switch pitch transmission. It could have been changed. Use the above info to verify that your transmission is a switch pitch. It should be a BT transmission. Look at the ID tag riveted to the passenger side of the transmission case. It should say 67BT.
Once you've had a chance to familiarize yourself with the inner workings, take a look at this wiring and switch diagram. If your trans and wiring are original, here's how it's set up: http://home.comcast.net/~shinzan/ST400_linkage.jpg There are two separate switches that control high/low stall. One is a microswitch on the firewall linkage that energizes the stator solenoid to high stall whenever the throttle is closed. This really helps smooth the idle at a stoplight, and keeps the car from trying to creep forward too much at idle. See view "B". The bigger switch at the side of the carb has two functions. It energizes the stator solenoid at about 2/3 throttle, and also energizes the detent solenoid (kickdown, downshift, passing gear, etc.) at 3/4 throttle. See view "C". Devon
