I'm pulling the 300ci and st300 out of my 66 skylark and dropping in a 401 and st400. ( yes I know what a hassle it is and ALMOST everything it will take ) My questions today involve the tranny swap. I hear about people just putting a foot switch on the floor for the tranny? why? Will the kickdown switch etc... from the the old tranny thats mounted on the old engine switchover for the new tranny? I've never had a ST400. I hear nothing but good things about it, and was wondering what tricks could help me make the most of it. Many thanks, Jimmy
If you still have the OE throttle mounted switch, it will work the ST400 the same way. There were switch pitch 300 and switch pitch 400's. If the throttle switch for your 300 only operates the kick down, and the 400 is a switch pitch, you need a way to operate the switch pitch. There are several options from a simple switch to a control box. It all depends on the throttle switch you are using.
Its a '66 Skylark so it should be a switch pitch trans. IIRC I think in '68 is when they stopped using the S/P converter in the ST300, changing the converter in favor of a TH350 style converter which I think they are interchangeable those years with the TH350. Derek
OK, so if he has the original throttle mounted switches, the ST400 is a plug and play as far as that is concerned.
All good news! Looks like this thing might finally be going my way! I plan on using the smaller torque converter from the st300 in my st400. Should I use a shift kit as well? As I mentioned before, its my first ST400 and I'm not sure how to get the most out of it.
Shift kits are a good addition to any performance build, but it depends on the condition of the transmission. While a transmission in good shape will benefit from a shift kit, it can hasten the demise of a transmission that is on it's way out. Using the ST300 converter is a good idea. Jim Weise modifies them for even more stall. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?143723-VP-converter-Trans-visual-ID-guide http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.p...onverter&highlight=switch+pitch+vp+converters
