Who is running a T-400 Switch Pitch

Who here is running a T-400 Switch Pitch. I am interested in peoples rear end combos, and personal thoughts about these trans.

 

I have been running s-p trannies since the early mid seventies with every combination you can imagine.
From mild street cars with v-6's, to wild race cars with 535's.
My current street car is a s-p with 3.55 gears , I could easily drop to 3.31's even with the big cam 255/265 at .050 .
I'm running one of my 11 inch converters set up with straight fins, it gives me right at 3800 to 4000 on the high side .
Of course I am totally predjudiced about s-p's. Jim Burek

 

Running an SP-400 w/ 3.42 gear and a 26" tire on a Regal/Century frame.

The SP is a 4000 stall unit, with 3 modes: manual, street (switched by the brake), and race. The last mode is switched from high to low by an RPM switch at the torque peak of the engine. It's more consistent than a timer IMHO. There have been complaints that the SP causes an overheat but I'm also measuring tranny temp and it stays nice and cool with a deep pan on there... I only run about 150* on the highway in low stall!

Overall, a great tranny combo. I love being able to jump off the line at 4k :3gears: then flip a switch and still creep along in traffic. Next best thing to a clutch.

 

I have a 2.56 rearend, and the switch-pitch allows me to flash up high to launch, but I stlil get a nice "solid connection" when cruising (which is especially important with a 2.56 rearend so you aren't slipping it to death).

It also softens up your time at a stoplight, since the car isn't pushing so hard (when connected to the brake light for high stall).

I have a JW 13" convertor. Nice piece.

Only thing better would be a lockup, and those are expensive!

-Bob Cunningham

 

Running a modified BA '70 TH-400 that has the necessary VP conversions. Has one of Jim Burek's PAE 3000 stall convertors in it. 3.08 8.5 rear open diff. I have a manual toggle under dash to activate from lo/ high stall. I like it! I also have JB's solenoid relocation kits on there too which moves the solenoid from behind front pump to inside trans pan piggybacking off kickdown mounts. Overall, it's a nice feature. My car had this on it when I purchased it many years ago.

 

What do you want to accomplish?

I have a t-400 w/switch pitch and an Art Car 10" converter. Gears sets I have used is 3:70 and 4:11, terrible gas mileage but plenty of Git.

78 regal body full options runs 11:95 @ 114MPH with 4:11. If yours application is mostly street 3:42 or 3:50 are very good.

Weekender

 

I'm running the factory ST-400 with a rebuilt 400 engine with a mild cam. When the sp converter wasn't working it was tough to keep it running when stopped. I have the standard peg leg rearend which I think is less than 3.00 and it really "gets up and gos".

What kind of information are you looking for? The SP transmission is great when you need the stall engine speed to build rpms before you get going basically multiplying the torque from the engine before it is put to use. Great for smoking the tires but poor fuel economy.

Hope this helps. :grin:

 

where can I get an SP/VP T400 in NC or East coast?

I should have my 68 Riv out of the shop in two weeks and am considering a SP T-400 trans over the stock trans. Can I get a conversion kit that any trans shop can install as well an appropiate torque converter. I have a 3.42 posi rear , stock 430 with TA 2.5 inch exhaust, and a MSD 6AL ignition on stock distributer with adjustible vacuum advance. I need a referal to a good trans shop nearby.

 

Nice pic there Weekender.

Any chance I could get a close up pic of your air cleaner??? I have an idea for a banner grafix that I wanted to use a pic of an air cleaner lid and sticker. Kind of fill in the sticker and put the grafix text in place of the stage 1. PM or email me if you want to take it off board.

 

Thanks for the replies, It will be a street driven car, but it will get the ocational 1/4 mile run. I don't wan't to run 4.10's but I want a good standing start. I think JW will be building it aswell as my motor!

 

I have an SP in my 3.64 geared GS.It was the best thing I have done to the car so far.The big advantage for me is the smoothness in city driving with a relatively rough camshaft.I do not have enough traction to take advantage of high stall unfortunately at this point.For me, wheel spin is much easier to modulate in low stall.I am going with 3.08 gears and doubt that with street tires I will lose much if I can take advantage of high stall.So,for me,with my current setup the big benefit of the SP is going slow,not fast. Rod

 

Good responses. Sounds like I can use a little wilder cam, with this combo than I was going to!

 

Another satisfied testimonial

I've run Jim Burek's SP 4000 convertor in my 71 for almost 10 years with various cam, intake, and rear end combos and love it. Reliability was a big concern for me and I never had a problem with these convertors.

The all time favourite combo was with a 3.73 gear with a a Torque Tech SP-4 cam (253 & 270 deg @.050 with a 110 LC) The car was totally streetable and ran 11.30's at the strip.
On the milder side the 3.23's worked nice with the same covertor and an old Lunati SP-2 grind (235 & 245 @ .050 113LC), still running low to mid 12's.

I also run the 3 mode setup. (I need the manual on/off at times, because of manual steering box.)

 

Hey Stage 2discover:

I'm impressed with your setup. I had (3) P.A.E. converters I think this is Jim's company and all 3 destroyed themselves along with the T-400 behind them. You must have gotten one of the good ones. My horse power at the time wasn't as serious as yours and they still lost the thrust washers. :rant:

Weekender

 

I run 4000 s/p 373 gears and a 232/246 duration cam, run just as well driving in traffic,as it runs at the track, slicks requrired for tration.

 

Switch pitch is the only reason I'm able to achieve 1.70 60' times in a 4800+ lb. 76 LeSabre w/3.42 gears, and still be able to drive it around on the street. A fixed high stall converter drove me crazy with all of the slippage while cruising because the car is so heavy and mildly geared. It's great to be able to turn it off when I don't need it. Durability has been a problem though, with three failures all taking out the transmission also. But it's been lasting ever since I quit using Dexron fluid though. The heavier and lower geared the car is, the bigger the difference it will make.

 

S/P converters setup

Sean Buick 76

I agree that the S/P is a very good setup for your application use a 3:42 to 3:70 and a 2500 if you have a fairly stock or moderately improved camshaft and you will be a Happy Kamper . The more cam (Lift and duration) the higher the stall, ask your camshaft supplier for recommends.

When I installed the Art Carr 3000 rpm stall converter my et's and MPH were within a couple of hundredth of the 4000 RPM S/P from P.A.E. and more dependable never had a breakage to date.

Weekender

 

Weekender,

Nice oil filter setup! Have you run a cooler with it at all?

 

I too lost a couple of switch pitch converters about 7 or 8 years ago. Poston warrenteed them and then gave me a complete refund after the 2nd one so there service was very good.

I then went to a custom built 10" 3500 stall that I ran on the street for about 4 years. It worked well but you had to get used to the slippage.

I made a adapter plate 3 years ago and put in a 700r4 with a modified corvette converter that stalls around 3000 and am so happy that I will never go back to a non overdrive. If you are going to actually drive your car an overdrive is the only way to go. I am getting around 17 to 18 mpg and can fry the tires anytime I want. With 3" exhaust I can actually talk at a normal tone in the car at a cruise and hear the person in the back seat!