Switch pitch question ...
August 14th, 2008, 04:58 PM
#1
is Fast Enough ...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: dogtown
Posts: 1,308
Switch pitch question ...
I have a '70 442 ...
I saw a post where a guy mentioned messing with a switch pitch trans ...
Will a th400 switch pitch trans fit my eng ...
Which one ...
My last car with one was a 65 Buick GS ...
I saw a post where a guy mentioned messing with a switch pitch trans ...
Will a th400 switch pitch trans fit my eng ...
Which one ...
My last car with one was a 65 Buick GS ...
August 14th, 2008, 06:46 PM
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 2,212
Cal-Tex Automatic Transmission Parts
5923 Kester Ave
Van Nuys, CA 91411-3016
(818) 994-9947
Changes converter stall (1800 to 2500, for instance) with the "flip" of a switch.
Norm
August 14th, 2008, 09:22 PM
#5
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Location: dogtown
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There is a throttle linkage that increases or decreases stall speed ...
I put a switch inside the car that I could flip ...
My friends were impressed when I would torque brake the engine and flip
the switch and the RPMs' would go up and down ...
It almost works like a six speed ...
August 15th, 2008, 09:49 AM
#6
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,553
I did this conversion back when Kenne-Bell was selling the conversion parts. As Norm pointed out, it pretty much involved swapping the pump and converter, in addition to adding the second solenoid valve and wiring. One cool thing you can do if you have a lumpy cam is to operate the converter pitch from a switch on the brake pedal. This way, when you're stopped in traffic the stall speed goes up to make idling easier.
January 5th, 2009, 11:04 AM
#8
Rocket Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Long Island
Posts: 56
Not quite. There is an electric solenoid valve in the trans that routes hydraulic pressure to a special torque converter. This converter has a moveable stator (now THAT'S an oxymoron) that can change the angle of the stator vanes, hence the term "switch pitch". Changing this angle changes the toruque multiplication and stall speed of the converter.
One cool thing you can do if you have a lumpy cam is to operate the converter pitch from a switch on the brake pedal. This way, when you're stopped in traffic the stall speed goes up to make idling easier.
One cool thing you can do if you have a lumpy cam is to operate the converter pitch from a switch on the brake pedal. This way, when you're stopped in traffic the stall speed goes up to make idling easier.
The factory setup works just like that. At idle, the switch is on high stall to minimize creep, as soon as you touch the gas it goes to low stall for efficent part throttle response. High stall is again activated past 2/3rds throttle for passing acceleration short of a downshift.
Both my Olds' have factory switch pitch TH400's
November 3rd, 2012, 11:45 AM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SW Minnesota
Posts: 38
The factory setup works just like that. At idle, the switch is on high stall to minimize creep, as soon as you touch the gas it goes to low stall for efficent part throttle response. High stall is again activated past 2/3rds throttle for passing acceleration short of a downshift.
Both my Olds' have factory switch pitch TH400's
Both my Olds' have factory switch pitch TH400's
November 19th, 2012, 05:30 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Rogues Island, USA
Posts: 3,613
Yes energizing the solenoid gives high stall. To answer the other question, yes it's noticeable. At least mine is. I particularly don't like it in high stall at any speed other than low speeds. It feels like the trans is slipping due to the higher stall speed. As Joe said I prefer to have it on when stepping on the brake and then come off at a predetermined time past that. There is a member here, Bruce Roe, who makes a delay switch with several other features
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