[Texas70]

I will be ordering a Turbo 400 tranny with full manual valve body and need to decide on a forward or reverse pattern. Can someone please educate me on this subject so I can make my decision and what pattern are you using ?

Thanks again

 

[BillsCamino]

If you going full manual, you might as well be a reverse shift pattern, too.
Just this past summer I changed over from an auto/manual forward to a full manual/reverse pattern TH400. Didn't think I'd like it at first but after a short education period, it's OK now. Takes a little getting used to on the street...

 

[von]

Reverse pattern eliminates the possibility of accidentally going into to neutral (or worse yet-reverse) when making the 2-3 shift.

 

[Davec43]

How does it accomplish this?

 

[von]

With reverse pattern you're moving the shift lever away from the neutral gate when you upshift. Normal pattern you're moving the lever toward the neutral gate. Go just a little too far on the 2-3 shift and you're in neutral (and hope you have a rev limiter). A little farther still and you're in reverse. That's real bad. Rear tires lock up and you lose control at considerable speed.

 

[forcd ind]

i have always used the forward pattern, mainly because i didnt want to go thru all the gears to get to neut., personal pref-doesnt the reverse patter free wheel when you get off the gas? i only drove one once, thought it free wheeled, just cant remember

 

[BillsCamino]

-doesnt the reverse pattern free wheel when you get off the gas?

Mine does. Probably a little harder on the brakes since there is no compression braking. Takes getting used to...

 

[von]

The race TH400 I had only freewheeled in 1st and 2nd, not 3rd.

 

[mr68]

i was told for a street driven car, go with the forward man valve body. you are not supposed to downshift a reverse body or they say it can blow up.
there is no intermediate band on a reverse body so there is nothing to slow it down. ken jett knows all about this, i hope he jumps in.