Manual Valve Body

[sarge75801]

I am in the process of building a TH400, and after alot of thought, I have decided to get a manual valve body. This trans will be going into a street driven truck, and I realize I will have to shift each gear, and I am fine with that. What I want to know is:
1) Is the TCI manual valve body any good, or should I go with another brand?
2) Do I leave it in the current gear (say 3rd for example) when I am slowing down for a stop light and then change it to 1st or can I downshift it like a manual?
3) The TCI instruction manual says not to shift into 1st at anything over 15 mph. Is this while slowing down, or does it mean I can't slam it into first at around 20 or so and stomp it to smoke someone's ass in the other lane?

I have not bought a valve body yet, but TCI has online instructions so I am basing all of this on their products
Please reply!! I have lots of questions, and need lots of help!!!

 

[GWAPE]

I am in the process of building a TH400, and after alot of thought, I have decided to get a manual valve body. This trans will be going into a street driven truck, and I realize I will have to shift each gear, and I am fine with that. What I want to know is:
1) Is the TCI manual valve body any good, or should I go with another brand?
2) Do I leave it in the current gear (say 3rd for example) when I am slowing down for a stop light and then change it to 1st or can I downshift it like a manual?
3) The TCI instruction manual says not to shift into 1st at anything over 15 mph. Is this while slowing down, or does it mean I can't slam it into first at around 20 or so and stomp it to smoke someone's ass in the other lane?

I have not bought a valve body yet, but TCI has online instructions so I am basing all of this on their products
Please reply!! I have lots of questions, and need lots of help!!!

I run a reverse manual valve body in my Turbo 400, I run a Cheetah valve body. I cant see to much of a difference between brands, but then again I'm no expert. When I slow down at a light I just leave it in 3rd gear, and then once I'm stopped I shift it into 1st. You can down shift if you want but if I remember correctly there is no engine braking with a manual valve body. For your 3rd? I've shifted into first while making a turn and not realizing I hit the gas and with my 4500 stall converter the tires just lit right up, prob a safety issue for TCI.

 

[ZS10]

I have a manual v/b in my 4l80. I downshift, but at low speed/rpm. I never pull up to or sit at a light in 3-4 gear. Just my personal habit...
If I accidently hit 1st while I'm moving faster than 5-10 mph my head almost hits the steering wheel: I have engine braking. If i'm moving and drop to first and stand on it, I make smoke, and run up to 6k rpm in about .5 seconds.

 

[theflash]

I run a reverse manual valve body in my Turbo 400, I run a Cheetah valve body. I cant see to much of a difference between brands, but then again I'm no expert. When I slow down at a light I just leave it in 3rd gear, and then once I'm stopped I shift it into 1st. You can down shift if you want but if I remember correctly there is no engine braking with a manual valve body. For your 3rd? I've shifted into first while making a turn and not realizing I hit the gas and with my 4500 stall converter the tires just lit right up, prob a safety issue for TCI.

I think the lack of engine braking with the tranny is because of the reverse shift pattern not the manual valve body. Also, down shifting with the reverse shift is bad, since it can break the sprag.