Air vs. Elec shifters
 

Anyone care to make a recommendation for an automatic 3 speed (TH 400) electric or air shifter setup ?
I will be purchasing a new shifter for a reverse pattern and would like to go auto 1-2 shift and possibly auto 2-3 shift .
I dont race at any contingency type races so payouts are not a concern.
Been looking a litte bit at Contender Performance (shifnoid) and also at the Biondo offerings.

Planning on running an alternator and already have MSD 6AL box . ( also have MSD 3 step).

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

I have the Precicion Performance air shifter on a reverse pattern t-400. I haven't missed a shift since I put it in. LOL. It's deadly consistent. A little pricey but I felt it was well worth it.

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

Turbo Action makes that cheetah scs shifter, in foward and reverse, those in my opinion are the only way to go, I tried a shifniod on a 3 speed, JUNK is all I can say, the people at shifniod tried to be helpful I must them credit on that, but iI couldnt ever get it to work, testing it it shifted fine, going down the track it would very seldom shift, finaly they told me it was a radio frequenincy problum. I just heard another guy trying one of there new designs, he was having the same trouble. but I know the Cheetah works.....

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

cheetah wiyh air shift the only way to go. mine works flawless.

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

cheetah with air shift the only way to go. mine works flawless.

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

Was having problems with my electric shifter (would shift sometimes and sometimes not) went to an air shifter and it is a very solid shift. Already had air for T/ Stop so just plumed it in. Should have done it years back...........

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

Been using Biondo electric shift solonoid for over 10yrs, never had an issue, never worry about refilling the bottle or having leaks.

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

I use a trans king electric vavle body. In my opinion you can't beat them. Everything is done inside the valvebody, just put a chip in it and let it shift itself. 1 12V wire to the RPM activated switch and 1 ground, thats it and the shifter never actually moves!!! However I have a powerglide, I'm not sure if they make one for TH-350 or 400. When I first got the car out I had a TH 350 in it and had a B&M ratchet shifter with a shiftnoid that worked flawlessly. It's for sale too!!!! :)`

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

[QUOTE=luckydog;74905]I use a trans king electric vavle body. In my opinion you can't beat them. Everything is done inside the valvebody, just put a chip in it and let it shift itself. 1 12V wire to the RPM activated switch and 1 ground, thats it and the shifter never actually moves!!! However I have a powerglide,


That is what I have / had before going to air. Hope you have better luck than me................

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

The internal shift solenoids (inside the pan in the valve body) ARE a problem. It is only a matter of time before you have a problem with them. I think it is the hot fluid and temperature that get them. Then you have to pull the pan along with draining the fluid to change the solenoid.
I build race transmissions and custom build them for what the customer wants. I will not build and sell a customer an internal shift or brake valve body for that reason. They are just a problem.
My 2 Cents

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

My dad has had the same one in his S/R car for as long as I can remember, at least the early 90's, with absolutely no problems. It's proved itself to me, thats why I have one. :confused:

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

So I bought a complete ELECTRIC kit from Contender Performance ( B&M shifter,shifnoid,rpm switch) for my TH400 equipped Monza. It is supposed to shift from 1-2 and then 2-3 but so far it only seems to work about half the time, it shifts every time from 1-2,but not so dependable on the 2-3 shift ( have only made 6 passes over 2 weekends). All wiring is new,ground is good,etc ... Really not having much fun with this setup. Most of my racing friends have similiar kits that work A1 but run 'glides rather than a TH400. Kind of wishing I had gone the air route so far ...

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

we have a cheetah shifter also but also have the 2-3 shift problem with an air shift setup. worked for a while but now only shifts the first shift and then the second only every now and then. cant count on it at all. anyone else having problems or suggestions?

Re: Air vs. Elec shifters
 

Most shift problems (in my experience) can be traced to linkage issues.

We fought a bad one this year where it would shift fine on jackstands, but under load with the chassis flexing, it would just barely not engage second. Lost rd. 1 at a national event, thank you...

We carefully checked the linkage and found it was off by about a 1/16th of an inch, just a tiny bit one way too far. When we put the linkage on the ball, it was just rubbing a little. A turn one way was all it needed, and it shifted fine after that.

HTH,
Chris