Thread: Ratchet Shifters

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I was just wondering what would be the cons of running a ratchet shifter on a TH400 tranny using it as a manual and not using "drive" at all. Me and a buddy were talking about it and weren't too sure of the repercussions.

if you want to use it like a manual all the time...get a manual. I can understand doing it for play but guess I'm missing the reason.

I have one,came with the car when I bought it.....................I have ordered a new Lokar to replace it and it can't arrive quick enough!

Well, say that there are doubts that the tranny will function the way it is supposed to. How harmful would it be to use a ratchet shifter as the only way to shift gears kinda thing? It's mostly hypothetical. A friend and I were just discussing if they were harmful on the tranny basically.

if it wont function the way it`s supposed to on it`s on then it has a problem that manual shifting wont make go away ..

IMO the trans needs a manual valve body to operate faithfully internally and a gate type shifter instead of ratchet. Ratchet shifters are notoriously faulty from what I have see and read.

Kitz

Now-I have had probably 10 of them and I like them-I only use the Quicksilver because of the quality. You couldnt give me another Lokar because of the way they will move under power and hard to get the right gear when your gittin it!

Well, the tranny itself is fine. It was just rebuilt not too long ago and I've only driven the car about an hour total around the driveway. But I haven't been able to leave the driveway yet and see if the tranny is going to work. A better question would be what should I check on the transmission to ensure its going to work properly?

Man I have read this thread a couple of times, and I am still at a loss as to what "Really" is going on. While I am not to certain any of this is real, a Shifter is just that a Shifter, nothing more and nothing less. It shifts the tranny ( If there really is one) From one gear to the next Manually The automatic part is totally the work of the transmission ans either works or doesnt work.

Now with that said and with a drive way loooooong enough to drive around on for an hour, you should already know what does work and what doesnt work. That is totally dependant on the shifter you have on there now. Unless you have some little critter setting on the transmission and doing the shifting for you, know what a mean? A little critter like a rabbit or maybe a Troll......

RS

By driving around the driveway I meant pulling it out of the garage and just going out into the driveway playing around then putting it back in the garage. There is a shifter, not a rabbit, or a troll..... I can put it in gear but i haven't been able to see if it shifts from 1 to 2 and so one so forth. My biggest question was really whether or not ratchet shifters are hard on transmissions when used like a manual.

you can always block it up(extremely well) and see if it goes from first into second. I don't think I would go too fast with the ass up on jackstands if you are inexpierienced. but to get out of first should work. just don't get it rocking too much or you'll endup in the livingroom when it comes down

Originally Posted by sbcPonty81

My biggest question was really whether or not ratchet shifters are hard on transmissions when used like a manual.

The short answer is no, ratchet shifters are not hard on the trans; the driver has a lot more to do with how long the trans actually lives.

I have to agree with Hombre259 What differance dose it make what shifter you use. You can manualy shift any automatic. On the column or floor even push button. If you realy want to find out what it will do TAKE IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY

The question is not very clear. I think what the OP means is could he use a ratchet shifter with a stock or slightly modified trans. Well sure. Just put it in drive for normal driving. When you are feeling like a Pro stocker shift it manually. However I think a T-400 will upshift automatically regardless unless you have a highly modified real full manual valve body. A T-350 will not. My T-350 will stay in low or upshift to 2nd if the lever is in 2nd. Drive is full auto. There is no kickdown needed or desired.

Now if you have a real full manual and a ratchet shifter it will get real ugly when you are caucht in heavy traffic. Sure is nice to just put it in drive and let the auto do it's thing. My 1 ton dually with a 5 speed manual is another story in traffic. Clutch foot gets a good work out.

Remember as stated the shifter does nothing but position the valve body so it can shift, the trans does the rest. A full manual up and down is a race only thing, not needed or necessary on the street. If you like shifting get a manual trans.

Never had a problem with a Quicksilver either. A good shifter IMO. Ran one for yrs.