Kurt, > This is the second time I've noticed that you don't seem to care for SP. > I was thinking about putting one in my car and would truly appreciate your > insight.
The '65-'67 Olds TH400 isn't the first GM automatic transmission with a variable pitch converter. Before I go on, I want to point out the stock converters for both a SP TH400 and a '68 and later TH400 have the same torque multiplication ratio at stall speed, 2.2 to 1 or 2.5 to 1, depending upon the transmission application. I have owned or do own now the following GM Olds vehicles with a variable pitch converter: '63 Olds Starfire with variable pitch SlimJim '64 Olds Dynamic 88 station wagon with variable pitch SlimJim 3 different '67 Olds Delta 88s with SP TH400 '64 Olds Cutlass variable pitch 2 speed Jetaway 2 different '65 Olds F-85/Vista Cruiser with variable pitch 2 speed Jetaway I have owned or do own now the following GM Olds vehicles with a fixed converter: '59 Olds 98 with dual coupling HydraMatic, later equipped with a B&M modified '55 Olds slant pan HydraMatic called a HydroStick '68 Chevy Impala with TH400 '76 Chevy Impala with TH350 Thunder Lizard with B&M TH400 '97 Pontiac Trans Sport with 4T60E I do not like the way a variable pitch converter engages. I do not have a proper "seat-of-the-pants" feel for gear changes in a transmission that receives its power routed through a variable pitch converter. I also firmly believe in the KISS principle, Keep It Simple Sam. The more systems, the more chance of failure. The variable pitch converter is another system to go wrong. I'm not convinced of the ultimate strength of a variable pitch converter, including those modified for racing. My '63 Starfire was so-so in performance through the gears. It was the variable pitch converter. I was seriously contemplating installing the B&M HydroStick from my defunct '59 into the Starfire. But a very little old lady saw to it my Starfire was totaled. The '64 wagon was nothing spectacular. Her SlimJim was a joke. The SP TH400s in the Deltas were interesting, to say the least, but the last '67 Delta, the tan one with her blue hood, driven from '72 to '82 and came to Tucson with me, with her stock 390HP 455 with an Edlebrock O4B and AFB and big dual exhausts in front of her SP TH400, had that transmission replaced with a rebuilt fixed converter TH400 in '78. It was a world of difference, all for the better. That Delta ran, period. She was my stealth Highway Patrol pursuit car. I can't wait to install fixed converter TH400s in my 3 other A-bodies and get rid of those 3 abominable 2 speed variable pitch Jetaways. The fixed pitch TH400 and TH350 in my Chevys and the fixed pitch 4T60E in my Pontiac performed and performs exceptionally well. I honestly can't see where variable pitch has an advantage. Sorry to contradict everyone else, but my experience doesn't agree. I've had both. I do not care for variable pitch. Milton Schick 1964 442 Cutlass [EMAIL PROTECTED]
