do any of you guys have trans brakes on your cars? i am loosely considering getting one for my truck. i know i will lose the full automatic function of the trans, but my uncles suggested it. he has one on his race car and said it would be worth at least a tenth or 2 off my 60' time and it would be a lot of fun. i was just wondering if anyone had one on the street and what kind of gains you realized with it.

i am also considering a two-step for my msd box. as i understand it, i would set one rpm for launching and one for top end rev limit. when i stage with this, should i flat foot it against the rev limiter on the line and let a button go when the light turns green (well, on the last yellow anyway). a two-step is a lot cheaper than a brake, but i would not get the same effect. any opinions or suggestions would be appreciated. sorry for the length.

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88 S10
Dropped 3/4
18" Boyd Coddington Timeless 5s
Dart equipped 406
12.20 @ 115.25 mph

 

A transbrake doesn't lose full automatic function. The transbrake allows the tranny to be locked in first and reverse. This locks the output so that no power is transmitted to the wheels. You then go to WOT and the engine will build to the torque converters stall rpm. When the transbrake is release the fluid is dumped from the reverse curcuit and all the power is directed to the wheels in a massive shot. This can damage driveline parts especially little 7.5 diffs.

The 2-step just allows you to launch at the same rpm every time. It can be tied into the transbrake or can be used without it. I use one as a foot brake racer. Push the button for the 2-step, hold the brakes and go to WOT. The 2-step will drop cylinders to keep the rpm to where you set it until you release the button. It takes a little practice to release the brakes and the button at the same time. I know someone who wired it into his brake switch to do the same thing.

Just using a 2-step instead of a transbrake won't let you come up as much in rpm at the starting line. The engine will overpower the brakes if the rpms are too high and push you through the stage lights.

Trans brakes are a race only part and have no use on the street.

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Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
461 Big Block installed and ready for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

I have not seen a trans brake where the full automatic feature was retained, they all have said "full manual valve body." i think i am going to get a two-step instead because i don't want to spend 350 bucks on something like a trans brake.

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88 S10
Dropped 3/4
18" Boyd Coddington Timeless 5s
Dart equipped 406
12.20 @ 115.25 mph