1st gear start FOM

I'm surprised that nobody has responded to this post; due to my moving I haven't gotten my latest Turning Wheels yet so I obviously haven't read the article. I geuss that many of the "usual suspects" are heading for South Bend, also. I had a 6 cylinder valve body laying around so I stuck it in about eight months ago to get the first gear start and also changed the governor a little later. I haven't grenaded the tranny yet, but IMHO the first gear start isn't all it's cracked up to be and is a bit annoying due to the band application that occurs on the downshift. The upshift is fine. When and if the tranny blows up I have a 200 R4 to replace it with, but if I had it to do over again I wouldn't bother with the valve body changeout. If I ever wanted to do the first gear start with a FOM again, I would do it the "right" way and install the sprag and stuff to get rid of the pesky band apply downshift. I don't know if the 6 cylinder (up to 60) tranny has the guts in it already; nobody has ever asked or answered that question and someday I may take it apart to see for myself. One more note; my tranny "guru" said to loosen the band a little to help lessen the "klunk" when it downshifts into first. I haven't tried that yet. Studebaker George

I'm a hot rod kind of guy, and when i want to run my 64-259 Auto thru the gears to see what she'll do, I take off in L and run it up till its time to shift into second, shift to drive and let it go into second, then immediately shift back to low so it will stay in second as long as i want and shift back to drive when it's wound out in second and it will go into third. So a first gear start valve body isn't that important to me. especially since Sasco wants $350 for one.

Bob Whiten Wagonmaster

I shifted my 57 Silver Hawk that way for years. I got that info from Andy Granitelli, durring one of his famous road tests.

I also jacked my timing ahead and ran Sunoco 260 gas in it. Went like H--L until I bunred a few valves. I had the valves fixed, gooped the heck out of the head gasket and bolted it back to gether.

I had my first race in that car. I ran a 64 V8 Falcon down the local Highshool Driveway, and back. Hit the highway dropped her into low and left sideways. Beat the Falcon and left before the cops showed.

Oh the good old days.

Geno

64 Daytona Convertible