Cmpeirce123

I have a 1964 Olds F85 I swapped a 65 425 in. I still have the original 2 speed hooked up until I swap the th400 in. My question is I got this car after sitting for over 20 years and I don’t know much about these switch pitch transmissions.
The switch pitch cord was never hooked up when I got the car. It was just sitting there. I’ve been driving it without it on. 330 had no power and was original so I rebuilt a 65 425 and it’s a totally different animal. I don’t see how to hook up the switch pitch with my edelbrock intake. Running it without does it stay in one stall mode?
I will be swapping in the th400 this summer and that also came with a cord as well. Can I get a regular stall converter for it? It has the stock one on it now. The car has a lot more power with the new 425 but am I missing a lot with this cord not hooked up?

joe_padavano

The whole point of the switch pitch is to make the torque converter act like a high stall converter when you need it and like a normal converter when you don't. The factory actually had two switches in 1964, one to go to high stall at idle and one to go to high stall at wide open throttle. The one you have in the photo is the latter, and it also controls the kickdown. If you do not have the kickdown connected, you are missing out on a lot of acceleration. In any case, your real problem is the two speed trans. First gear is only 1.76:1. First gear in a TH350 is 2.52:1. That's going to improve off-the-line acceleration far more than connecting the switch pitch. Your first gear is like starting off in second gear with the TH350.