I've recently gotten patent pending status (a first for me) for a new automatic slap shifter detent plate design for our original horseshoe shifters. I'd like to find out if anyone is interested in them before I talk to a local company that will lazer cut them for me. I have a few to sell now, that I've made by hand. I was making one that allows the user to just slap the shifter for a positive 1-2 shift, and then squeeze the handle and shove forward for a positive 2-3 shift. It's different than other aftermarket plates.
Most recently, I was able to design another detent plate that lets you simply slap the handle for both positive upshifts, without having to squeeze the handle at all. I'm calling this one the True Slap Detent Plate, unless someone can suggest a better name, since no squeezing is needed for either shift, and you have no worries about going into neutral or reverse with the original style valve body and shift patterns. I have a design for the original 3 speed automatics (TH350s and 400s), the overdrives, and also the 3 speeds and overdrives with reverse manual valve bodies.
I've shifted about 250 times now with my TH400 in my car and it hasn't missed 1 shift. Due to the bad weather, my car hasn't been out since last October, so up until Sunday all testing was with the car in the garage. I was finally able to get it out and drive it Sunday a little. I shifted it about 10 times and loved the way it works.
Please let me know if you may be interested. I'm not asking for commitments. I just need an idea how this will go. I'll also soon be asking on other forums and on Facebook.
There are detent plates available from Shiftworks that are designed by the owner of Thomson Performance, but all of them require squeezing the handle for one of the upshifts. They sell for roughly $85 to $100, plus shipping.
My True Slap detent plates will be priced competitively, but I won't know for sure how much until I find out manufacturing costs.
I'll see about posting a video soon.
Thanks!
Dan