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Since ATI Performance Products released its popular Turbo 400 aftermarket Supercase, they have continued their engineering efforts to design new internal components, including improved valve bodies and transbrakes, for one of drag racing’s most well-traveled transmissions.
The Compu-Flow valve bodies are a modified unit utilizing factory Turbo 400 cast iron. The complex valving and passages inside an OEM valve body are redesigned to provide transbrake circuitry and better-shifting action.
JC Beattie from ATI describes the “Wicked Quick” billet aluminum Turbo 400 valve bodies. “It’s a total redesign of the internal hydraulic passages. The solenoid and fluid dump are relocated for the quickest release of transbrake pressure.”
The Compu-Flow valvebodies are a modified OEM cast iron unit. With this comparison, the ATI billet aluminum valve body offers direct path hydraulic circuitry.
With the safety side of the Wicked Quick transbrake, you must apply your transbrake button in addition to the reverse gear circuit. This prevents applying reverse while moving forward.
Many racers will shift from second gear into neutral at the end of a pass. A worn shift linkage or the momentum of the components at high-transmission-RPM could catastrophically apply reverse at high speed.
The E-Quick Electronic Shift reverse manual valve body utilizes solenoid-controlled 1-2 and 2-3 shift functions. These shift solenoids can be integrated in late model electronic control unit to operate shifts.
Other fresh features for the new Turbo 400 transbrakes include multiple shift options, plus two- and three-speed transmission designs. “The ATI Performance ‘brakes are nothing like some other ‘clean neutral’ products,” Beattie explains. “Other valve bodies simply move the neutral position, which allows fluid to go to the forward drum—the vehicle can still move forward under throttle. Ours completely dumps all fluid for both the forward and direct drums.”
These ATI solenoids are designed for internal applications, such as the E-Quick Electronic Shift Valve Bodies (right) and the Wicked Quick lightweight billet aluminum valve bodies.
Since the Turbo 400 remains the pinnacle drag racing automatic transmission to transfer high horsepower and torque through your drivetrain, it is fitting that ATI continues to use new engineering concepts to develop top-tier transmission components for performance and competition.
