Long story short- dropped the pan to swap out what was thought to be a swapped-in stocker. Looked identical to the Cheetah I was going to install except on the tab where the TA has "Cheetah" and "17156" hand-engraved, this one has "045" stamped through the plate. On the test drive the shifts were OK but discovered that it would shift automatically if left in drive. I'm stumped as the VB had no kick-down provision just like the Cheetah.
Not much to go on but it will be next Monday before I can swap out the VBs and try to find other markings.
Anyone familiar with this VB and can tell me what it is?

Tim

The 045 stamping is the last three digits of the factory part number (in this case 3515045) of the steel plate used in various 727 valve bodies.

When you say the valve body "has no kickdown provision" do you mean the external lever? Even without the lever hooked up it will upshift automatically but not for very long...the linkage is essential for an automatic valve body.