Is there a reason to go reverse pattern versus forward other than the way you want to pull or push? I am new to the manual auto thing and would like some opinions.

pulling the shifter away from neutral is a good thing.

Also looking for opinions on brand of valve body and shifter.

Myself I prefer pulling the shifter back towards me when racing and getting planted back in the seat. Its much easier then trying to push the shifter forward when racing. I have always used Turbo Action manual valve bodies. Ron

Turbo Action Cheetah Pro Street forward pattern here. Love it on the street!

I use it with a Hurst Quarter Stick Pistol Grip.

Cope Racing.

i also have a Cope Racing unit in my streetcar. good unit with LBA.

When I'm in the staging lanes going from neutral to first is less effort with a reverse valve body... Other wise you have to go through 3rd and 2nd to get there.

X2.... I prefer pushing forward to shift, just seems more natural to me. I also love my B&M quicksilver shifter.

I was happy to get rid of the kick down linkage and I like the fact that I can kick it up into neutral after a run.

Turbo Action Cheetah manual valve body and Turbo Action shifter is what I use.

I put a Turbo Action forward pattern manual valve body with LBA in my wife's '70 Barracuda. That way she will not be confused when shifting gears and I could retain the factory slap stik shifter as well.

Our '64 Savoy utilizes a reverse pattern valve body with an old Winters shifter.

Needless to say, I have to really pay attention what I'm driving while at the track.

I've always used the turbo action reverse manual valve body and the B&M ProRatchet shifter, I love this combo for a street/strip car.

Thanks for the info. Does any body have experience with the "shift r plate" that converts a slap stick to reverse manual pattern?

Griner LBA RMVB and a pistol grip Quarterstick.

i have one. wasn't a straight fit n go deal. had to be a little creative with a small file. works ok now that i modified it.

I had to do the same, clean it up a bit. I like the fact I'm shifting away from reverse. My slap stik handle got jacked up and I shifted from 1st to second and kind of over slapped into reverse. Not good!

The biggest beef I have with the RMVB on my Demon is that at the end of a run you are stuck in 3rd. Something goes wrong on the track and no way to get to neutral quickly.

On my mostly street 904/416 SB I have the kickdown still. Just have always liked it since I was 15.

I like my TA Cheetah rev. pattern MVB. I use Hurst 1/4 stick shifters too. Got away from the crap ratchet shifters years ago.

Same here. I have a CRT LBA valve body with a JVX (Winters) gated shifter. It's actually a forward pattern but works fine, just have to push it away for the 2-3 shift. Never missed a shift like this but did have a few 1-3 shifts when I had a forward pattern VB.