Are you guys running the long throw or the pancake style. I believe all the pancake style ones are being manufactured by the same company with just a different sticker on them. Need to buy a couple and was just wondering what everyone was running.

Pancake on both

For me it depends on what VB is used during the build. In most cases the conventional pancake is sufficient for use with the only real drawback being they are more likely to go bad (overheat/simply fail).
The canister (long throw) is extremely resistant to overheating, but may require some custom shimming or trimming to achieve correct depth without over plunging. I’m not convinced that it really matters on physical reaction, just never liked the idea of bottoming the valve in the bore – I doubt it would cause much of a problem much with the cast iron VBs, but the billet VBs obviously could be a different story.

Are all of the Pancake style the same length of throw? I have a TCI and a BTE and they both seem the same and BTE said they would interchange.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Eman:
Are all of the Pancake style the same length of throw? I have a TCI and a BTE and they both seem the same and BTE said they would interchange.[/QUOTE

I didn't have that answer, so I looked at three distinctly different pancake styles and I see .011 between them all. One has an aluminum tip and the other two are steel. All between.202 to 213 travel.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Kathe:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Eman:
Are all of the Pancake style the same length of throw? I have a TCI and a BTE and they both seem the same and BTE said they would interchange.[/QUOTE

I didn't have that answer, so I looked at three distinctly different pancake styles and I see .011 between them all. One has an aluminum tip and the other two are steel. All between.202 to 213 travel.

I'm guessing that's an acceptable tolerance for length of throw.

[/QUOTE]
I'm guessing that's an acceptable tolerance for length of throw.[/QUOTE

I believe so. I always make a habit of checking the depth/change but never associated a dimension with it.
I have heard these were originally designed for soda machines...if so +/- .025 is probably "in spec".

I like the enclosed version for no other reason to keep the dirt out of it.

Call Marco, he will take care of you

quote:

Originally posted by Eman:

I'm guessing that's an acceptable tolerance for length of throw.

While some are interchangeable, some are not. I've had some in the past not work due to the length. Also you need to check any new solenoid you are installing for amp draw. A rash of chinese junk ( all with prominent manufacturer stickers on them ) have been hitting the market drawing 20 plus amps and will blow the fuse on wiring panels intermittently if you're on the button for any length of time. Been down this road with numerous cars both brand new and old.

Simple answer is get one the same length and check it on the car. As far as what style? it's what ever you like or have room for. Those big ass oversized enclosed ones require removal to get the transmission in and out of my dragsters.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
I like the enclosed version for no other reason to keep the dirt out of it.

Same here. I don’t think the style necessarily determines the throw.

When I used the Hughes enclosed solenoid with a BTE valvebody, it required a .060 washer to shim it out. I’m now using the FTI enclosed solenoid with no shim necessary.

[/QUOTE]

Same here. I don’t think the style necessarily determines the throw.

When I used the Hughes enclosed solenoid with a BTE valvebody, it required a .060 washer to shim it out. I’m now using the FTI enclosed solenoid with no shim necessary.[/QUOTE]

Interesting that you found that and I would agree – I don’t think the style dictates the plunge length necessarily. However I have a brand new FTI #F2515M (canister style) on hand that has .052 more plunge depth than any of the pancake style’s that I have on hand. That should put your Hughes solenoid about .300 travel, correct?

I cannot identify all of the pancake style solenoids that I have (all used) and I don’t have a new pancake style on hand, but as I mentioned previously they are all slightly different in outside appearance. Those three that I checked, they were all roughly .05 less travel than the canister style.

Coan - bullet is excellent, but I know the solenoid Godley sells is a winner too dependable repeatable.

I always recommend buying one from the same company as the valvebody.