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Big Block guys... step in...

gtpsleeper

gtpsleeper

New member
soooo since KCIR closed and I dont wanna bring the car all the way to Heartland Park... Ive decided to turn my race car into more of a "Sunday driver" if ya know what I mean...

question is... Its a completely built up carbed 540 motor that buts down close to 800hp to the wheels...

I have a Powerglide in it right now but obviously dont want that to just cruise around in... what kind of trans options do I even have out there for this thing? T56 with a bause clutch maybe?

I prefer a manual but its not a must...

thanks for any inputs...

Jarred
 


id go with a th 400 and a 2500 stall 3.70 or 3.93 gears so it will still run the highways.

4 speed were fun back in my youth, and im a truck driver so manual for cruising is out in my book. would be real frigging sick tho with a good 4 speed and 800 hp.

my bro had a 462, (454 .30 over) estimated at around 650 hp ( 7 grand in engine parts alone in the late 80's) th 400, 4.11 gears, full posi unit installed as well in a 12 bolt rear. the trans was a B and M built with a full manual valve body.and a 3200 stall in a 72 chevelle. that came as a 4 speed and stock 10 bolt rear and a 302 i think.all were scrapped, and replaced.

this thing used to break the tires lose at 40 with out trying, and ran a 12.6 in the 1/4 at 106 mph. full car, no weight reductions made.

turned into this monster, in this shot it has the slicks on it, he ran vette rally wheels.


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i really wish we had a vid of this car, it sounded a lot like
02 WS6 TA's car. when it was cold out, it blew exhaust smoke rings out the tail pipes, you could really see each cylinder fire, and they shot out from the rear axle where the pipes dumped.​
 
You could also run an 4L80E transmission. i like those better that the turbo 400's due to the fact it has an overdrive and the ratios are close.
 
not sure what kind of car your working on but you may need some kind of commuter interface to run that trans, its electronic,(they sell it) vs the th400 being vac operated for the most part.

OD would be nice to have.

if you did have a OD i bet you could get away with 4.11 gears and not be screaming on the highway.

@50 mph my brothers car was doing over 3,000 rpm's, screaming! this car didnt make real power till 3200 rpm's and red lined at 5800 to 6000 iirc. big blocks dont really like hi rpm's, had lots of friends with 9,000 rpm small blocks tho.

he took back roads all the way to the track after his first highway drive. and this was his daily driver.

as fast as his car was, a 2 hour drive down the shore would take him 3 hours lol he drive rt 9 all the way there, (in the slow lane) vs the parkway.
 


Bio248 said:
why cant you drive a glide on the street? ive seen literally hundreds of dudes do it.
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power glides is a s 2 speed trans, not good for out side the track. sure it be fun but mpg will suffer greatly. why stick with 2 when you can 3 or 4 gears?
 
i realize its a 2 speed. but if youre gonna just cruise it for fun every so often and not going on any real trips, **** take it out on the glide. i would.
 
lol at mpg woes with 540ci. Glide will be fine. 2nd gear is 1:1

My bet is op doesnt own said car tho.

btw big blocks love rpm's too
 


and when you are getting 8 gallons to the mile, (yeah i typed that right,) every mpg helps. a worked big block drinks gas, theres no granny driving saving you form poor mpg. why more gears are more better. running around town at 2200 rpms is far better than 3500 gas wise. and a high stall will kill your mpg, but at least it will make power off the line with it.
 
you can buy lots of gas for the price of a built th400 even more so w/a viper spec t56. The torque of a big block would make the need for a 3rd gear moot.

Glides are nearly indestructible. Manuals are hard on everything.
 


1970 nova SS

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Do I own the car?
yes
Did I build the whole thing?
no

Long story short I inherited it...

I guess I could keep the glide as I dont plan on ever taking it on the highway, the tranny is more of an idea than a must right now as Im looking for a bause radiator and wheel/tire setup...

just kinda thought itd be fun to have a few more gears because im setup to go about 6800-7000 rpm... little more fun to drive (if thats possible)

thanks for the input fellas, gives me something to kinda start researching... keep em coming though as Ive never really done anything like this before...
 
nice ride, looks like a beast. is it tubed? gutted and caged?

i'd look for a big ol fat rad to put in it, and 2 electric fans. electric fans can run full speed all the time, so you should never have a problem on the road overheating. even on a hot day in traffic.

back in the day a friend of mine bought this 67 1/2 camaro, (for 5 large delivered) caged, tubed, no engine or trans, but it came with 5.33 gears in a spool rear end, with 33 street slicks, fuel cell in the trunk, car was set up for 1/8 mile runs. we put the engine and trans from my brothers chevelle in and drove it on the street. car was a neck breaker. spool rear end and skinny tires up front dont mix well for taking turns on the street lol

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all of the above...

Ive got a pretty good idea on the radiator setup im gonna do... this one is obviously not gonna be big enough for street driving but then again it was never designed for that...
 
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