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Powerglide in a LS1

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Old May 19, 2004 | 03:29 PM
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Default Powerglide in a LS1?

How would this work?
I am guessing it wouldn't be very streeable, but for a track only LS1 what benifit's/negatives is there?
Also how big of a converter would you need to run?
I use a 4400 now would you have to go any bigger or smaller?
I have noticed these tranny's dont like heavy cars, but what is the limit?
Also could you drive it on the street at all or now way?
Thanks
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Old May 19, 2004 | 06:44 PM
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Default Powerglide in a LS1

How would this work?
I am guessing it wouldn't be very streeable, but for a track only LS1 what benifit's/negatives is there?
Also how big of a converter would you need to run?
I use a 4400 now would you have to go any bigger or smaller?
I have noticed these tranny's dont like heavy cars, but what is the limit?
Also could you drive it on the street at all or no way?
Thanks


BTW. I already posted this in the tranny section but have no reply's, and that is why I posted it here.
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Old May 19, 2004 | 07:16 PM
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this is something I have been looking into myself as I am going to a TH400 or a powerglide. the powerglide works best for cars under 3200 lbs(probably a little less actually) from what I have read/been told and have only the 2 forward gears, so for the F-bodies is not usually a good choice. the are smaller and do cause as much drivetrain loss as a TH400.

I'll see if i can get Brad to respond to this in more detail (this is Demon SS using Brad's screen name) as he knows more about this than I do.
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Old May 19, 2004 | 07:38 PM
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"BTW. I already posted this in the tranny section but have no reply's, and that is why I posted it here."

You posted this question in the tranny section (where it belongs) only 4 hours ago.

Merged...
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Old May 20, 2004 | 01:22 AM
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A Glide would be very consistent at the track, you're not going to like driving it around on the street very much though. It is also very efficent for an automatic transmission. Personally I'd look more into a TH350.
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Old May 20, 2004 | 08:47 AM
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They are really made for a light car. If you could get your car under 3000lbs you would probably love it. You are going to need alot of motor and nitrous with a powerglide to get your car moving if it weighs alot.
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Old May 20, 2004 | 09:14 AM
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light car and tons of tq is what you need to overcome the small first gear. very few have gone this combo.
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Old May 20, 2004 | 04:08 PM
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The benefits would be less drivetrain loss, lighter weight and more consistant to bracket race. The cons would be the standard 1.76 first gear. You could upgrade to a bigger gear, but those sets aren't as durable due to their smaller size.

The standard rule of thumb is the car should be lighter, but I know of a local tranny builder that has run real quick with a glide in a 3500 lbs car.

Another idea is with a t-brake, leaving on the gas the lower first gear may help a marginally prepped track.

Now just give me about 2 months and I'll let ya know how it works.
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Old May 21, 2004 | 09:56 PM
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Currently I have a T400 with Trans Brake. I have talked to some people that say the T-400 is a power killing tranny even compaired to the 4L60E. They say there is normally a 22-25% drivetrain loss using a T-400. I have also talked to some folks that say a powerglide is only a 5% drivetrain loss. If this were true and in a car that made 450 WRHP through a T-400 and had 22% loss then in theory you would gain around 70 RWHP, that is crazy. I personially dont believe there is that HUGE of a difference in power loss but again I am asking a question here which shows I am not real sure.

Has anyone else heard theory's, or seen fact's of HP loss?

BTW there is a Turbo Mustang that comes street racing a couple times a month with a powerglide. He drive about 30 miles per week which is more than I do.
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Old May 22, 2004 | 02:57 PM
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My local tranny builder has been in the business and drag racing for over 30 years. I can only tell you that his claim is there's a 25% drivetrain loss with a 400. I've run 400's in the past on first gen Camaros and still believe in them. Just thought I'd give his theory a try for my 2000 Camaro and run a glide with a top of line converter and a big rear gear. I hope it nets some good results.
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Old May 22, 2004 | 03:17 PM
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Tom the roofer has a glide in his car. I believe Jay Johnson also had a glide.
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Old May 22, 2004 | 03:31 PM
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i would think its a great option if you have the tq to move the car...glides are cheap, less moving internal parts & lighter...I would think they would probably be more suited to a FI car than a NA stock cubed motor though.
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Old May 22, 2004 | 07:50 PM
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I made 437 on my first dyno. I have AS stage 3 heads on the way as well as a 90mm LSX intake and throttle body. Then comes the 2 stage Nitrous setup and should produce 700+ ft lbs of torque.
That should be enough to get me going.
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