Powerglide vs TH400
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 166
Likes: 2
From: Bahrain
Powerglide vs TH400 the car currently makes a little over 500whp on a built 4l60e and has survived multiple drag strip with low to mid 10's in the 1/4 mile. Weight was around 3250lbs. 3.73 10 bolt rear end, 26 inch tire.
I am upgrading either to a 454ci lsx or a 427ci ls7 block. Car should be making around 600whp. Also dropping the weight to 2700lbs and no more street driving. I was on index 10.5 class and now i wanna do index 9.50
I have been told the local built 4l60e won't be able to survive and cost of getting a built one through RPM transmission level 7/10 is over $4k. Even RPM transmission told that if i decide to upgrade in future, it will not hold power over 750-800whp reliably. I want a transmission to hold 800whp reliably in case i decide to upgrade the engine or spray the motor.
Therefore i decided to go with TH400, however, FTI suggested the powerglide instead. I told them i want a tranny to hold 1000hp so that might be the reason they suggested the glide, but im really not gonna make that much right now. They told me with a proper efficient converter and gearing the powerglide should run better than a turbo 400. Cost is $600 more then a th400 for 1100hp rated PG. Really can't decide which one will work best.
Anyone who tried both or have similar setups/transmission, please let me know.
I am upgrading either to a 454ci lsx or a 427ci ls7 block. Car should be making around 600whp. Also dropping the weight to 2700lbs and no more street driving. I was on index 10.5 class and now i wanna do index 9.50
I have been told the local built 4l60e won't be able to survive and cost of getting a built one through RPM transmission level 7/10 is over $4k. Even RPM transmission told that if i decide to upgrade in future, it will not hold power over 750-800whp reliably. I want a transmission to hold 800whp reliably in case i decide to upgrade the engine or spray the motor.
Therefore i decided to go with TH400, however, FTI suggested the powerglide instead. I told them i want a tranny to hold 1000hp so that might be the reason they suggested the glide, but im really not gonna make that much right now. They told me with a proper efficient converter and gearing the powerglide should run better than a turbo 400. Cost is $600 more then a th400 for 1100hp rated PG. Really can't decide which one will work best.
Anyone who tried both or have similar setups/transmission, please let me know.
i would thing the glide would be alot more with custom gearing. imo a 1.80 first gear is to much for a 700hp car especially on 3.73s. glides are ususally reserved for big power lvls. a th400 will have no problem holding 1500hp if built correctly. infact a th400 can hold your power lvl with just some good clutches and forward hub upgrade, a billet input shaft and then your good to 1000.
i also think the price difference only reflects a powerglide with stock gearing. if it were my car id go th400, which is why i went 4l80e cause I wanted to keep the overdrive, you can also get a th400 down to 140lb if weight is a concern over glide. and you have the 2.48 1st gear to get you off the line
i also think the price difference only reflects a powerglide with stock gearing. if it were my car id go th400, which is why i went 4l80e cause I wanted to keep the overdrive, you can also get a th400 down to 140lb if weight is a concern over glide. and you have the 2.48 1st gear to get you off the line
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 166
Likes: 2
From: Bahrain
i would thing the glide would be alot more with custom gearing. imo a 1.80 first gear is to much for a 700hp car especially on 3.73s. glides are ususally reserved for big power lvls. a th400 will have no problem holding 1500hp if built correctly. infact a th400 can hold your power lvl with just some good clutches and forward hub upgrade, a billet input shaft and then your good to 1000.
i also think the price difference only reflects a powerglide with stock gearing. if it were my car id go th400, which is why i went 4l80e cause I wanted to keep the overdrive, you can also get a th400 down to 140lb if weight is a concern over glide. and you have the 2.48 1st gear to get you off the line
i also think the price difference only reflects a powerglide with stock gearing. if it were my car id go th400, which is why i went 4l80e cause I wanted to keep the overdrive, you can also get a th400 down to 140lb if weight is a concern over glide. and you have the 2.48 1st gear to get you off the line
Powerglide level 4 is $3295 and rated 1100hp with aftermaket gears
I believe the Sprag is the weakest point in the turbo 400. Then the input shaft and fw hub. FTI also includes aluminum direct drum which saves 5 pounds.
I'm sure there must be a reason they recommended a glide. Let me know if you have any experience with similar combos.
I did tons of digging after I broke the output shaft running 9s with my 4l60e. Was fine on the Dyno but didn't like 1.3 60fts. A glide can be very consistent because it's harder to spin the long first gear but th400 can be faster if power management/ suspension is dialed in. Both can be built plenty strong. I went with a 2.10 gearset th400 from Coan Engineering, most builders use his hard parts, and the owner Jason was awesome!
I'm looking into these options as well and have called some well known race trans builders, It's 50/50 split on which one to use. The glide is lighter, uses less power to run it and can be real consistent and can be built to any power level an LS can make. The cons: best in a car less than 3000lbs, 2 gears, wider ratios means you have to really lean on the converter to get it going so getting just the right converter is critical. TH400, not so much and can be purchased for a high HP level for less than what it takes to build a glide, longevity is with the 400 and so is the extra weight and HP usage to run it's self. I'm leaning towards the glide myself. On that note, very disappointed with Rossler as they do not take calls, return calls and take their phone off the hook for sometimes a complete day.
