building up a th400 or glide
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FormerVendor
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building up a th400 or glide Alright i really haven't ever messed with too many automatics but i am building a 1500 hp turbo 4th gen right now so i figured the t56 is out of the question unless i want to spend 6k. The car will be drivin on the street somewhat lol...maybe twice a week if that. I have searched for about an hour now on the forum and haven't really found anything useful. What parts are neccessary to use in a th400 build up for that kind of hp and is there any company that is better to go with or can i just get a local guy to build up a core with the proper parts? Average cost on the trans. built up? Also i know a glide is a 2 speed but how is it faster than the th400 3 speed? i though glides weren't that great for heavy cars like ours? Thanks for all the help guys
I have also heard that glides aren't good with heavy cars. If you realy will have 1500rwhp, I would say give Rossler a call. They are a sponsor, just check the list on the right. My forged heads/cam nitrous 346 wont make near that much power, so I just had a local shop build me a th400.
The rossler th210 would be a good option to consider. They warranty it for a year at any power level I believe. With a glide you need a 2800 lb or lighter car to make it work. A local shop th400 build ain't gonna hold 1500 rwhp.
If you're gonna be pushing 1500 HP a Glide is gonna be your trans. With that kind of power and a TH400 you'll have serious traction problems. The milder first gear in a Glide will allow better hook and with that kind of power 2 speeds is all you need. Not to mention a Glide is damn stout. It's true that in a heavy car with modest power a th350/th400 would make a better choice, but that isn't an issue with your combo.
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I street drive my TH400 RMVB almost everyday, and I don't mind it at all. I was told by the builder that it was guaranteed to easily hold 1400-1600 HP, reliably. Ti e will tell, I suppose. Personally, I woulf NOT run a powerglide on a heavy strret car like what you are talking about.
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You'll get differing opinions on the glide. Mine is that old wive's tale about a car having to be light for a glide is bunk. At 3225 lbs my car went a 1.32 short time and a 9.78 with only 530 HP on a stock bottom end LS1. Now the car is over 3300 and has gone 9.49 @ 146 while hazing the tires on a 1.47 60'. The sig pic and avatar is from the finals at Atlanta this year. Guess you could say I like my glide 
As far as street driving, no problems here.
As far as street driving, no problems here. 
i'd say with that serious of a combo go with a glide. i have a r.m.v.b. th400 and love it... but i have a mild cam stroker in a full weight car pushing 3700 lbs w/ me in it, and only about 520 flywheel h.p.
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FormerVendor
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Well with the glide, it seems like 2 gears would not be enough for the street. Seems like it would be either bogged down or taching high depending on the speed. With the 400, at least you have three gears.
next:whats your opinion on the 2 speed and street driving. How much do you drive the car on the street?
next:whats your opinion on the 2 speed and street driving. How much do you drive the car on the street?
Originally Posted by 69vette
Well with the glide, it seems like 2 gears would not be enough for the street. Seems like it would be either bogged down or taching high depending on the speed. With the 400, at least you have three gears.
next:whats your opinion on the 2 speed and street driving. How much do you drive the car on the street?
next:whats your opinion on the 2 speed and street driving. How much do you drive the car on the street?
With enough HP, a ONE speed would drive fine on the street.
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FormerVendor
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well with 3 speeds, it seems like it would be easier on the motor to crusie around and not be tacking real low or extremly high. Seems like it would be alot easier to stop and go also with the extra gear. I have never driven a glide though. So with 2 speeds, you still shift it correct?
Originally Posted by 69vette
well with 3 speeds, it seems like it would be easier on the motor to crusie around and not be tacking real low or extremly high. Seems like it would be alot easier to stop and go also with the extra gear. I have never driven a glide though. So with 2 speeds, you still shift it correct?
Yes a 3 speed will start off a little easier, but again with a race converter on the street it's all relative.
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FormerVendor
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well i mean i have driven plenty of high stalls on the street..you have to stall them up to get them initally moving but when your just crusing at a certain speed you don't have to keep the rpms up...Is a race converter totally different? I'm not trying to make the car impossible to drive on the street you know.
Originally Posted by 69vette
well i mean i have driven plenty of high stalls on the street..you have to stall them up to get them initally moving but when your just crusing at a certain speed you don't have to keep the rpms up...Is a race converter totally different? I'm not trying to make the car impossible to drive on the street you know.
No, a race converter is not different than what you're describing. Yes it takes more power to get the car moving than to sustain a cruise. I've street driven my car when it had an 8" 5300 stall converter with a glide and no problems.
Rossler, Coan, Hutch, JW, Mike's... the list is long of shops that make good ones. It may be of benefit to see who you are close to and try and go by and talk to them. You can learn a lot if you have chance to go through someone's shop or even just talk to them over the phone.
There may be guys over there also that could help >>>>>>>>>
There may be guys over there also that could help >>>>>>>>>
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FormerVendor
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From: Richmond, VA
Alright i'll make some calls next week. I appreciate all the help you have given me already. Its amazing how much you can lean from a 5 min phone call or by just reading online. I can't even start to think how hard it used to be when you had to go to your local track to learn everything and there waas no internet ... haha that was forever ago