Power Glide OR TH400
Power Glide OR TH400 Well after the T56 (may it rest in peace) let go... I decided to go with a real tranny. Im also going to change my rear to a Spool with 3.55 gears. Im going to be running 28" tires. The car will be making around 790-840rwhp 700-730rwtq (Mustang Dyno) through an Automatic (Either Power Glide or TH400).
The Power Glide is 30lbs lighter than an aluminum TH400 and you have one less shift to make down the track. I also heard from few guys that the Power Glide is more efficient to put the power down.
The TH400 will have a more aggressive gearing to launch with(which could mean better 60ft's), but im not sure if thats going to make keeping the front of the car down.
If some people are wondering about the power curve... the car makes 700rwtq at 4000-4400RPM and peak in HP between 6000-6500RPM.
The price on both are around the same and both will have a transbrake.
So I would like to hear some opinions from FI folks about which one is better based on their experince and trail and error with both trannies.
The Power Glide is 30lbs lighter than an aluminum TH400 and you have one less shift to make down the track. I also heard from few guys that the Power Glide is more efficient to put the power down.
The TH400 will have a more aggressive gearing to launch with(which could mean better 60ft's), but im not sure if thats going to make keeping the front of the car down.
If some people are wondering about the power curve... the car makes 700rwtq at 4000-4400RPM and peak in HP between 6000-6500RPM.
The price on both are around the same and both will have a transbrake.
So I would like to hear some opinions from FI folks about which one is better based on their experince and trail and error with both trannies.
Well, it actually comes down to preference and money, as there are guys who run the 400 and swear by it and there are guys who run a PG and swear by it. Nasty-TA, amongst others, runs a PG on the street (rain or shine) and at the track, so for all those who say it cant be done, those guys are being proved wrong! Im going with a 400 for the only reason that it will be cheaper for me.
Originally Posted by 6techniques
Well, it actually comes down to preference and money, as there are guys who run the 400 and swear by it and there are guys who run a PG and swear by it. Nasty-TA, amongst others, runs a PG on the street (rain or shine) and at the track, so for all those who say it cant be done, those guys are being proved wrong! Im going with a 400 for the only reason that it will be cheaper for me.
either are fine for the application. I had a S/C 69 camaro small block running a glide with a 5.57 rear gear. 1.80 straight cut low gear set, consistent 8.90's, left on the floor at 7k rpm. consistent 1.14 short times. good luck
Originally Posted by LSs1Power
An Aluminum TH400 will be around 100 more than a PowerGlide based on what Im getting. So they are around the same price really.
But if youre doing one from scratch, i agree, they both are in the same price range. What in particluar are you looking at getting???
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I dont know what you mean by 'aluminum' TH400 but a TH400 with aluminum forward and direct drums will cost about 600.00 more then a PG that will handle the same amount of power.
If its just a race car I would just do the PG right away, I will switch eventually but its not high priority. I have swiched back and forth betwen the two on other cars and there is no huge difference except the lower 1st gear with the TH400 will get a heavier car out faster - but it may also put it on its bumper
Plus having to shift one less time in a faster car is nice, the 1-2 shift comes pretty quick on a fast 3 speed auto car (lots of times when the front end is in the air) so i like the glides a little better overall. Plus getting a dedenbear or ATI case and no blankets and shields to mess with is pretty nice also if you dont mind the cost..
If its just a race car I would just do the PG right away, I will switch eventually but its not high priority. I have swiched back and forth betwen the two on other cars and there is no huge difference except the lower 1st gear with the TH400 will get a heavier car out faster - but it may also put it on its bumper
Plus having to shift one less time in a faster car is nice, the 1-2 shift comes pretty quick on a fast 3 speed auto car (lots of times when the front end is in the air) so i like the glides a little better overall. Plus getting a dedenbear or ATI case and no blankets and shields to mess with is pretty nice also if you dont mind the cost..
Hmmm so far it looks like a PG.
A PG has a 1.78 1st and 1.00 2nd while a TH400 have a 2.48 1st, 1.48 2nd and 1.00 3rd. So it looks like the PG 1st gear splits the first 2 gears of a TH400. I guess driveability will be the same with both trannies.
Does it matter with the PG if the race weight is 3750lbs or so?
A PG has a 1.78 1st and 1.00 2nd while a TH400 have a 2.48 1st, 1.48 2nd and 1.00 3rd. So it looks like the PG 1st gear splits the first 2 gears of a TH400. I guess driveability will be the same with both trannies.
Does it matter with the PG if the race weight is 3750lbs or so?
Originally Posted by LSs1Power
Hmmm so far it looks like a PG.
A PG has a 1.78 1st and 1.00 2nd while a TH400 have a 2.48 1st, 1.48 2nd and 1.00 3rd. So it looks like the PG 1st gear splits the first 2 gears of a TH400. I guess driveability will be the same with both trannies.
Does it matter with the PG if the race weight is 3750lbs or so?
A PG has a 1.78 1st and 1.00 2nd while a TH400 have a 2.48 1st, 1.48 2nd and 1.00 3rd. So it looks like the PG 1st gear splits the first 2 gears of a TH400. I guess driveability will be the same with both trannies.
Does it matter with the PG if the race weight is 3750lbs or so?
They drive a whole lot different, I cant stand driving big stalled PGs on the street in the city. I have had a few high stalled PG street cars, its not terrible but a lot of starts and stops isnt a lot of fun. On the highway it doesnt matter naturally.
If you can find someone that has a glide in a street car (you wont find many) or see if you can have someone give you a ride around the pits in a heavier car with a glide and see what you think. People have all different tolerances for what they will drive around
Originally Posted by LSs1Power
Hmmm so far it looks like a PG.
A PG has a 1.78 1st and 1.00 2nd while a TH400 have a 2.48 1st, 1.48 2nd and 1.00 3rd. So it looks like the PG 1st gear splits the first 2 gears of a TH400. I guess driveability will be the same with both trannies.
Does it matter with the PG if the race weight is 3750lbs or so?
A PG has a 1.78 1st and 1.00 2nd while a TH400 have a 2.48 1st, 1.48 2nd and 1.00 3rd. So it looks like the PG 1st gear splits the first 2 gears of a TH400. I guess driveability will be the same with both trannies.
Does it matter with the PG if the race weight is 3750lbs or so?
I agree. That is pretty heavy for a glide. Shed some weight and youll be good. I am running a glide now. Most cars that run Drag Radial class and 10.5 Outlaw, run glides. If you want to have a dead consistant car that stays on the ground I would choose a glide.
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I don't think weight is the biggest issue. It's whether or not you'll run a gear that suits the 1/4 mile. A Powerglide and a "streetable" gear out back will be a dog more so than a 400 and a streetable gear. A glide needs all the help it can get out of the hole and the rear gear is all the help it will get. Getting the converter perfect is more important also. Being 500rpm off won't be a big deal with a 400, with a glide it may cost a bit of ET, powerband pending basically.
Some people swear by a Pro-Flite/400 at the power levels you're thinking of. Some of them are at the front of their class and I've seen them all on the bumper a few times.
Some people swear by a Pro-Flite/400 at the power levels you're thinking of. Some of them are at the front of their class and I've seen them all on the bumper a few times.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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kp's got a point about N/A, Blown cars. You can't exactly run a tighter converter like a nitrous/turbo car so it might be a bear on the street, especially if you have a loud exhaust. That's all up to you though.
Originally Posted by AutoRoc
I don't think weight is the biggest issue. It's whether or not you'll run a gear that suits the 1/4 mile. A Powerglide and a "streetable" gear out back will be a dog more so than a 400 and a streetable gear. A glide needs all the help it can get out of the hole and the rear gear is all the help it will get. Getting the converter perfect is more important also. Being 500rpm off won't be a big deal with a 400, with a glide it may cost a bit of ET, powerband pending basically.
Some people swear by a Pro-Flite/400 at the power levels you're thinking of. Some of them are at the front of their class and I've seen them all on the bumper a few times.
Some people swear by a Pro-Flite/400 at the power levels you're thinking of. Some of them are at the front of their class and I've seen them all on the bumper a few times.
I really think for what you are doing the TH400 would be your best bet.
First I was thinking TH400 until I started this thread.... In the 1st day of the thread i leaned towards PG and now Im back towards TH400.... Ahhhh choices choices choices...
Originally Posted by LSs1Power
First I was thinking TH400 until I started this thread.... In the 1st day of the thread i leaned towards PG and now Im back towards TH400.... Ahhhh choices choices choices...