Wicked69

I am in a predicament. My th350 went out last year and so I upgraded to a TH400. The 400 went out and we fixed it again with a better drum, clutches, et. Once again I am out 3rd gear. So here is my dilema. I can fix my 400 again which is going to about $450. However, I have someone who will give me $360 for it likes it sits. I then have a different trans guy who can build me a PG for $900. So if I sale the trans the PG is only costing $540. Only a $90 difference.

So I am not sure which to go and there is no guarantee I won't break it again. The guy who does the PG's think my car will run faster and the guy who does the 400 thinks the PG will slow it down.

Here is the details:
1969 Chevelle
Weight: 3700-3800lbs
3.42 gears
Tires: I can run 30" or 28"
5.3 with twin 70's, E85 and 15lbs of boost. The 70s have a .68 AR.
Edelbrock Pro Flo XT intake.
PTC 3400. Very tight convertor. Drops around a grand between shifts.

When my car last ran at the track, once it built boost it would hit the rev limiter before you know it. Even from 2-3rd it hits the limiter quickly.

I figured the taller first gear in the PG will allow it to pull longer and harder in first and I am making more than enough power at that time for it to continue to pull when I shift to 2nd gear.

What do you think? Let me know if you need anymore information.
It is a street car but I will give up some driveability to be faster at the track. I would think with the PG it would run better both in the 1/8th and the 1/4.

I can leave on as much as 12lbs of boost so far, but the most I left on with the 400 was 7lbs.

ajrothm

Del, fix the 400...

3800lbs is way too heavy for a PG... Especially for a mainly 1/8 mile car... One you can't get to leave right with a lower geared T400..

dville_gt

iTrader: (5)

I'd suspect you'll slow down a little with the glide. My car is lighter, but I made the switch to the P/G from a 350 and it slowed me down a little, but I have since been able to make up for it leaving with more boost out of the hole. Driveability I'd actually say is better with the glide, one shift and cruise. I have to leave with 13-15psi to get a low 1.3x 60', I used to leave on 7psi

Wicked69

Good info. Thanks.

slow67

iTrader: (2)

What happened to cause 3rd to burn up? Did your builder tell you that?


edit:
Meant to say what did you builder tell you why it burned up 3rd?

Twin turbo c5

You'll slow with the glide. I did the same thing went from a th350 to a glide and it killed it on my single turbo trans am.. stick with the 400. Glides are great but if you don't want to change your setup the 400 will be the way to go.

skinnies

iTrader: (33)

I prefer the glide, but if all is working right and you are hooking hard, the th400 SHOULD be faster. Running at over 4000lbs, 2.73's, and glide, I've been 1.5 60ft on street tires(not drag radials), so don't let people tell you it's too heavy. If you run on the street or not well prepped tracks, the glide will be faster / more consistent.

RacerXLs1

iTrader: (14)

Glide and be done with it.

Wicked69

Well...it may go against the norm but I went ahead and did a deal for the glide. If it doesn't work out then I can always go back to the 400. I can now build 10-12lbs of boost where as last year I could only leave on about 3-5lbs and hence why I think it was a dog off the line.

Initially I may be slower but I think with some tuning and sorting I can get the glide to run much faster by eliminating a shift.

Thanks for all the input.

malarlar

You will like the glide with the right convertor.

LSx64Chevelle

Nothin like freeway speed in first gear

71 chevy

iTrader: (18)

good God! 3700lbs. thats a heavy sumbitch.

my nova is 2950 now and im killing myself trying to make it lighter still.

im in the same predicament. high gear clutch is fried, hub is showing wear. I can put it back together with good parts and sell if for a pg and lose 30lbs or I can keep everything as is and run the 400.

it is a very tough decision. i have heard that the th400s for the same money are stronger than a glide though so im leaning towards the th400.


good luck with the glide. i saw dville gt switch and it did amazing things for his times. also , you just lost about 30 lbs of weight.

Wicked69

The fastest street car in our area (one that is daily driven at least) is a 69 Nova and he is around 3400 and he runs a PG built by this guy. His car runs 7.0 on motor and 5.85 on spray. He runs 3.50 gears. He has his nitrous come on gradually but leaves with enough to get it to launch. I am hoping I can do the exact same thing with my turbo's.

I can't imagine that if I can get the car to leave on 10-12lbs of boost and run a total of 15-20lbs down the track that the glide won't work or be faster. We will see. The key is getting it to build boost on the Transbrake though.

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

I would stick a 3.89 gear in it with the glide you have now and let it eat. Converter will need to be tweaked IMO also.

GueSS Who

th400 here

T76s10

iTrader: (6)

What's the streetability difference between the th400 and glide? If the glide had good street manners that's what i would do.

BlackWS666

iTrader: (31)

I love my powerglide for the street. Wouldnt give it up for anything!!! Get the gear setup right and the converter dialed in and you will never go back to 3 gears.

T76s10

iTrader: (6)

Damn that's awesome! I'll definitely have to try a pg on my next build. Hey wicked, you should post some vids up on YouTube once you get your glide in. Hopefully you can get it to launch like a monster!

quik67

I am definitely keeping an eye on this one.
I just swapped my perfectly good th400 for
a glide. My experience with the 400 was mixed.
At well prepped tracks it worked great! At mediocre
tracks not so well.
First gear was just way too much, even with a 3.70 gear
and 32" tires. But my car only weighs 2744 lbs.
What stall converter do you have now? It may need some tweaking
with a glide and that heavy pig.

78buturbo

iTrader: (1)

like stated above i would get the converter setup right and that powerglide will be ok also i would go with the 28inch tire but i also dont know your hole setup.