Turbo 5.3 with a Glide
I have an opportunity to switch to a PG for free. Trans brake, billet input set up for the TH 400 converter.
Not quite free, will require a converter adjustment, and diff driveline.
From the truck I posted about.
Considering it
Not quite free, will require a converter adjustment, and diff driveline.
From the truck I posted about.
Considering it
Give it a shot. If the converter’s right it’ll run. You’ll drop a good amount of weight also. The th400 is a pig compared to the glide.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 634
Likes: 27
you can find the used for 2500.00 They are good for highway driving if you have a low gear in the back. The shift too slow to use during a pass. I have one on my old tow rig...1997 f350. They are very reliable units.
I thought Stock48 ran a glide in his nova, he won Drag Week, and turned it up after
his final pass and went 8:19 or something. Was like on a set of rails. Myself I always
preferred a 3 or 4 sp for the street.
his final pass and went 8:19 or something. Was like on a set of rails. Myself I always
preferred a 3 or 4 sp for the street.
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Did you ever do the swap?
From following tons of 5.3 single turbo builds, a 1.8 glide + 3.50+ gear is preferred over say a TH400. Seems like for the TH400 setup, a 3.25-3.50 gear works but starting somewhere in the mid to low 8s the gearing starts to result in some power control issues. That said I did TH400 and a 3.50 out back, and I'd love to have that problem at some point.
From following tons of 5.3 single turbo builds, a 1.8 glide + 3.50+ gear is preferred over say a TH400. Seems like for the TH400 setup, a 3.25-3.50 gear works but starting somewhere in the mid to low 8s the gearing starts to result in some power control issues. That said I did TH400 and a 3.50 out back, and I'd love to have that problem at some point.
Did you ever do the swap?
From following tons of 5.3 single turbo builds, a 1.8 glide + 3.50+ gear is preferred over say a TH400. Seems like for the TH400 setup, a 3.25-3.50 gear works but starting somewhere in the mid to low 8s the gearing starts to result in some power control issues. That said I did TH400 and a 3.50 out back, and I'd love to have that problem at some point.
From following tons of 5.3 single turbo builds, a 1.8 glide + 3.50+ gear is preferred over say a TH400. Seems like for the TH400 setup, a 3.25-3.50 gear works but starting somewhere in the mid to low 8s the gearing starts to result in some power control issues. That said I did TH400 and a 3.50 out back, and I'd love to have that problem at some point.
I contemplated a glide for quite a while but kept reading about the SLR required to run a glide and according to the calculator a 3.50 and 28" tire theoretically wouldn't work yet all these guys are doing it.
Plus at the power level I was looking at being at, the glide would require an aftermarket case where as with the TH400 option I used a TH475 core with straight cut planetaries which saved quite a bit of money and has proven to be a reliable combo.
Yeah after doing more research, I found more friends running a TH400 and 3.25 combo. A good buddy ran down to 8.teens with TH400 and 3.50 but the SLR got problematic for him. I ain't even made a pass yet so it's a someday concern for me.
Based on the range of options, would be cheaper for me to drop down to a 3.25 than do a 2.10 gear set or a 'glide swap.
Based on the range of options, would be cheaper for me to drop down to a 3.25 than do a 2.10 gear set or a 'glide swap.
Yeah after doing more research, I found more friends running a TH400 and 3.25 combo. A good buddy ran down to 8.teens with TH400 and 3.50 but the SLR got problematic for him. I ain't even made a pass yet so it's a someday concern for me.
Based on the range of options, would be cheaper for me to drop down to a 3.25 than do a 2.10 gear set or a 'glide swap.
Based on the range of options, would be cheaper for me to drop down to a 3.25 than do a 2.10 gear set or a 'glide swap.
I run a 1.80 glide, PTC 9.5” 17-0 converter, 3.31 gear and a “short” 275/60 tire. If I shift at 6500, it goes into high at about 90mph. So it’s in low for about 4.5-5 seconds (on the street curve) which makes power management much easier. You run a taller tire than me, so your gear would obviously be lower to compare apples to apples. I have a 3.55 on the bench and know it would help it hustle a little better in high gear. This is just my experience, others may differ.
Good stuff. I'm currently on a 275/60/15 PBR but I think my long term term tire will be a 295.
I maintain a LS Record List in a group on FB (LSX Record List), and the 1.8 glide + 3.50-4.10 is very popular (rear gearing of course varies 1/8 vs 1/4).
Nailing the converter for 1.8 is something seems like PTC has done very well.
I maintain a LS Record List in a group on FB (LSX Record List), and the 1.8 glide + 3.50-4.10 is very popular (rear gearing of course varies 1/8 vs 1/4).
Nailing the converter for 1.8 is something seems like PTC has done very well.
the 1.76 glide in my blue nova was a very good setup with a 3.42 gear and 275 pro tire .car was 3510 lbs with driver. street drove great and worked really well at the 9.0 - 9 teen power level 1/4 mile. very calm at the launch and worked better on a lesser preped track than a t400. the 2.48 first in a 400 takes a little more power management to get out of the hole im finding out with my buick. or go to a 3.08 gear.
the 1.76 glide in my blue nova was a very good setup with a 3.42 gear and 275 pro tire .car was 3510 lbs with driver. street drove great and worked really well at the 9.0 - 9 teen power level 1/4 mile. very calm at the launch and worked better on a lesser preped track than a t400. the 2.48 first in a 400 takes a little more power management to get out of the hole im finding out with my buick. or go to a 3.08 gear.
Yeah after doing more research, I found more friends running a TH400 and 3.25 combo. A good buddy ran down to 8.teens with TH400 and 3.50 but the SLR got problematic for him. I ain't even made a pass yet so it's a someday concern for me.
Based on the range of options, would be cheaper for me to drop down to a 3.25 than do a 2.10 gear set or a 'glide swap.
Based on the range of options, would be cheaper for me to drop down to a 3.25 than do a 2.10 gear set or a 'glide swap.
The goal is pretty modest at mid to low 9's at 800whp on pump fuel and maybe 9.0 or 8.99 at 1K whp on race gas.
I looked at a second gear leave TH400 but the gear set and brake I would need were almost as much as what I spent on the whole trans with some good parts in it.
I still wouldn't mind knowing how guys are getting away with running such a low SLR with a glide and tall gears, I would have thought that would tax the transmission/converter too much and cause problems but obviously not.
Is the SLR just a guide and the problems come when it gets too high with traction limitations?
I've got a 3.50 gear now and was looking at 3.08 but you said 3.31 were better, just thought maybe that gear kept it closer to lock up.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 154
Likes: 22
From: Indiana
This was an interesting read. I planned going with a 4l80, for the OD and lock up, in my Chevelle. I'm building a 6.0 with 7875 next gen billet, stock crank, forged pistons and rods, summit stage 1 ghost cam, LS3 heads. It was between a 400 and 4l80. I really hate how expensive a decent built 4l80 is. I still have the original powerglide that I swapped out back in 2000. My car won't see the track much. More of a fun street car. What are your opinion on the 3 transmissions for a street car? Is a powerglide really that much better than a 4l80 with OD and lockup, that can be controlled by Holley EFI?
This was an interesting read. I planned going with a 4l80, for the OD and lock up, in my Chevelle. I'm building a 6.0 with 7875 next gen billet, stock crank, forged pistons and rods, summit stage 1 ghost cam, LS3 heads. It was between a 400 and 4l80. I really hate how expensive a decent built 4l80 is. I still have the original powerglide that I swapped out back in 2000. My car won't see the track much. More of a fun street car. What are your opinion on the 3 transmissions for a street car? Is a powerglide really that much better than a 4l80 with OD and lockup, that can be controlled by Holley EFI?
If you're looking for street and your combo will stay where its at then it would work, once you start getting into 1Kwhp territory it gets crazy expensive.
With that said, I had a TH400 built locally for 1,200hp for about $1,600 including sourcing a TH475 core.
My buddy paid $1K for a 4L80 which was basically a core since the builder did a crap job, then spent another $1,500 building it for 800whp, plus $800 for a decent lock up converter which would have been the same for the TH400. That doesn't even include all the misc. stuff needed to run the 4L80.
4L80's are hot right now and the parts are a premium, just gonna get worse as inflation on steel parts rises.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 154
Likes: 22
From: Indiana
The 4L80 will handle some power with basic mods, a friend of mine put 700whp through one with just clutches and some valve body mods.
If you're looking for street and your combo will stay where its at then it would work, once you start getting into 1Kwhp territory it gets crazy expensive.
With that said, I had a TH400 built locally for 1,200hp for about $1,600 including sourcing a TH475 core.
My buddy paid $1K for a 4L80 which was basically a core since the builder did a crap job, then spent another $1,500 building it for 800whp, plus $800 for a decent lock up converter which would have been the same for the TH400. That doesn't even include all the misc. stuff needed to run the 4L80.
4L80's are hot right now and the parts are a premium, just gonna get worse as inflation on steel parts rises.
If you're looking for street and your combo will stay where its at then it would work, once you start getting into 1Kwhp territory it gets crazy expensive.
With that said, I had a TH400 built locally for 1,200hp for about $1,600 including sourcing a TH475 core.
My buddy paid $1K for a 4L80 which was basically a core since the builder did a crap job, then spent another $1,500 building it for 800whp, plus $800 for a decent lock up converter which would have been the same for the TH400. That doesn't even include all the misc. stuff needed to run the 4L80.
4L80's are hot right now and the parts are a premium, just gonna get worse as inflation on steel parts rises.