Thread: Need help for set up of a 65 Chevy Truck(Drivetrain for 1/8 mile)

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I have a 65 short bed that I am building for the strip and occassional criuse. The Truck is going to have a modified frame to handle 650 horses ,a fiberglass front end (1 piece),and tubular a arms,and drag shocks.It will also be modified for weight placement(batt. etc.),and have a rear anti roll bar.

Whats a good engine displacement to run on the 1/8 mile(Big Block)?I am thinking a stroker with nitrous,also I think a short deck will help be get the big block spinning quick for the 1/8 mile.would like 400-450 horses(comfortable for the street,and then 200 on the bottle.

Also what trans set-up would be good?I am looking at a 700R4 trans ,it has a taller first gear then a powergliude,or 350 turbo trans ,I think maybe a 400 too.It also has 4 gears,so running taller gears in the rear end wont be so bad on the highway.

Thanks

you might have a hard time making a 700r4 handle 650 horses because when u launch it, the parts inside the 700 are rather wimpy. The sunshell is one of the weakest factory parts i've ever seen. The sprag is the same way, and the 4 pinion plantaries are pathetic. If you want to run a 700r4 on the much power then you need to get the upgraded sunshell (some companies call it "The Beast"), the 5 pinion planetaries, and the upgraded input/output shafts that are stouter and harder to break off.

the th350 is a good number if you build it right. It can hold some power, not as much as the 400, but you also have a weight advantage over the 400 (about 50ish pounds if i remember right).

My choice, if your going to drive this on the street, would be a build th400 that will allow you to launch hard and you won't have to worry about breaking quite as much.

My choice, if your drag only, would be a VERY well built 'glide. The consistancy you get from only having 1 shift is a good feature. The lower 1st gear won't mean much with that much power...at 650 hp launching about 3000 rpm or so, it wont matter at that point what kinda first gear you have.

I know a ton of ET class drag racers (people that drive chevelles/vegas/camaro's/nova, ect) that run a full built glide and would never go back for anything. The glide is a VERY powerful advantage if you plan on bracket racing at all as well. JMO, i could be wrong but thats how i look at it.

All in all, its your decision what you go with because some people want different things or see things differently than others.

This is a 700R4 trans I was looking at ,it is said to handle 700 horses,under products.Warning CHEESEY Site



http://www.maddog-transmissions.com/new_index.htm

Oh ya I am wanting to run the 10.5 Outlaw limited street class.Rules for engine are any engine combaonation

Friend of mine is running the eighth with a big block, glide, and a Gear Vendors overdrive. It gets the good launch of a low geared glide, then punch the little button and have an extra gear to pull the big end. He's running 600+ horse and went all last season with no problems. Not the cheapest set up around, but it works. Use a 9" rear, then just slide in a different center section with highway gears when it's cruising time.