Thread: Powerglide or Turbo 400

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Hey everybody. I got a question that is bugging me pretty bad. I am just starting out in drag racing and am building a 71 Chevelle. It has a 10 point cage, fiberglass bumbers, trunk, and hood. Everything has been chopped and cut out and sheet metaled inside with lexan windows all around. My best guess is it weighs around 3000 pounds. I am running a tubbed and braced 9 inch with a 4-link setup and coilovers, the gears are 4.88's. The tires are M/T 32-14/15 Drag ET's. The engine is a 385 small block with 6 inch rods and Dart pro 1 230cc heads, custom ground comp cam with 270 270 duration @.050 lift and 693 687 lift, recpectively on the intake and exhaust. It has a dart single plane intake with a Race Demon 835 carb. I am shooting for around 550horse. I plan on running a transbrake and at least a 4500 stall and linelock as well. My question is will I have enough torque/power to use a Powerglide or should I stick with the lower 1st gear of the 400?? I know the 400 is heavier and will rob more power than the glide, but I don't know if my little small block will have what it takes to get off the line with a higher first gear. What do you guys think?? Thanks, Bob.

I prefer the Power-Glide because of it's characteristics of staying "on" the converter during the run. First gear is optional for your choice. You are not locked in to a certain first gear. Simple to build, maintain, and run. Lighter, etc.

Most of the racers I've talked to at the drag strip seem to think that under 2,800 lbs, a 'Glide is o.k. Heavier than that calls for 3 gears.

Yeah, What Tech said. A heavy car seems to really fall on it's face with the low to drive shift with a glide... Good tranny shop can build you a strong 400 and get the cam/converter combination to work right. But, as Nitro said the 400 is bigger, heavier, and probably more expensive to build.....

Personally, I'm thinking of switching from a 5 speed to a 6 speed! Can't imagine what it would be like to only have two gears!!!!!!

there are cars here running 9's with t-350's its all in how u build them!

I have a TH400 laying around so I think I will build that. Even though my car is about 3000 pounds I think if I had some more tourqe I would be able to use a glide, but as is I haven't dumped enough money in the engine to get the extra power I might wanna run three gears. Thanks again.