did not think about using a glide..but it came up today..with the type of power the car is putting out..

 

I love my glide. I have enough torque that I don't really need a deep first gear to get off the line. It all depends on how the car is set up. Diff gear ratio, converter stall etc.

A glide is also about 50 pounds lighter than a TH400 and uses less power to turn the internals.

With a glide, there's only 1 shift point. Only one chance to make a shift mistake.

Although glides were installed in a lot of production cars, for a modern day street car, a 3 or 4 speed auto would be a better option. Back when the TH350 came out, a lot of hot rodders swapped out the glide in their cars for the TH350. Of course back then a typical factory car wasn't pushing 300+ HP so the lower first gear helped these cars get off the line quicker.

I run 31 spline axles because it's all I need. If my car was heavier or if I used a TH400, I would need 33 or 35 spline axles.

 

with over 800 hp. that's what they have been telling me.. to go with a glide.. 17hp to run a glide and with over 700fpt I don't need a 3 speed..as for the gears for the car..I Have 4 units ..from 3.89..4.11. 4.30 4.56.. and i know the car is going to be under 3200lbs.. cost is no prob I set aside $5000 for the trany and vertr..
I just like the 3 and 4 speed autos...

 

Glide all the way, But a top of the line trans and converter is going to run more then 5k.

 

Mine is a junkyard glide with a few internal modifications to make it stronger but I could still break it. The chances of finding a 1.76 glide in the junkyard now is getting very difficult. If I had to buy an aftermarket glide, I could easily spend 5k.

 

ill buy new..for sure...so I can have made what I want...

 

Also heard of guys using TH400's and using 2nd gear to start.
Cheaper to build than a glide

 

doing a FTI 5 TH400... with all the fun stuff.. and a nice street billet converter 4800 to 5000 stall.. should be to my door 3/4/19.
the stall was picked out by the builders.. after looking at the dyno sheet./ car / info.

https://ftiperformance.com/TH400-Rac...m?productId=24

added a few things like a Clean Neutral for the reverse pattern shift..= P/R/N/1/2/3/N

I added a moroso pan to match the eng pan..w/roller tail shaft and some billet parts.
I will add a super bell and do a finish to the unit to fit the car at this end.. (got to look good)

 

Clean neutral is the only way to fly man!

Sounds like it will be a strong setup!

 

 

will rework the outer case..and do my finish on it..I just like the look of a smooth case..(debur / hand finish)
shot of 2 of my 700R4's. I sold off..

 

What color is that painted?

 

Hammer tone Black..but looks more like a gun metal Gray...ya have to remove a lot of the rough finnish from the case..take off all the sharp edges..but it lays down a nice gloss finish...the pic show 2 diff 700R4s...
both did not take that long to prep.about 2hrs ea...and no primer. as it has a built in primer..


the TH400 will not take that long to prep..but is getting the same finnish..

 

I just went with a aftermarket glide and 8" converter for my sbc combo. I was dancing between TH400 and PG for a while and decided on glide because only one shift point (for me to screw up) when bracket racing. Just installed in the car with new combo and should be out this spring with it. VERY curious to see what a 7100 stall is going to feel like.

 

Powerglide is also about 97 pounds and a TH400 is around 130 pounds. It also takes a little more HP to spin at TH400

 

Weight was another factor. My glide weighed in at 102lbs.

 

I did the th400 but like anything.. ya got to try it. to see if its you/ or like..

 

Well if I had the $$$ to just upgrade for upgrades sake I would do (3) things to cut some more weight:

Powerglide ILO TH400 ~30# less
Dart Little M Aluminum block ILO Little M Iron ~85# less
Strange Alum Billet 9" carrier ILO Strange nodular iron ~10# less

~125# saved weight
the Dart Aluminum Little M block you have to use remote mounted filter or dry sump

 

to save a few LBS I ditched the aftermarket small block(427)..and went with a Brodix Aluminum Big block (615cid) just about 45lbs lighter the the small block. and almost 2 times the HP.
all 4 of my 3rd members are Aluminum (3.89/4.11/4.30/4.56) on lockers.
and carbon fiber drive shaft 6lbs lighter then Aluminum and 5x as strong.