ok just got a turbo 400 with a 10'' 3500 stall converter b@m shift kit. i was going to drop it in when i got the new engine built but that might be awhile so i was going to put it in now. how much of a differance am i going to feel when i take off. this is in a gutted race car. lakewood90/10 struts, 50/50 shocks, hooker shortys, b@m pro stick ,battery is relocated to rear,fibergalss hood,no heat no a/c,weld prostars with 295's out back 215's up front,no front sway bar. what kind of time do you think i could run.

 

Well th-400 have a numerically lower 1st gear ratio than the 700-r4. A 3500 converter is going to hit pretty hard (if it's really rated for that speed). Normally the converters are rated for a certain tq to produce that speed, unless it was a custom built one which runs usually $500+. The custom built one are matched up your current combination (CI, intake, cam, rear end gear... etc) My 2400 hit noticably harder than the stock converter.

The B&M kit will give you a neck breaking 1st to 2nd if the 400 kit is anything like the 700-r4 kit. This is due to a metal sleeve being put in the 1/2 accumlator.

Unless you're really good at playing footsie with the pedal you'll probably have a hard time not spinning off the start without drag radials or slicks.

What ever you do just be sure to use an aftermarket transmission cooler to rid the fluid of the extra heat. Even if it's a pure drag car, high heat is what wears down the transmission life span.

 

What kind of engine does it have?

 

305

 

Cam? heads? intake? Carb or FI?

 

stock 305 tpi except headers

 

It'll probably be an absolute dog on launch. I would think that's way too much stall for TPI.

 

LOL, I didn't even think about it being a TPI. Yeah you'll miss the peak tq by a little bit. Real question is if the stall was actually made to flash to 3500 with the 305 TPI pushing it... or if the manufacter was assuming there was going to be a 400 tq SBC in front of it.

 

any time gusses

 

15s maybe.

 

Oh, I don't know. It might launch awesome with that setup. Max torque of an '87 LB9 was at 3200 RPMs - small motor in front of a 3500 "rated" stall converter may just be taking off at max torque.

Now, what it does after that...