Can i get this to hook?

[BBC505]

I have a 74 Nova with CalTrac Split Monos and there lift bars. This car is getting a power plant, 505ci. BBC about 700hp. Can i get this thing to hook on 30"*9" Hoosier slicks? My budget is going FAST really don't want to mini tub it if i don't have to BUT i don't want to be smokin the tire 1/2 way down the track either.

[jmarkaudio]

There are a few A/Stock Camaro's running similar setups. Not the ideal setup but can be made to work. The 505 is going to test your driveline real fast.....

[John_Heard]

You shouldn't have any trouble hooking it with those tires if you're running it just on the motor.

[BBC505]

I hope the driveline holds up i have a th350 that has some good parts, HP clutch plates & steel plates it has extra clutch & steel plate,sprag,manual vale body, Dana 60 with 4.10s & spool stock axles, New 3" driveshaft with 1350 series joints. I hope everything stays together. No power adders just motor.

[John_Heard]

Ought to work, go out and let her rip!

[jmarkaudio]

The TH350 can be made to work, but when you break it (I did say when) change it to a Powerglide. The car will launch smoother, be more consistant and quicker as long as you have enough converter. If any body tells you your car is too heavy for a Powerglide they are mistaken. If you had a mild motor (400HP & under) AND a car over around 3600 to 3800 a 3psd will help. The only other place would be on a Comp style motor with a narrow powerband.

[BBC505]

Would a powerglide be better than a th400?

[jmarkaudio]

In your case, much. Up to a couple tenths. A Powerglide has less horsepower loss, weighs less and as long as you have enough converter for the combo it will never miss having the extra gear. Works the converter to make up the difference and then some. It will definitely help with 9" tires.

[Craig W.]

I have a 74 Nova with CalTrac Split Monos and there lift bars. This car is getting a power plant, 505ci. BBC about 700hp. Can i get this thing to hook on 30"*9" Hoosier slicks? My budget is going FAST really don't want to mini tub it if i don't have to BUT i don't want to be smokin the tire 1/2 way down the track either.

Yes, with some decent shocks and careful suspension tuning, it should work well. That's plenty of tire for 700 hp.

[fourtenposi]

You also may want to invest in one of msd programmable ignitions like the 7530T, If the track won't hold the power, just pull some timing out.

Is this going to be a heads up type race car or a bracket car? You will be faster with the Turbo 400 but more consistent with the power glide.

[jmarkaudio]

You will almost never be faster with the 400. It's too heavy both in weight and rotating weight. It takes more HP to turn. As long as you have enough converter for the combo and the gear ratio is close the PG will be quicker.

Fourteenposi, what are you running in your car? Weight, gear, converter, engine combo? Footbrake or transbrake?

[fourtenposi]

Hello Jmark,

I am running a 74 Chevy Nova with SBC 406, 11-1, Car weights 3100 with me in it, 4.10 gear, Turbo 350, 5500 converter, 9x29 slicks. This car is footbraked launched at about 1500 rpms, Sixties are around 1.47-149 runs low to mid 6.80s when the weather is right and 6.9x during the summer.

I believe that if you can get your car to work properly with a 3 speed it will be faster, Alot of people use a power glide as a bandaid for chassis issues. I think alot of peoples car pick up with a PG because their chassis is not setup to work with the 3 speed. IMO if you have both combos optimized, the 3 speed will run faster.

[Tom Rix]

BBC505,

Several things I learned in trying to get consistent launches out of my 1974 455 Buick Apollo (3350#) which doesn't have your HP but does have a lot of torque.

MSD digital 7 programmable ignition needed
Double adjustable shocks front and back important
Hoosier 9x30 radial. Use lightweight CO6 version under 3400# and CO7 compound for weights above that. The more pressure the better. I run up to 24-25#.
CalTracs! Get the stiffest front half of the spring that they have. Until I switched to the stiff fronts the car was inconsistent and would only dead hook about 75% of the time. Since switching I have made 40+ runs in a row with the worst 60 foots in the high 1.30's on the rear tires. If I keep the front down then 1.27-1.29.

I would also agree that a super lightweight T350/400 will also be faster than a Powerglide. I run a 2.75 low gear set in mine with 4.10 rear gears.

Good luck,
Tom

[fourtenposi]

Hello Tom,

Just curious on how consitant those radial tires, I current run hoosier 9x29 slick and I have considered running the radial tires. Are you a heads up races or a bracket car? What does your car run? I have heard alot of hit and miss stories on the radial tire where if it doesn't spin it doesn't recover well. I have been on the fence. On a typical outing how much does your car vary? How many passes do you get out of them. I get right around 80 passes out of mine, and the less street test and tune night my car went 5 passes in a row within .004.

Thanks

Bill

[jmarkaudio]

Next time you are out, try leaving the line in second gear. You may be surprised at the results. My dad had a 68 Camaro years ago with a 406 with dish pistons, home ported 461's, hydraulic cam, 4000 converter and 4.10. It ran 11.60's in the 1/4. One night the bell on the TH350 broke (found out later). It would shift from 1st to 3rd or 2nd to 3rd. We ran 1.5 tenths faster than the car had ever run. Switched to a glide and ran faster. When I could I changed my Chevelle and picked up a similar amount. Even if you were to lose less than a tenth starting in second you will gain with a Powerglide. A TH400 is worse. As I said there are exceptions, but usually not.