glide vs. 3 speed

[freezy74]

At what point does the 2 speed become beneficial over a 3 speed? For example, let’s take my car. Goes 8.80’s at usually 154-155 and weighs 3050. Would the car slow down going to a glide vs. a 400?

How would either of these transmissions compare to the C-4 that I currently have to rebuild twice a year to keep it going? Would either of them be quicker or are they just more reliable?


I am just trying to learn what makes one better then another for a car like mine. On paper you would think the 3 speed would just be faster due to the gear ratios, but I’m sure there is more to it then that….

Thanks for your time

[BracketNova]

My buddy that builds trannys wouldn't let me do a 3-speed, but your car is quite a bit faster than mine . I have always been told a TH400 takes quite abit more HP to turn than a glide, 30 hp or so if I recall. My theory on the three speed in a drag race application is...ho long do you really stay in first? a half second? I would say 90% of the 8 second guys I race with only shift once.

Anyways it looks like your new to the site, welcome, someone with way more experience than me will chime in. You may want to let us know gear ratio, tire size, RPM, etc so one of the gurus can help you more accurately.

[Jeff Chandler]

I ran a glide in my Mustang in the NMCA Pro Stock class and had very good luck with it. I raced against other BB guys that ran the Pro-Flite and I could out 60 and 330ft them. If they were faster it was me being down a few ponies but I had a $3500 PTC trans against there $7500 unit so I feel that other $4000 I saved on a trans need to be i the engine and not the trans. Anyway, for all the high dollar parts you run in that class the 1 piece that picked me up the most cost me $200. Aluminum drum, go from 10 to 5 clutches and turn your pump pressure down. I went from 275 to 205 and it picked me up 5 hundredths. I was blown away. Anyone wants to free up some power with a glide give PTC a call.
Good Luck in whichever route you go.

[freezy74]

Thanks for the info.

I am usually in 1st for about 1.4 seconds or so, and the car 60's in the 1.29-1.31 range and has been as fast as 1.26. My worry is that I put the glide in and it now 60's like a 1.40 and the car runs 9.0's. From what I have been reading, this seems more like it if converter is loose enough (while being efficient) this should not be a problem. Just wondering if anybody has experience with both transmissions...

That was interesting with the line pressure also. I have heard that running extra clutches can create more drag, but I have never heard anything about the line pressure. That's very interesting and thanks for the info.

[EDMUND FLASH]

ok guys'
i,m new to drag racing''
i,m building a S10 truck and want to know if its better to run a powerglide, or a turbo 350 ''
i plan to run a mild 350 V8 and need help with what gear i need to run ''

[427belair]

Edmond,

What are you tring to do? Bracket car or fun street car that sees the strip. I would go with the 3 speed based on a mild engine combo and a heavyish truck. You will need less rear gear to get the truck going with the lower 1st gear in a 3 speed.
Just my opinion Jason

[Hitchcock]

Edmond,

What are you tring to do? Bracket car or fun street car that sees the strip. I would go with the 3 speed based on a mild engine combo and a heavyish truck. You will need less rear gear to get the truck going with the lower 1st gear in a 3 speed.
Just my opinion Jason

x2, it seems that most guys running a glide use a very steep rear gear to compensate for the lack of a low gear to get rolling.

[EntenmannRacing]

We just broke our C-4 super comp. It only had 3 runs on it. (broke the forward cluch drum which was replaced 3 runs ago at a freshen-up). From what I have seen C-4s are only good till low 9's high 8's. The run before it broke was our fastest so far 9.022 and 151mph with a 1.49 60ft at 3400 lbs. It started as a 11-10 second car which the C-4 is perfect for ,but we got greedy. There is a billet Forward cluch drum(this is the common high hp failure) ,but after addressing that area what will be next failure down the line, planetary set ,output shaft ect...there is only one aftermarket gearset and no aftermarket output shafts yet. I see it not as a matter of how much time you will loose in the 1/4 mile ,but how many times do you want to fix your C4 or t400.

[Moparious Maximus]

Fast-high power cars like the glide.

Slower, heavier cars will probably do better with another gear.

Freezy, In my opinion your car would run a little better with a glide.

[spib]

I am going to a glide this yr, I am a bracket racer, I asked a lot of people and they all told me the same thing, with a glide you go out a lil further, then shift once and hang on, for a bracket racer like me that will be a lot more concistent and go rounds and thats what I care abought

[chpcamaro]

myself i will never go back to a 3 speed the glide is so much friendlier i run 411 gears and the car leave hard but no traction problems because of the glide but each car is a little different here's what it looks like leaving with a glide the car just goes forward not up just my 2 cents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eUkJ6ZrOFw

[freezy74]

So From when I posted this I had fixed my C-4 Which has since destroyed itself again. Man this stuff gets old.....

[badshoe]

freezy, for you setup, a PG makes sense. I would think in the 1/8 mile your don't even get in high gear. Most everyone in my area running 1/8 mile with your performance is using the PG. It has tons of aftermarket support and easily adapted to any motor. Getting the right converter is all important.

[505r10]

So From when I posted this I had fixed my C-4 Which has since destroyed itself again. Man this stuff gets old.....

I have a friend that has a Mustang with a 4something small block ford engine and a glide. He broke his c-4 about five times in one summer. He switched to a glide and the car picked up over a tenth. His last time out he ran a 5.23 on drag radials and man that thing storms off the line. I don't remember his sixty foot though.



Roger
505r10

soon to be

582R10