Transmission gear and clutch

What gear ratio and clutch. I have a FED with a blown sbc and a powerglide that runs 6.60's. I am changing directions and would like a little help I realize I am not any where near, what most of you guys run but am curious what you guys would do. I bought a 420" with muscle heads long block and am going to be running it blown alky with an 8-71 hi-helix. I am not trying to set my car up for any class just a quick bracket car. Engine specs are 4.375 bore 3.500 stroke muscle heads 11.5-1 compression crane 296/500-114LC cam. The fed is 1600lbs car and driver 4.10 gear 33" tires. My question is with a B&J or lenco have not picked one yet what low gear should I go with? Take in consideration I do not race on super sticky tracks. Next question clutch, peddle or glide? 10", 10.7", or 11" 2 disk or 3 disk? I am looking to run 6.50's or so.

 

Why don't you want to keep the glide ? You can stick with what you know and make upgrades to go much faster. Do you have the legroom for a can, 2 speed and reverser ?

 

Thanks for the reply, I race at some tracks where clutch cars I race with can get down the track a little easier as they can take some clutch away and not skate down the track as us powerglide cars do not have an easy way to take power away from the tires other then slowing the blower down. From my experience when I take some blower out I still have issues at the starting line but loose alot on the top end.

 

MSD Mag ?

What mag are you using? If you have a MSD mag, us a 6 shooter and a leahy timmer to pull power out at the hit or shortly after and then put it back in later down the track, it is what I did and it works very well. We also run on some really questionable tracks and can still get 6.0's pretty easy. And it is a lot cheaper and earier then changing your set up, That is if the class you run in will let you us the MSD equipment?

just my 2 cents

good luck

 

I do run a msd mag but, the class I run with does not allow electonics or timers of any kind

 

What about taking timing away or adding fuel? Seems either way one would mellow your setup some.

 

well, i guess i will throw in my 2 cents here....
if you are dead set on changing your combo, i would go with a B & J 3 speed with a Crower 10.7 dual disc pedal clutch. that clutch should do just fine for your application. the people at B & J are second to none as far as support goes, and they have a great unit. as far as the gear ratio.....i would start with a 1.89....possibly a 1.96, that should get you in the ball park. hopefully someone else will chime in here.
Darren

 

Sounds like his new combo is a short deck TAD motor that ran 10,000 rpm with a screw blower. How is it going to run with an 8-71 ? I don't know. Even the nostalgia guys can run a driver activated air retard mag. Will your group allow it ? All these 2 cents might add up to a cup of coffee by the weekend.

 

I would like to put a 3 speed in it but I do not believe it will fit. My engine is out 42" so most likely I can only fit a 2 speed.

 

Yes as long as it is driver activated I can do it.

As far as how it is going to run I imagine it will run at least as good as my sbc 6.60's I am just looking for a maintenance friendly engine, with a clutch

 

I think if you are looking to be maintenance friendly, you are going the wrong way. If I were in your shoes I would have kept the sbc and the powerglide and upgraded the blower, but that's just me. As far as retarding the timing is concerned I was talking overall, not running an air retard because you mentioned running on some marginal tracks.

 

What I was getting at with maintenance friendly was when something does go wrong it can be quickly torn apart and put back together. Removing my heads requires taking all 16 valve springs off and it is an easy 3 hour ordeal to R&R for a head gasket change

 

You are going to run a small blower, small cube in a FED. This is similar to the Goodguys A Fuel class. Les and Sean Davenport at Acceleration Enterprises have killed this and AA/GS running 6-71's. I think their # is 403-938-6200. Canada yes. They sell the jetsize program and fuel systems etc. Everyone says to ask for Sean. All the info here has been free and not much help. Sometimes you have to become a customer.
Back to my free thoughts. I thought of the air retard at the launch to kill some hp at the hit. Then bring back the hp as you can use it. Your small chamber heads run less than 30 total dont they ? You may need to pull 15. 42" out is tight. A short Lakewood can and a 2 disc Hays are cheap. A 2sp Lenco about 2000.00. You are trying to run a unique car. Keep talking.

 

Yes I will call them. My plans are to run the 8-71 for awhile then if the car runs some good numbers I will buy me a 6-71 and possibly try my hand at some A/fuel I know I will be a first round duck but it would be fun.

 

Paul give me a call sometime or make a day and head down to the shop .......I can see that we need to talk.....
Gary