Hey guys, just curious to see if ya'll think my converter and transmission is holding me back! Right now I have 10" 3400 BTE converter in a TH350. The car is a 1981 Malibu with a 357SBC. 10-5.1 compression, 248/252 solid flat tappet cam, 200cc heads with a little port work, Victor Jr., 4.11 gears, and all steel with aluminum wheels so its heavy. The fastest 60' I was able to cut was a 1.73. I would like to see the car cut something near a 1.60 this year. I'm considering puchasing an aftermarket TH350 transmission with a full manual reverse valve body and a t-brake. The car does see street time on the weekends but no highway time or anything like that. I'm running 275/60 MT drag radials and right now I footbrake the car to about 1200 rpm's and mash from there. This is where I've cut my fastest 60's. I've tried everything from launching at idle to launching at 2700 rpm's while footbraking but I can't cut crap. I really think if I had a t-brake and the car launched around 3500 rpm's it would fly but I want your opinions first!! I am switching to a 700 double pumper from a 750 vacuum secondary carb Ive been running for years and I hear that should help my 60's as well. The rear is a 9" and I just a $$$ bulletproof driveshaft built for it too, so everything should handle a brake. Let me know what you think!!! Thanks!! Later on, Nick.
Better 60's with a t-brake???
- Thread starter 1BAD81BU
- Start date
I was having the same problem. Last year the best I could do was 1.7's. Basically all I did was went from a 3k to 3500 stall,took off my front sway bar and put an air bag in my right rear spring, bought a good tire gauge and put 16 psi in my d/r's, dropped my 60 ft to 1.60's.
A t-brake will improve your 60's if you keep traction, but from the sound of your setup, I think you should be able to do a bit better without having to go to a t-brake. Are you hooking solid, or are you coming out soft?
Tranbrakes don't necessarily make your car 60' harder. I've had cars way faster on the brake, but a couple that were as quick or quicker footbraking. If you're pro tree racing, then you need a brake. If you're super pro racing, you need a brake. If you just want to go fast and have fun. A brake isn't necessary, especially in a TH350. Either a TH400 or a glide if you just think you need a brake.
I can't see you're car getting much under low 1.6's with your engine/gear/convertor. More gear, 8" convertor, and you could get it under 1.60's, but would lose streetability. Just spray it.
I can't see you're car getting much under low 1.6's with your engine/gear/convertor. More gear, 8" convertor, and you could get it under 1.60's, but would lose streetability. Just spray it.
It's all about the converter in my opinion. My car 60 fts. 1.40 on the brake. My son has made some passes in it footbraking it and has 60 footed 1.40-1.42. Like Hitman said, it depends on what kind of racing you're doing. i think you can cut a better light off a brake than the foot, but that's just my opinion because I know some guys that have deadly reaction times footbraking. Lee
I will admit that I haven't had the best of traction when I got to the track last year. However, when I ran the 1.73 it hooked. I've adjusted my tire pressure and played with the pressure in the air bags I have as well. How big of a converter would you guys run if you were me?? I like the idea of a 4500 stall myself. Thanks for the information guys! Later on, Nick.
Nick
I think you have already heard that a trans brake won't help much, quite honestly you are not too far off from where you should be which is 1.68 - you are probably hitting the 1/8 @ 8.00. You can probably pick that up w/ carb tuning. I would spend my efforts in the HP department. You are close to my combo but your MPH tells me there is more there.
I think you have already heard that a trans brake won't help much, quite honestly you are not too far off from where you should be which is 1.68 - you are probably hitting the 1/8 @ 8.00. You can probably pick that up w/ carb tuning. I would spend my efforts in the HP department. You are close to my combo but your MPH tells me there is more there.
Similar threads
