Powerglide questions

[Nashty]

Is the aluminum case BOP common and affordable?

Is there one more desirable than the other (year made)?

Do you spend a fortune on them like the 200R4 to make them live?

What would be the best first gear set for a car running under 6,000 rpm?

What am I missing?

Thanks,

Roger

PS - don't need any posts telling me how superior the 200 is, I have a good one still working.

 

[steve hughes]

Roger the BOP glide is a hard item to find. If you can't find one you can buy an adapter plate from summit. I think it's made by TCI. Or you could put an ultra bell on a chevy case. First choice would be a BOP case. Alot off my friends and relatives run glides in bbc and sbc and i have also. At 600 horse very reliable and cheap to build. I'd use the stock 1.76 in your light weight car. How much horsepower you planning on making? I would say in a lite car a turbo motor would like the extra load on it from a hi first gear. It also may help to tame a turbo that spools or hits very hard.

 

[WE4]

There is no BOP PG.

BOP used an ST300 which is their version of a glide . However only one gearset is available and the pump and drum and most parts ARE NOT interchangable.Transbrakes ARE NOT interchangable either. Ultrabells suck and they wipe the crescent of the pump out. You cannot locate off a bolt hole that has a tolerence of close to .100 when your tolerence in the pump is .002.
I would buy a good quality adaptor plate or better yet run a motor plate. Unless you STRICTLY DRAG RACE EVERYTIME YOU RUN THE CAR, ......DO NOT run a glide.
If you do and car has power to carry tire at that ratio, then by all means have at it.


Bruce
WE4

 

[Clay Thompson]

Hard to find?

There is no BOP PG.

That would explain why it's hard to find.

 

[Nashty]

Hi, Steve - nice to hear from you.

My brother has a glide from his 68 Camaro (SS 290 horse 350) it's original so I can't hack it up in case he ever puts the car back to original. He has an LS6 in it now so I'm ok for a bit.

Now, the questions...

To start I'm guessing I'll make around 450 on the motor and a 75 shot on top of that. Eventually it will get the GN motor which should be making around 650. That's it for this combination.

Right now, I've got around 3600 stall which is working pretty good but I think it would like a little more to be honest (not much) just a little lazy off the line at 8psi (can't hold any more). I've had a problem in the past where the turbo overcomes the tires about 30' out for a bit. When the boost ramps up, it ramps up fast and hard so maybe the gear would settle it down. I plan on starting the nitrous right off the line.

Can I use a plain jane freshened glide at this power level? I know they are pretty tough. I am going to use solid motor mounts. Can a mid plate also be the adapter plate? That would make motor / tranny changes easier.

 

[Clay Thompson]

Solid motor mounts >> NO

I do not know much about your PG set up questions but one thing I know for certain--DO NOT USE SOLID MOTOR OR TRANSMISSION MOUNTS!

That is unless you want to break something--like the trannie case or the engine block. Use Poly mounts all around, they are quite rigid and have built in locking plates so engine tie downs are not required and will allow sufficient frame flex on hard launches--without putting something in a bind.

Sorry for shouting but want to be sure I was heard.

 

[Nashty]

How about the poly units from HR and a mid plate? Will that work? I've always thought that you use solid motor mounts on a car with a mid plate.

Hell, I've only been wrong a thousand times before. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Now, back to the powerglide questions...

 

[6PacktoGo]

Originally posted by WE4
There is no BOP PG.


Bruce
WE4

WRONG ANSWER!!!!

Yes, there IS a BOP Glide case. I've sold several. Whether or not I can get any now is another question, but I can ask. The turbo 350 plant burned around 69 or 70, and GM used PowerGlides instead of 350s in the BOP cars.

I ran one in a 70 Grand Prix at the local circle track because they had a no Chevrolet rule. Pissed them off when I ran it and they said it was illegal because it was not available. Pissed them off even more when I proved it was and made them give the money, the wins, and the points back.

I can get planetary sets from the 1.6 zone up to a 2.18, in helical or straight cut. Use a turbo spline input shaft, and a STEEL direct hub. The best brake is the EXTERNAL solenoid.

If you have a good tube frame, and good engine plates, you can mount the tailhousing to a solid crossmember, but I prefer to use a stock mount with two radiator hose clamps.

With the weight and power you currently have, I'd run the 6 cylinder 1.82 low gear set. The aftermarket gear sets are based on that cage anyway, so you can use the same turbo spline input shaft with any of them.

If you have nothing at all to start with, figure on about $2K for a Glide with converter and accessories. This includes a case (ATI may be the ONLY place that still has a BOP case), a core (you'll need it for the pump, bolts, tailhousing, and internals, an input shaft, a direct hub, a valvebody with a brake, a converter, and the two shields. If you are lucky, you'll find a core that has a 1.82 planetary in it.

 

[Chyke]

Hey, Roger
I see you,ve been checking out some of the info I've passed along. A couple of items in regards to some of the posts.
I have a true "Power Glide" bolted to my 3.8. It does not use an adapter. It does have a transbrake, and I do drive the car all over. It is not a race only car. I bought the unit from Trans Specialties, and it took awhile to come by. They are out there.

 

[steve hughes]

Roger if it were me and this is assuming it's going in the Geo? I would buy a glide core . You should be able to pick one up for less than a $100.00 . Buy a $200.00 transbrake , steel hub, turbo spline input shaft,and a set of good stock clutches. I would go with a 1.76 lo gear they are stronger than the 1.82. If it don't work sell it for what you got in it ,then build a 400 . I think you'll like it. How much is it going to weigh? If your going tube chassis or sqare rails with a full cage you shouldn't have a problem with using solid motor mounts and a mid plate. DO use a stock mount on the tranny though. If your $500 glide works and holds up great. If it breaks then buy the hi dollar gear set and good case. If you don't like it i'll buy it from you.

 

[WE4]

WOW!!!

Damn, learn something new every day. Sorry bout that. I have NEVER seen one, ever. This I would like to see. Not that I do not bwelieve you, but , I would like to see one.
Things are different in the south east , huh? LOLOL

I swear, I have never seen one, ever, in 30 years.

Bruce
WE4

 

[6PacktoGo]

Re: WOW!!!

Originally posted by WE4
Damn, learn something new every day. Sorry bout that. I have NEVER seen one, ever. This I would like to see. Not that I do not bwelieve you, but , I would like to see one.
Things are different in the south east , huh? LOLOL

I swear, I have never seen one, ever, in 30 years.

Bruce
WE4

You don't see them often, I think I've seen ONE that wasn't bought from ATI. Looks like a fit all or unicase. I'll have to see what a case costs these days, or if Jim even has any of them left.

 

[Nashty]

Great, they are rare. Hope I can find one but I'm not hung up on it being BOP, I'll take a chevy if I can find an adapter/mid plate.

$2000 !! Sweet mother of Mary.

Steve, it is the Geo. I think I'll be close to 2100 with me in it, 2200 tops. I like the thought of a 1.82 better than a 1.76 from a gear ratio standpoint. Am I going to break this thing with a 650 hp motor? Assuming I buy the parts you listed.

You interested in doing it Steve?

I think I'll pony up for the ATI convertor though. I've heard too many good things about them.

 

[6PacktoGo]

Originally posted by Nashty
Great, they are rare. Hope I can find one but I'm not hung up on it being BOP, I'll take a chevy if I can find an adapter/mid plate.

$2000 !! Sweet mother of Mary.

Steve, it is the Geo. I think I'll be close to 2100 with me in it, 2200 tops. I like the thought of a 1.82 better than a 1.76 from a gear ratio standpoint. Am I going to break this thing with a 650 hp motor? Assuming I buy the parts you listed.

You interested in doing it Steve?

I think I'll pony up for the ATI convertor though. I've heard too many good things about them.

I don't think the 1.82 will break in a light car, especially not with the 450 HP engine in it.

As far as $2K goes, about $900 of that is the converter. Figure $100 for a core, $150 for a case (about as cheap as an adapter, and less hassle), $140 for an input shaft, $225 for a good brake, $70 for a direct hub, $250 for both shields (trans and flywheel), plus at least $200 to build it.

Two grand is CHEAP for a good race setup from converter to output shaft. If you expect good reliable parts for $1000 or less I'd suggest you give up racing.

 

[Nashty]

Hipster has a turbo spline, steel hub, bracket style brake (softer hit) for 799 no core (1.82 gear set)

Adapter plate is $100 and make engine pulling a little easier plus it has a built in flywheel shield. B&M trans shield is $80.

So it looks like it is close to what you quoted me.

And as far as price goes, I DO expect cheap reliable parts. I just don't expect for buy from the premium suppliers for the low price. This is a CHEAP project. I was quoted $5000 for the chassis work and I'm doing myself with a chassis shop doing part of the cage. I'll have it under $1000 - AND know it was done right. I've raced for about 5 years now and worked on cars for awhile, I don't need schooling.

 

[steve hughes]

Sorry Roger i have too many projects going on. You should be able to find somebody local. Not much to a glide. Or buy a tranny book and build it yourself. Sounds like you're on the right track. Car should fly and be easy on parts. Good luck.

 

[Nashty]

When I first started this project, I didn't expect to be building the chassis or front suspension but look where I am now. I guess I can build a glide as well as the next guy if I know what I'm doing.

There's a lot of good people on this board to help an ignoramus along.

Roger

 

[MeanBuicks]

Re: WOW!!!

Originally posted by WE4
Things are different in the south east , huh? LOLOL

I swear, I have never seen one, ever, in 30 years.

Well Bruce, I threw a picture up on the web so you could see one. I believe we still have a couple of these languishing amongst our vast collection of cores.

 

[Nashty]

Greg, you're an engineer for TCI? You bastard, what a cool engineering job. Not that working on combines isn't respectable but come on. Must be a fun job.

I'm going to email you about this off-line.

Roger

 

[Clay Thompson]

eBay it!

I've never seen one of those. You ought to eBay that sucker and see what it's worth.