400 big block dyno run

[Michael400]

Ahhhh, don’t bother… a little humor is all it was.
Like your ride my man. Keep posting pictures and the story.

Thanks man... a little backstory on this car it was originally my dad's car he bought it brand new in 73... this was like his race car back in the 70s and when I was growing up he just had it sitting there in the garage he took the engine apart and rebuild it with new Pistons from the 70s don't know what kind of all I know is there high tops... fast forward a little bit about a year ago he got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer as soon as I found out I wanted to get this car running for him me and him rebuilt the engine together while he was doing chemo and then he got really sick at the end so I got it working for him this is the video on how we showed it to him on Father's Day on October 21st 2021 he died from pancreatic cancer... I will cherish this car because me and my dad built it together.. every time I drive it I always think about him but I knew he wanted it faster so here I am trying to learn how to make it faster

 

[Michael400]

Yes it would!

Which one would you recommend??

 

[Runcharger]

Sorry about your Dad but good on you for cherishing his car. I see guys sell their Dad's car right away when he passes and I know I sure could never do that.
Check your initial timing at idle with the vacuum advance not hooked up. It would probably like abour 18 degrees at idle. It's a bit of work getting it there if it is stock, you need a lighter spring to replace the heavy advance spring and I weld the advance slots up in the distributor to limit advance so you end up at 18 initial and 36 total.

 

[rumblefish360]

Sorry, dinner bell rang.

I don’t recommend off the shelf converters much, even more so that you can call up for a custom stall for your exact combo and and AND!!!

You have nearly every last bit of information needed for one in your first post. Lenny @ Ultimate Converter, Dynamic Converter, Pro Torque, the list goes on but those are excellent companies right there. I had Pro Torque custom stall my old odd splined 904 for the wife’s car. Awesome job. They used to be down the block from on Long Island but now have moved most of there biz into Pennsylvania.

Call up a place and ask! It’s worth some ET vs an off the shelf converter.

Let me start you off with Pro Torque. I’ve met a few people over there including the owner. What an awesome bunch. Give’ s a call and then make some more if you wish.

http://protorque.com/

 

[Outsider]

Michael, great legacy and story, you should be proud. Yes, buy a set up of 3.91 gears and limited slip locally or from someone here on this site first, biggest bang for the buck and just a one day job to swap pumpkins and new axel seals.

Then run it down the track; if the tires spin much, get some drag radials. Assume you have headers. Not fast enough then, go for a set of Eddy aluminum heads. Good luck and Happy Motoring. John

 

[Michael400]

Sorry, dinner bell rang.

I don’t recommend off the shelf converters much, even more so that you can call up for a custom stall for your exact combo and and AND!!!

You have nearly every last bit of information needed for one in your first post. Lenny @ Ultimate Converter, Dynamic Converter, Pro Torque, the list goes on but those are excellent companies right there. I had Pro Torque custom stall my old odd splined 904 for the wife’s car. Awesome job. They used to be down the block from on Long Island but now have moved most of there biz into Pennsylvania.

Call up a place and ask! It’s worth some ET vs an off the shelf converter.

Let me start you off with Pro Torque. I’ve met a few people over there including the owner. What an awesome bunch. Give’ s a call and then make some more if you wish.

http://protorque.com/

I'll definitely call them tomorrow thanks

 

[Michael400]

Michael, great legacy and story, you should be proud. Yes, buy a set up of 3.91 gears and limited slip locally or from someone here on this site first, biggest bang for the buck and just a one day job to swap pumpkins and new axel seals.

Then run it down the track; if the tires spin much, get some drag radials. Assume you have headers. Not fast enough then, go for a set of Eddy aluminum heads. Good luck and Happy Motoring. John

As of right now I do have headers tti long tubes 1 3/4.. on the street it does a really big burn out lol around the streets on the low and it definitely does need more low-end torque but as soon as it gets to 3000 and higher it's pretty good so right now I'm planning on looking at a torque converter and some gears thanks for your help

 

[slepr1]

Keep your 3.23 gears. Don't get rid of them. Eventually you 'WILL' put them back in. They are a nice gear.

Also be aware of the performance bug. In the pursuit of a quicker car comes many years of enjoyment. But it will never be quick enough. Every time the budget (or wife) allows another upgrade, it will get incrementally quicker. Eventually many parts will be changed to allow the upgrade to work without breaking other parts. These cars were engineered to do a certain range of power and going beyond that requires upgrading everything behind it or they will break eventually. Its allot of fun if you have the budget and mechanical ability. Many will say just get the car running good and enjoy. I say do what you wanna do but know where you are headed.

 

[Michael400]

Keep your 3.23 gears. Don't get rid of them. Eventually you 'WILL' put them back in. They are a nice gear.

Also be aware of the performance bug. In the pursuit of a quicker car comes many years of enjoyment. But it will never be quick enough. Every time the budget (or wife) allows another upgrade, it will get incrementally quicker. Eventually many parts will be changed to allow the upgrade to work without breaking other parts. These cars were engineered to do a certain range of power and going beyond that requires upgrading everything behind it or they will break eventually. Its allot of fun if you have the budget and mechanical ability. Many will say just get the car running good and enjoy. I say do what you wanna do but know where you are headed.

This was very good advice and got me thinking... the thing I use this car for mainly just taking it to car shows sometimes and taking it to work and to the track that's why I was thinking of 355 rear end gears not too much gear but also streetable and I don't think 3:55 will break anything I hope not... I don't drive this car everyday

 

[padam]

Slepr1 gave you some good advice.
I'm in that spot on my 73, installing frame connectors now, and waiting on a new S60 rear end to be delivered. All because of getting hooked on racing.
I think if my car wasn't already pretty hacked up I wouldn't do it, I would buy a more modern race car and drive my charger on the street.
In the past year or two since I got back into racing l have talked to many people while trying to buy used parts or cars.
Some make me very sad since they worked on the car for years, got it running, made a couple passes then quit.
Old age or health problems, even death crept up on them and they never really got to enjoy their car.
I think in these times it is smart to live ever day like it might be your last, while still planning for the future. Easier said than done though.

 

[slepr1]

they worked on the car for years, got it running, made a couple passes then quit.

Unfortunately I see and hear of that many times.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

I went from 3.23 open to 3.55 SG... nothing to worry. Totally streetable. Change is barelly noticeable

 

[33 IMP]

I went from 3.23 open to 3.55 SG... nothing to worry. Totally streetable. Change is barelly noticeable

Exactly!! Why bother? Why spend the money?(I mean the gear change. Im OK with the SG, obviously)

 

[Michael400]

With a 391 rear end gears will those be okay for the street and Highway use or will it be too high RPM at 65 where would the RPM be at? Also what is SG ?

 

[padam]

3.91 you won't want to drive on the highway much.
SG is sure grip, both tires getting power.
Your best bet is to ride in a car with some of these mods already done so you can see what it rides like.
There's no free lunch with this stuff. The farther you get from factory, the less convenient and street able it will be.

 

[33 IMP]

With a 391 rear end gears will those be okay for the street and Highway use or will it be too high RPM at 65 where would the RPM be at? Also what is SG ?

With 28" tall rear tire, you should be around 3200/3300 at 65 mph, depending on how tight your converter is.
I have 3.91s in my 440 bracket car, cause it didn't go any slower than the 4.30 and 4.56 that I have had in it. Around town, it's a fine gear, and I have no problem at 65 driving it to the track.
I also have a 440 road runner that came with 4.10s that was a daily driver/work commuter for years, at 70 mph. That's 3700rpm. It was workable, because i had stock manifolds and factory stock mufflers and pipes. A loud exhaust would have been unbearable.

 

[padam]

With 28" tall rear tire, you should be around 3200/3300 at 65 mph, depending on how tight your converter is.
I have 3.91s in my 440 bracket car, cause it didn't go any slower than the 4.30 and 4.56 that I have had in it. Around town, it's a fine gear, and I have no problem at 65 driving it to the track.
I also have a 440 road runner that came with 4.10s that was a daily driver/work commuter for years, at 70 mph. That's 3700rpm. It was workable, because i had stock manifolds and factory stock mufflers and pipes. A loud exhaust would have been unbearable.

I guess it's a matter of opinion.
I had 3.55's before and I didn't really like driving them on the highway.
Too many years floating along with the 2.7x I guess.

 

[rumblefish360]

Exactly!! Why bother? Why spend the money?(I mean the gear change. Im OK with the SG, obviously)

For me, my 3.23 to 3.55 change cam when the rear exploded due to extreme wear. The change was noticed, very mild.

 

[Michael400]

With 28" tall rear tire, you should be around 3200/3300 at 65 mph, depending on how tight your converter is.
I have 3.91s in my 440 bracket car, cause it didn't go any slower than the 4.30 and 4.56 that I have had in it. Around town, it's a fine gear, and I have no problem at 65 driving it to the track.
I also have a 440 road runner that came with 4.10s that was a daily driver/work commuter for years, at 70 mph. That's 3700rpm. It was workable, because i had stock manifolds and factory stock mufflers and pipes. A loud exhaust would have been unbearable.

At 3000 RPM doesn't seem too bad.. since I do have an aftermarket exhaust system might need to put some sound installation inside the car... 391 actually might work out..

 

[Michael400]

How do you know if you have Sure Grip?? I jacked up the car today and i spin one wheel One Direction and the other wheel turned the same time but a different direction?