FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: 64PI on March 01, 2019, 06:04:56 AM
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I'm currently building a '31 Model A to go racing this season. The car with me in it will weigh 2800lbs, 4 speed, 29" tire and a gear ratio between 4.56 - 4.88, I havent decided yet. I'm not going to have my 428 built in time to go in the car so I'm freshening up a 390 I used to run in my galaxie that went 12.4 @ 104. It is a .020" over 390, 11:1 comp, with a Comp 294s cam installed on a 104 ICL, Angle cut and ported C1AE heads with CJ valves. And a port matched Performer RPM. I'm wondering if swapping the intake while I have it apart will hurt or help me. I was looking at either a Victor or a trick flow single plane. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks. Fred.
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My opinion is stay with the Edelbrock RPM. Even considering the light weight of the vehicle. Given the smaller displacement, a dual plane intake is desirable. And per Jay's book, the RPM intake is competitive up in the 600 hp range. I say keep it.
JMO,
paulie
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If traction is a problem then the Victor might help lose some low end torque with the 4 speed , other wise I'm with Paulie
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Thanks guys. I will stick with the Performer rpm. I’m hoping traction isn’t going to be an issue. I’ve spent a lot of time on setting up the 4 link in the car. I’m curious to see what kind of times I will turn compared to my galaxie. Weight alone I should see .5-1 second improvement. I’m interested to see what the 4 speed will do compared to running a C6. Fred
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I don`t know how fancy your C6 was, or what 4 speed you have, but when I converted my 428 CJ powered 78 Fairmont, from a C6 to the Jerico 4 speed, the improvement was considerable. My C6 was pretty decent, needle bearing low drag internals, "R" servo, Art Carr reverse manual transbrake valve body, and 8 " convertor (4500 RPM on the foot brake, 5200 at WOT with the transbrake), with the C6, the best numbers were 10.55ET at 126 MPH, with a 1.42 60 foot. When I first installed the Jerico 4 speed, I changed nothing else, other than swapping the 4.56 gears for 4.88s, since there would no longer be any convertor slippage. On the very first pass with the 4 speed, leaving at low RPM (4500 RPM), and hitting the rev limiter on every shift, it still went almost 2 tenths quicker and 2 MPH faster than the best run with the automatic. Getting used to the car with the stick resulted in better numbers, eventually ran a best of 10.03 @ 132 MPH with the identical 428, with a best 60 foot of 1.28. And that was after putting the 4.56 gears back in. (There was no convertor slippage, but the added 6 MPH put the finish line RPM up to 6800 RPM, beyond my comfort zone for my 40 year old stock blok crank, and rods, and higher than my flat tappet really wanted anyhow).
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The C6 was nothing fancy at all. A shift kit and pretty much a standard rebuild. I’m going to be running a top loader behind the 390 this season. When I put the 428 in the car I’m going to be putting a Hightower or G-force trans in. I have to do a little more research on what I want to buy.
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C6's are about durability, the rotating parts are so heavy that 4speed is bound to be an improvement.
Sounds like a cool build either way.
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When I put the 428 in the car I’m going to be putting a Hightower or G-force trans in. I have to do a little more research on what I want to buy.
The Hightower transmissions are aimed more at circle track and road racing, not drag racing. They're built with lighter gear components for quicker revving, not brute strength. So depending on what your plans are for the car, keep that in mind. I've researched this stuff to no end before finally making a decision.
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The Hightower transmissions are aimed more at circle track and road racing, not drag racing.
It seems like a lot of the nostalgia gasser guys running a Toploader had it built by Johnny Hightower...
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That’s the only reason I mentioned Hightower. I know a lot o guys running a Hightower or a Hightower prepped 4 speed in gasser classes. I’m not looking for a clutchless set up.
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It didn't occur to me that you said you had a Model A, so considerably less weight for the gears to deal with than a full size car. Same with stripped down gassers, so maybe that's how they get them to survive? I haven't seen or heard of one full size drag car that runs one. They pretty much all use G-Force now, or a Liberty/Lenco if the horsepower requires it. Rumor has it that Jerico is nearly done, but don't know how true that is.
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Nearly done, as in "Out of business"?
It didn't occur to me that you said you had a Model A, so considerably less weight for the gears to deal with than a full size car. Same with stripped down gassers, so maybe that's how they get them to survive? I haven't seen or heard of one full size drag car that runs one. They pretty much all use G-Force now, or a Liberty/Lenco if the horsepower requires it. Rumor has it that Jerico is nearly done, but don't know how true that is.
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I heard the same rumor yesterday from a local 4 speed racer....
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Hey 64PI
What is this if I may ask ?? ... " Angle cut and ported C1AE heads "
The " Angle cut " part ..
Ricky.
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The heads were decked .080" on the exhaust side to 0 on the intake side. Moves the valve angle to the piston and raises the runner angle.
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Nearly done, as in "Out of business"?
Take it for what it's worth, but after talking to a lot of people when deciding on which trans to go with, yes, I heard that from a few. It wouldn't surprise me seeing as how they won't support their older design, which is probably well over half of their customer base.