(I'll start out by trying to explain what I have as much as possible)
1979 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup, 2WD (I know... it's heavy)
305 V8, fresh rebuild, .030 over, Comp 280H - (280/480), stock heads, 9.5:1
Quadrajet, Weiand 8004 intake, Hedman headers, 2 1/4 pipe, x-pipe, Flowmasters
1800-2500 converter, TH400 transmission, 12 bolt rearend, 3.73 gears
275/60/15 tires, 15x8 wheels.
I plan on replacing the carb with an Edelbrock 600 cfm unit, and a 1" 4-hole spacer.
The problems I'm having are - 1) No matter what I set idle at, when I put it in gear it drops down to about 400 to 500 rpms. 2) When I take off, I have to ease my foot into the gas to get going. Once I get above 1000 or more like 1500 I'm ok, and it has "plenty" of power. I'm not looking to make this a race vehicle, but my take-offs (for lack of a better term)... "suck". I couldn't spin the tires if I wanted to! hehe (unless the pavement was wet)
My thinking is, that the converter we picked out isn't much over what a factory unit would be. (?) I had a another guy who builds motors/hotrods... tell me I should get a converter that was rated at about 3000 rpm because it would lock up around 2500 or 2800 rpm, and that I would enjoy driving it alot more. (power band of the cam is 2000-6000)
Should I go with a bigger converter, 4.11 gears in the rearend, or both? I know I'll lose some highway driveability with the lower gears. Right now I'm turning 2000 rpm cruising at 40 mph in town. Hope I haven't left anything out. Thank you for your advice, and patience with me. <grin>
1979 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup, 2WD (I know... it's heavy)
305 V8, fresh rebuild, .030 over, Comp 280H - (280/480), stock heads, 9.5:1
Quadrajet, Weiand 8004 intake, Hedman headers, 2 1/4 pipe, x-pipe, Flowmasters
1800-2500 converter, TH400 transmission, 12 bolt rearend, 3.73 gears
275/60/15 tires, 15x8 wheels.
I plan on replacing the carb with an Edelbrock 600 cfm unit, and a 1" 4-hole spacer.
The problems I'm having are - 1) No matter what I set idle at, when I put it in gear it drops down to about 400 to 500 rpms. 2) When I take off, I have to ease my foot into the gas to get going. Once I get above 1000 or more like 1500 I'm ok, and it has "plenty" of power. I'm not looking to make this a race vehicle, but my take-offs (for lack of a better term)... "suck". I couldn't spin the tires if I wanted to! hehe (unless the pavement was wet)
My thinking is, that the converter we picked out isn't much over what a factory unit would be. (?) I had a another guy who builds motors/hotrods... tell me I should get a converter that was rated at about 3000 rpm because it would lock up around 2500 or 2800 rpm, and that I would enjoy driving it alot more. (power band of the cam is 2000-6000)
Should I go with a bigger converter, 4.11 gears in the rearend, or both? I know I'll lose some highway driveability with the lower gears. Right now I'm turning 2000 rpm cruising at 40 mph in town. Hope I haven't left anything out. Thank you for your advice, and patience with me. <grin>