[Rod Breaker]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum. I just want to get some input from some more knowledgeable folk before I go down the wrong. I have a Roller SBC355, 10ish-1 comp. Lunati 60112 Cam 282/290 231/239 .535/.550 LSA 110 making power 2400-6200, Holley Double Pumper 750.

The car, 1977 Camaro, stripped out interior and else where and roll caged. I have not weighed the car but factory weight id about 3200# I believe so it is somewhere south of that.

I have never ran the engine so It is my first season with the car ( got as a roller) so I'm just trying to decide my best route for a transmission. I have 2 trannys laying around a Powerglide and a TH350. This car will only be driven at the race track 1/4 mile. Its a cast rotating assembly so I really don't wanna run the engine over 6,000. My question is what transmission am I best off running and which converter stall to run for each?

Also I would like to run a transmission break so I don't know if that weighs into anything? Thank you!

[rick 427]

IMO...I don't know what gear you plan on running,but off the top of my head,I have a feeling that you are going to run out of motor well before you run out of race track with a 2 speed trans. It would be a 400 trans under the car for me.I know guys run transbrake equipped 350's,but my preference would still be the 400.

[Rod Breaker]

Forgot to mention 3:73s slipped my mind haha. Thank you for your input tho!

[vinniekq2]

when I ran a glide in my street 67 Camaro I stepped up to 5.13 gears.
your 3.73 gears are street gears. 77 Camaros are quite heavy,My 89 Camaro weighed 3915.

4.56 gears would give you a top speed of 115 mph at 6,000 rpm and 29.5 slicks
If your car weighs 3 000 pounds,with your engine,you should run 12,0s or a bit quicker,using a 3 speed auto

[vinniekq2]

slight correction,sorry.
My 67 Camaro /355 roller cam,I stepped from 5.13s to 5.57s to match the power glide

My 80 Camaro that was fat,, I had 5.13s and a low hp 454,it had a turbo 400

[1Gary]

What rear end does the car have??. What suspension mods where done??. I think a thought if the rear end/suspension will hold up behind a brake should be made.

[Rod Breaker]

Originally Posted by 1Gary

What rear end does the car have??. What suspension mods where done??. I think a thought if the rear end/suspension will hold up behind a brake should be made.

3:73s o believe i am double checkign later. Stock Suspension pretty much except for some traction bars and some slicks

[rick 427]

A transbrake isn't going to happen with that set-up.The track people really get upset when there is gear lube all over the starting line,or chase a slick halfway down the track that left before your car did.If your going to make this a race car, you need to upgrade the rear end first.Even if you run the current rear end with a non transbrake manual shift trans,stall converter,and slicks,at the very least, those axles need to be changed.Then down the road if you decide you want to run faster,then for sure the rear end would need upgraded.So you can upgrade it now,and be done with it for current safety[and i'm all about that] and future motor changes,or you can do it later.I'll take a 'stronger rear end than I need' over one that I hope holds up anyday.

[Rod Breaker]

Originally Posted by rick 427

A transbrake isn't going to happen with that set-up.The track people really get upset when there is gear lube all over the starting line,or chase a slick halfway down the track that left before your car did.If your going to make this a race car, you need to upgrade the rear end first.Even if you run the current rear end with a non transbrake manual shift trans,stall converter,and slicks,at the very least, those axles need to be changed.Then down the road if you decide you want to run faster,then for sure the rear end would need upgraded.So you can upgrade it now,and be done with it for current safety[and i'm all about that] and future motor changes,or you can do it later.I'll take a 'stronger rear end than I need' over one that I hope holds up anyday.

Yes I understand you view and I respect it. I will try and get some shafts soon. BTW I double checked and the rear end is 4.11s so Im still on the line of of what tranny to run

[vinniekq2]

4.11 is not enough gear to run a PG. If you use a PG then expect to run a 5k converter or more with an engine that can use a converter that big

[Rod Breaker]

Alright I will go with the 3 speed then, What would you recommend for a stall?

[vinniekq2]

a "RACE" converter is 2000-2500 rpm under your redline. IE: an engine that peaks at 7k will have a 48-5k converter.

[F-BIRD'88]

Use the th350. Forget the trans brake idea. Get a 9" to 10" race converter with not less than a 3500 stall speed. Get some 4.56's. You can rev it higher than 6000rpm.

[Rod Breaker]

Thanks for all the input everyone. So I am going to run the TH350 And I have the opportunity of getting a B&M 3600 converter off a buddy for $100 bucks so I think ill bite on it.

I just said I am going to rev it to 6k because I just rebuilt the bottom end with a GM cast crank and rods and hypereutectic pistons and heard im pushing it going anymore. Don't worry I am budgeting for a better bottom end

[vinniekq2]

3600 rpm converter is a street converter,not a race converter.
go race a season and learn,next year you will see things differently