4L80E to power Glide?

[Super73]

Well, I have been bouncing the idea of going to a glide in my truck for a while. For those of you that are not familar with 80E's they are essentially a TH400 with an overdrive.

My 63 pick up weighed in at 3,840 with me in it last time it went down the track. At that weight with 430rwhp, 4,900 converter (what it was flashing to off the foot brake) 3.73's and a 30" tire, it went a best of 11.96 @ 113 with several 12.0x's to back it up in second gear converter locked at 7,000.

Now, I should have aprox 300lbs out of the truck:
Glass front end (140lbs)
Removed extra heavy tailgate (100lbs [I added this to an extra gate I had])
Removed bench seat for some race seats (60lbs)
Removed tow hitch (35lbs)
Removed Brake booster (10-15lbs)
Putting in mild steel 6 point (?lbs)

With that I should be down to lets say a 3,550 race weight (Me in the truck).

I also added 4.56 and going from a 30x14.50 ET street to a 315/60/15 ET drag radial.

Running the numbers, the existing set up would look like this:
3rd unlocked = 135mph @ 7,400rpm
3rd locked = 145mph @ 7,400rpm
60mph cruise in 4rth verter locked = 2,300rpm

Glide would change my cruise and not give me a lock up..
60mph cruise in 2nd = 3,050rpm

I have put 0 miles on the truck in over a year, mainly because it has been down. But to tell you the truth, even if it was running, I would't be driving it around a ton right now. Most of my driving in it is on farm roads going to the store or the local hang out since I am in the country, no need to go over 50-60mph.

So that is the only real disadvantage that I see.

Here are the reasons I am thinking about it:

It will make hooking even easier since it has a tall 1st. I have a feeling that is going to become a problem once I start spraying out of the hole. (2 stage 100 hit on the first stage, 20 hit on the second. I would love to spray the 200 out of the gate and get on the other 100 before the 60 foot mark).

Less weight and roatating mass.

Strong and reliable (the 4L80E is not always right on the shifts).




Another thing to think about is, the motor had no problem pulling to 7,400 with a factory LS6 and ported TB, I'm sure if I did a little tweaking to the tune it would make 7,600-7,800 (138-142mph) no problem with the Super Vic / Dominator that is on it now.


It sounds like I am trying to talk myself in to it, but what does everyone else think?


Marv, I know you went from a TH350 or 400 to a glide in the nova right?

[Marv D]

Yup, went from a TH400 to a glide w/ 1.80 first. But at the same time I added 130HP with the new motor. I can tell you for SURE the PG deal is a bunch less exciting, slower but more consistant 60',, less to do down track... boreing <yawn>. Thing is the gear change from 3.73 to the 4.56. Your going to be changing too much for me to have any guess what's it's going to do. with trans, gear AND tire change.
I don't think it will matter tho. It will be just a matter of time and you'll have it hooking as well as it does now.

[Super73]

I'm thinking it will be easier to get hooking.. It had no problem hooking that on the motor with the 4,900 stall. The 3.73/4L80E technically is shorter geared than the 4.56/PW set up. 3.73/80E @ 7,400 in first would be 60mph, where the 4.56/PW combo would be 74-77mph depending on the first ratio. That's one of the reasons I think I could get on the unit sooner.

I'd also probably drop the verter quite a bit, probably 3,500-3,800 knowing it's going to have gobs of TQ with the N20..