Ford Engine HELP...

[J Halsey Jr]

Freddie looks like you dont have enough rearend gear.I would think you need at least 4.88.

[69Cobra]

Originally Posted by J Halsey Jr

Freddie looks like you dont have enough rearend gear.I would think you need at least 4.88.

x2
I'm a four speed guy but I don't think I would recommend going from a 3 speed to a 2 speed glide with a small cube motor. I would maybe talk to Pro Trans or JPT about a tranny and look in to the intake and rear gear. I would also second the post about getting it on a dyno. It might cost you up front but it will save you in the end and you know where your at. Just my .02

[Bill Harris]

3.73 !!!!
You gotta be kidding. You have a small block that is good for well over 8000 RPM and your are using a 5000 RPM converter and a 3.73 gear????? WAY wrong. I would expect to see a converter in the 6000 range and a 5.83 to 6.00 rear gear. What MPH did you go on the few passes you did make? The MPH will tell you if you have enough HP. If you are running 122+ MPH, you have pleny of power, you just aren't getting that thing moving off the line. A 60' of 1.72 speaks volumes. You should be under 1.40 to go mid 10's.

[Freddie]

Best MPH was 119, consistantly 99/101 in the 1/8th.

[Stephen & Horace Johnson]

Originally Posted by Freddie

Best MPH was 119, consistantly 99/101 in the 1/8th.

if this is the mph you are running then your car is running out of steam, my street car runs 124mph in the 1/4 in 99mph in the 1/8. This is a n/a 331 with a 5speed. You need more gear under this car....ala 4.30-4.56

[Bill Harris]

I agree, your running out of HP on the top end. Even so, if you had a respectable 60 in the low 1.40's you should be running 11.0's with what you have. Your not going to get there without a lot more gear.
I don't see where a glide is gonna help. There is no reason on earth why you shouldn't be able to get your C4 to live long and work great. There are c4's behind 750+ HP big blocks that do just fine.

[Freddie]

What gear are you guys running in your Auto SS cars? I have had people tell me the 3.73's were great for what i want to run, and yet others say I need at least a 4.30. I know most SS cars make the absolute most out of what they are allowed.

[RPM5595]

The PG will absoluteley kill the ets. I cant believe someone told you 3.73's were the way to go. With a 28" tire I would recommend either a 4.56 or 4.86 depending on how high you want to spin it. The other thing that draws a red flag for me is the mph you have seen and I would MAKE SURE the valve springs are up to snuff. Just because you dont hear a audible "valve float" doesnt mean they arent out of control. As others have said the dyno may help but if it's still in the car I would try the new rear gears first WITH a C4. 3.73's had to be killing that poor thing. Hope this helps.
Jay

[astikhossw]

Freddie what most are saying is that you need to set up yor car for drag racing and not for the street if you want to run super street,you may even need to change your front and rear shocks and springs,
loosen up that convertor, lean down on that carb.,play with the cam center line, mill those heads, change that intake ect,ect,ect,.

[Freddie]

I can not thank you guys enough for all your help.

My new Engine builder, actually has a old SS motor sitting there he is going to put in my car for me to use till we get mine right. He loves S/SS racing and asked me if I would mind running one of the Gt classes this year instead of S/ST. If I did my math right our 89 GT with a 68 302 4bbl motor should fall into GT/MA. He is also sending out my converter to make it work with his engine. Otherwise he said the car should work fine. I am in the process of changing out the front cross member and a arms now, otherwise the car should be fine.

He is positive we can get at least .10 under the index, to start with at least. I tiold him as long as I can at least be close to the index for the first try I dont care. I am not looking to go out and set records or nothing just want to be able to race, and have fun. Best time I ever had racing was driving a friend of mines old 68 camaro SS/FM car back in the late 80's, we even won class once it was just cool.