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Tested out the Clutch-Turbo400

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 69fury, Aug 10, 2011.

  1. black 62
    Joined: Jul 12, 2012
    Posts: 1,895

    black 62
    Member
    from arkansas

    red adair was the guy who put out oil well fires...
     
  2. Lytles Garage
    Joined: May 6, 2011
    Posts: 621

    Lytles Garage
    Member

    Hi; Bought a Fairbanks clutch turbo from Summit when they sold them in their catalog in the 80s, raced in in the "Blown Hell" Willys before I went to a Lenco, LOVED that Trans! never had any trouble with it with 1500 HP, I gave it to a friend of mine and it is still going strong behind a 598 cu. in. Shaffroff BBC in a street car.They are just like a sore pecker,you can't beat em!!! Chris
     
  3. Lobucrod
    Joined: Mar 22, 2006
    Posts: 4,121

    Lobucrod
    Alliance Vendor
    from Texas

    Subscribed for future reference. My next project after finishing the house is to put a 401 Nailhead I'm rebuilding in my 38 Chevy Couple I've been driving since 1974 and going back to sorta street g***er style like it was when I bought it. Its been through 2 transformations in the last 39 years and its time it went full circle.

    I have several sp400's lying around and a couple of TH400 for the nailheads. I have considered a SP400 with a 300 converter for some more stall and switch pitch ability but the Clutch Turbo idea opens up a whole new world.

    Damn, and I thought I had it all worked out! Back to the drawing board!
     
  4. jimmy1931
    Joined: Jan 13, 2012
    Posts: 728

    jimmy1931
    Member

    Running a clutch turbo with my blown Pontiac. Been racing only, no street & running real mild setup. No problems so far other than clutches. Now running metallic Ram, looks like it will do the job. It is a kick to drive.
     
  5. I remember the old clutch turbos....How would that work in my streetcar I'm wonderin? Whats the first gear ratio?What first gear ratios are available?
     
  6. BOBCRMAN
    Joined: Nov 10, 2005
    Posts: 846

    BOBCRMAN
    Member
    from Holly

    I ran one, Fairbanks, in a big block Anglia on the street. After removing it (too many broken/twisted input shafts/driveline parts) from my drag car.

    In a light street car, with softer organic clutch, it squacks the tires on, non clutch, shifts. Under power it can tend to give p***engers white knockles and neck aches.

    In the day, all that was available was the stock 400 2.52 low gear. Maybe something else available now. I retired mine in the mid eighties.
     
    01mikep likes this.
  7. Inland empire hot rods
    Joined: Aug 5, 2010
    Posts: 1,060

    Inland empire hot rods
    Member
    from so cal

    Thanks guys for the feedback, so I shouldn't be scared of the thing?
     
  8. bigboar
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 84

    bigboar
    Member
    from california

    I have a B&M clutch turbo complete but I can't find a throw out bearing any suggestion . It's 1 5/8 in side dia. Chevy is 1 3/8
     
  9. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    Pin the sprag race to the case...
     
  10. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,393

    sunbeam
    Member

    A torque flite manual valve body hasn't any brakeing in low gear just let up on the throttle when shifting.
     
  11. 39chevygasser
    Joined: Jun 5, 2016
    Posts: 15

    39chevygasser


    I'm having the same issue
     
  12. blacksheep_214
    Joined: Aug 20, 2017
    Posts: 1

    blacksheep_214

    I had one of these with a dual disk clutch about 35 years ago on my injected nitro funny car and really loved it. They are strong and easy to work on once you get to know the ins and outs of the turbo 400. Really fast tare-down and real easy to find replacement parts. I ran the same tranni/clutch setup in a gas / fuel injected, 470 chevy in a 32 bantam, 92" wheelbase; ... it was a fun ride. The car was a killer on the lights and I believe it was mostly do to that tranni/clutch setup. The car would launch so hard that it would stand the car on the wheelie bars, lifting the tires off the ground for a split second sometimes. I'm planning on building a 48 or 49 big block blown anglia for the street/strip and I would take one of these ******s in a heart beat if I could find one.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2017
  13. hotrodyankee
    Joined: Jun 27, 2016
    Posts: 304

    hotrodyankee
    Member

    Had used 2 B&M clutch turbos in my street cars back in the 80's, loved them. If remember right, they used a Mopar throw-out bearing.
     
  14. ididntdoit1960
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,427

    ididntdoit1960
    Member
    from Western MA

    you're in luck.....winters performance re-introduced them awile ago.....
     
  15. anotheridiot
    Joined: Dec 31, 2014
    Posts: 3

    anotheridiot

    I love this place, always read such interesting things.

    Just got to wondering, since the 4L80E is based on a TH400, have people been using an overdrive trans with this set up for street and highway use? Sounds like it might be a possibility.
     
  16. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,932

    squirrel
    Member

    there are folks running the 4L80E in street/strip cars. Drag Week is a good place to find out what works...there are some guys running this trans, but there seem to be more running a 400 with a Gear Vendors behind it. That's what I have in my Chevy II.

    The clutch turbo, which this thread is about, is a whole different thing.
     
  17. A jay
    Joined: Sep 30, 2024
    Posts: 1

    A jay

    Hey what bell housing did your friend use for the mod motor , clutched TH400 ? I have the same combo- but a 7.3 godzilla with an old original clutched TH400 which accepts a Muncie bell housing.
     
  18. 69fury
    Joined: Feb 24, 2009
    Posts: 1,726

    69fury
    Member
    from Topeka

    I couldn't tell you which part number, but i'm pretty sure it was a lakewood- i could ask him if it was a quicktime

    -rick
     
  19. 69fury
    Joined: Feb 24, 2009
    Posts: 1,726

    69fury
    Member
    from Topeka

    Sorry I couldn't get much info from him other than it was a Quick Time that he modified. Im not sure what application he started with but he later stepped up to a built glide. I'm not even sure what would need modified since i was pretty sure it would just be a Muncie/Saginaw to Mod Motor unit (***uming that's a thing)- My Clutchflite came with a chevy pattern bell, and pretends it's a Muncie/Saginaw, which is a common trans to go behind a small block mopar in the circle track world due to weight savings, so there already is a unit from Quick Time for that combo.

    Instead of going that route, i've recently decided to go with a face plated 4 speed and i picked up an a833. So i'll be able to sell the clutchflite-chevy setup at some point.

    -rick
     

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