so i can pick up a '54 331 Chrysler hemi and matching trans I want to throw it in a ford and make a 50's style drag car that can actually run. my question is can you use the factory parking brake along with the standard brakes i guess kinda of like a transbrake to bring the rpm up higher for launch? anyone with actual experience doing this? thanks for any help you can give me.
It will work to a degree,but the engine will over power the brakes as the rpm comes up.You would have to determine what rpm that is and stay below it so you don't push through the staging lights.
yeah i was hoping since it was before the rear end gears and torque is multiplied it might help quite a bit but that's just theory. but I've also heard it didn't work that great as a parking break so i don't know anyone try it?
The PF isn't that great a ****** & if you build the 331 for racing you'll probably break it fairly soon. You'd be better off getting a 727 and an adaptor(I like QEC's"73RR).
A *real* transbrake puts the trans in low and reverse at the same time. Locking up the torque internally to the trans. All you are doing is hoping to brake stall it a bit higher. I agree the powerflite trans is a bad choice for racing.
The purpose of a having a trans brake instead of just using the wheel brakes is that the suspension isn't loaded with a trans brake. If the suspension is set up to take advantage of that it's possible to get slightly better initial traction.
Yeah I know how a modern trans brake works. but was kinda looking for a vintage option I don't know how or if it was done in the 50's, the trans is free with the motor which is why I wanted to use it and the only reason I could think of to want to have the brake there is a trans brake, the hemi is a stock four barrel and will be ran as is until I can save more. My budget will be blown with the purchase of the engine. I was hoping the powerflite would last in a much lighter car. If I use a different trans it will be a manual
If the goal is to have a manual trans then why install a PF to start? Dunno, but it seems to me it would be alot less work to install all of the manual stuff at the get-go rather than re-do it all later. .
The first true transbrake was an external brake. I am not saying to use the powerflite but the first (KNOWN) transbrake was external it was a Lamb brake.
I own a 54 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe with 331 and Powerflite. The engine works well with the Powerflite, and as far as the durability of the Powerflite, well that is a matter of opinion. I, myself think the Powerflite is a much better transmission then most think. It is a very simple transmission in nature, and frankly, the torque converter is much better than any Powerglide (racing excluded). The brake on the rear of the Powerflite was never meant for a trans brake, so I wouldn't recommend messing with it. Use the service brakes for raising the stall. Between the 2.76 stall ratio and 1.72 low range ratio, you have a pretty good launch with the hemi. And I have had my old hemi up there in RPMS in Lo, then shifting at about 75 with no problems. The hemi will just keep on revving after hitting drive.
thanks for all the help, guess I still have decisons to make, I wanted a manual trans but if I get the hemi I wont have any money in the budget left so ill have to use the powerflite. I found a dodge hemi, '60 389 or a '55 olds rocket motor as my other choices iI can afford them and a manual trans for the $1200 asking price of the hemi. d2 willys does the brake work OK as a parking break Ive heard mixed reviews?
A lamb brake, bet it wasn't that baaaaaaaad. Ever see one of those external brakes catch on fire? A true WTF moment especially if everyone in the car has been drinkin' and smokin' something hand-rolled. This was on a '51 Plymouth in 1976 or so.. don't know if I'd trust one enough to be beating the snot out of it. Bob
No, but it wouldn't surprise me. That's why I said I didn't know if I would use that ******, but the Lamb brake was pretty much based on that idea. He used a drum, a band from the inside of a ****** and a solenoid to lock and release it.Later he used a disc set up right about the time Coan? (I am sure there were many ) came out with the internal brake which made Lamb's obsolete.
yeah I think I remember seeing something similar to the lamb brake your talking about and figured if this one was there, might as well use it if it could work but thinking now maybe not. if i get stuck with it i might experiment anyways
Maybe if you were to use a strong enough solenoid, with enough travel and you left the brake loose enough it would work. Just make sure you either have an emergency brake setup in your rear, because that drum is your park.
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