OK... I am new here so please bare with me. I did many searches on this subject which did help educate me a bit but could not find exactly what I was looking for. This is going to be my first full build. I have been racing superbikes for the last five years and have just retired after a couple of high speed crashes in one month. I am turning my efforts towards hot rods before I kill myself. So I am sure you will see me on here asking many questions. I love this place already, but still have lots to learn. So... I am just in the early planning stages of building a '32 roadster. I just ordered my frame from Squeak. He has an 8 week lead time right now. So I have some time to gather parts. I am trying to keep things simple since this will be my first build. I am going with a Ford 9" rear with ladder bars and coil overs and an I beam front with hair pins. I have decided on a SBC and will build it with lots of power. I am still not sure about the trans. Should a go with a simple TH350? Will I be happy with that and will a stock th350 be able to handle all the power a sbc can throw at it? Or should I be looking at a 4L60 or something else. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If your going to build the motor with lots of power, then build the trans to handle it..don't cut corners on the transmission if you plan on making real power from your mill. A turbo 350 is a great trans and will hold up very well under some of the hottest mill's bolted to it if set up right. I had a built turbo 350 attached to a 12.1 327 in a malibu i used to own..It was a street car built to race, and although i never had the chance to run it at the track, it was driven hard on the street with never a problem.. Just make sure to run a GOOD trans cooler no matter what one you use.. heat is what will shorten the life of an auto transmission.. now, to add to that my own preference.... Add another pedal and throw in a manual trans.. NOTHING like rowing through the gears in my own oppinon..
I'm running a SBC, about 300 hp, and a TH350 in my 32 roadster. Rear tires are 30.5" tall and my rear end ratio is 3.25/1. I have more power than I have guts. I also have ladder bars and my rear tires really hookup. Good set up. As to my transmission. If I had it to do again I would run a 700R-4. No question. I have an automatic with overdrive in my daily drive. In the roadster I am always waiting for it to shift into fourth.
No doubt the turbo 350 will hold up i always change the intermediate clutch drum and sprag out for a heavier duty during rebuild but could get by without changing it with moderate hp.. the sprags the weakest link ive found in em.
I vote for the 700 R4. It can be built to handle lots of power. With the overdrive, you can run a taller gear around town and still get her out on the highway and stretch her legs. Best of both worlds. Doc.
Shifts built me a 700r4 to go behind the blown 406 I'm using in the 5 window. With the 4.11 Locker and 3.06 first gear it should leap off the line, but the OD will let me get on the hiway comfortably. I'm looking to run a 10.50 index. Mutt
I was a privateer. You can still be compe***ive as a priviteer in roadraceing bikes. No one would ever even think about running an auto in roadracing Bikes. But I have no plans of down shifting this car while I have my knee on the pavement at 165mph. Don't take that the wrong way.... I understand what you mean.
Just wondering. You guys on the track give me the chills , I have a 929 but its just for wheelies !!!!
I am in the same situation as you are........building a 32. My present 32 has a Turbo 400. Strong, reliable and NO Overdrive.... I am going to use a 700R4 in my new 32 coupe. I will use a 3.70 rear gear. With the overdrive.......in 4th, the final drive ratio will be 2.59 Any higher and the RPMs would be so low that the vacuum would drop, the carb would fatten up and mileage suffer. I will have 29" tall tires. With these parts...my RPM at 70 should be 2100 Right in the cruise RPM recommended by the camshaft manufacturer for the camshaft I am using.
It might come down to money. I can build a TH400 to take just about anything for less than $200.00, easy. A TH350 only a little more, dependant on hard parts needed. Last I knew, a TH700R4 might be over a grand, and I have no idea about the 4L60. The overdrive IS nice, and can be added later, if planned for today. Cosmo
What he said, LOL. I prefer stick shifts also, but I'm biased that way. I think they should all be standards. However, a TH350 should be more than enough to put up with a hot SBC, you might like an O/D better, if that's the case, go with a 700R4, if you try to get too new on the trans (4L-60/4L80) you will have to adapt a computer to it to make it shift right. Now there are companies that make 'em, but they're not cheap.
Hey Mark... Your not far... Just around the corner from Cuca****a... As everyone says 350 is great. Will do a very good job. I have had a few, but I am switching to the overdrive next time I upgrade my model A. The 350 is absolutely killing me on the freeway and here in the Inland Empire nothing is close. Just my 2 cents.... If money is a big issue dont hesitate with the 350, but if you can afford it upgrade. Best Regards, Hyfire
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