C4 or Powerglide?

[BigJohnson]

I need some help with my combination. I have a 420ci stroker engine right now by Keith Kraft racing that makes just under 700 hp, my best pass is low 9 second run and my car weights about 3,200 lbs. I keep breaking C4 transmissions, I usually lose the first gear.

People are telling me to go to a powerglide but I am afraid to lose e.t, anyone have any advice or any specific trans companies to recommend? Or should I stay with the C4. It lasts like 10 passes maybe 15 passes before breaking.

[Heater]

Just look at this months issue of MM&FF, it goes into detail on bulletproof C4's, and the companies that make them. Good articles.

[ripvanwinkle]

I am currently updating my C4... in the process, I will be rollerizing the pinion gears in the first gear planetaries. When you apply more power to the C4 than originally designed, the washers that are separating the pinion gear from the carrier get the oil film squashed out and it runs steel to steel and burns through the carrier. If you put torrington bearings in between, you the pinion and carrier you eliminate the problem. You can buy them already done from Dynamic or JPT and probably a lot of other C4 specialists. I know plenty of guys running C4's in the high 8's with no problem... they all run rollerized pinion gears for first gear.

[dmpmw]

You can't go wrong with a Performance Automatic C4, with a lifetime warranty!!!!!!!!!!! That is what I am going to put in my car this winter.

[nogood]

I have a 393 with a 175shot of NOS. We run the eighth and my car goes 1.32 60' time and runs 5.90 @ 119. I have a glide with an 8" BTE converter. It doesn't cost much to run a glide and they perform. I have 75 passes on it and going strong.
Thanks, NogoodOriginally posted by BigJohnson
I need some help with my combination. I have a 420ci stroker engine right now by Keith Kraft racing that makes just under 700 hp, my best pass is low 9 second run and my car weights about 3,200 lbs. I keep breaking C4 transmissions, I usually lose the first gear.

People are telling me to go to a powerglide but I am afraid to lose e.t, anyone have any advice or any specific trans companies to recommend? Or should I stay with the C4. It lasts like 10 passes maybe 15 passes before breaking. :)

[E.T.]

Hey Johnson,if ya want a 3 speed there's only one choice bro',get a chev 3 spd trans in that unit and make it fly.
Then you'll have a trans that will last 300 passes before a freshen up

[Elmo]

Way less rotating mass...not going into specifics but with the times you running put the glide in. As far as guaranteed c4's, if they break a couple of times..are they really worth it?

[E.T.]

When your making HP the rotating mass deal doesn't really add up to anything. Of course a glide will weigh less (rotating) it only has 2 speeds.Lets compare a lenco to any 3 speed trans that will take some power and then the masses are very close to the same.
I wouldn't say that a glide would be faster either,its just what most guys use and say but that theory has been shot to hell in classes like comp eliminator,the fast guys use 3 speeds.

Take care E.T.

[ripvanwinkle]

How much power can a fully reworked C4 take? The Glide has seen over 1500 sucessfully. C4's are run to a max of maybe 800 hp, but for how long before clutches or hard parts fail ? I think that is more on the line of feedback that he's looking for. I would get real tired of pulling that thing out too... I've been there before with torque converters and it's frustrating as hell.

[E.T.]

I was refering to a larger trans,possibly a 350 or a 400 chev 3 speed.There is no hope for a c4 ,they just haven't show any reliability and repeatability in racing that i have seen. At this point a crossbreeding (in the trans dept.) has to take place.
Later E.T.

[FAH-Q Racing]

I had a stock C-4 in my car when it was running consistent 6.40's in the eighth, it lasted 100 passes at a time, but after i added nitrous, it would only last about ten passes at a time. Then i swapped to P.A. C-4, best thing i ever done. now has 70 passes so far and still going strong. Runs 5.79 best, and consistent 5.90-6.00's.
408 windsor, NOS, P.A. C-4, 4.10 gears

[windsor396]

The Turbo 400 is "bulletproof" with 800+ HP. I tried to switch over to a glide at Atco and ran 9.50's at 142. Not to mention I blew second gear out of the glide and had to put the 400 back in. At that point I ran a 9.34 at 144 which qualified me #4 in HS. I think I'm going to stick to the 400 myself!

[E.T.]

Glad to see someone trying a different combination other than the traditional powerglide trip. Looking at the results the 3 speed 400 was worth almost 2 tenths and 2 mph! Guess that shoots the rotating mass theory all to hell for those glide lovers.
Keep up the good work ,E.T.

[Peepaw]

You blew second gear out of a powerglide on a 9.50 pass???? No offense, but you ought to check with your tranny builder on that one. Peepaw

[Chris]

C4 from PA??

Hi,

The PA tranny has been working realy nice! We run 8.79 / 8.80 ET's and consistently 1.20 60 feet times. Best 1/8 is 5.66.

Ford 351W stroked to 370 with Nos fogger system ~ 300 hp nos

[windsor396]

The glide I blew up was the PA Pro-Mod Power Glide, all the best stuff money can buy! Sticker on that bad boy was $4850! I know a ton of guys that run them without any problems? Just bad luck I guess....

[chokinred]

I wonder why no one seems to consider the C6... It's alot beefier than a C4..

[david powell]

BECAUSE JUST LIKE THE DUMBASS THAT BROUGHT UP THE TURDBO 350 AND 400 THEY ARE TOO HEAVY AND EAT UP TOO MUCH POWER............................... POWERGLIDE'S RULE!!!!!!!!!!! DUDE!

[E.T.]

Hey guy,anything can be made lighter.
whats with the dumbass stuff?

[DZIMMERMAN]

Well all the fast super stock and comp guys are running the high dollar torque flight stuff and now a few ingenious individuals have figured out how to put the torque flight parts in C6's and ARE going faster because of less rotating mass which makes a HUGE differance when your running a class like super stock and 5/100th's count

[JLB943]

I might try running a Turbo 400. Is the bellhousing the same as would be used with a powerglide. And also what flexplate do you use?

[E.T.]

J.W. makes a bellhousing that will bolt directly to you engine and to the 400,or you can use an adapter plate.
Either system will require a different flywheel and crankshaft adapter to be used with the chev trans and converters.