OK. With all those replies, I now understand why power glides are popular for racing. How much heavier are the old cast iron ones? (I know you don't use those)
OK. With all those replies, I now understand why power glides are popular for racing. How much heavier are the old cast iron ones? (I know you don't use those)
Tony
1955 Bel Air Sport Coupe
I think but not sure ,
Powerglide ALUM around 97 LBS
Powerglide Cast Steel around 245 LBS
700R 135 LBS
TH350 122 LBS
Thanks Sid
1955 2 DR Post
1937 Chevy Coupe
2023 Ford Super Duty F350 TREMOR
2019 Corvette Z06
1955 Chevy Nomad
1935 Ford 2dr Slant back I have 4
Even a 502 needs a small dome to get to 10:1, and that's with some fairly small chambers (110 cc).The only way I know to get 10-1 with a 454 is a dome, Flat top closed chamber is still about 8.8 -1.
Most of the loose rear feeling comes mostly from the low air pressure, and that radials and bias ply tires are NEVER a good mix either. Maybe not faster, but I would think drag radials would be much more stable, or bias ply fronts. It's never a win on the roof upside down at the end of the track.
I did find one thing that really helps a lot but I expect some disagreements here or I would have posted it a while ago. Since the loose feeling in the rear feels like oversteer, lowering the air pressure in the fronts it helps correct it. And yes I know that probably causes more rolling resistance, but for what I'm doing, one little thing like that isn't that big a deal.
I had the same basic problem on my van when I got new tires on the front. They have very stiff sidewalls which gave me oversteer so I lowered the pressure in the front and increased it in the rear. Problem solved, and the tires are wearing just fine. Yes I'm sure if I put 4 new tires on it, it probably would never have been a problem, but it is what it is.
Tony
1955 Bel Air Sport Coupe
That would probably be right - the 502 dome is tiny to get the 10:1. Maybe only 0.050"-0.060" tall.
My first reaction was to doubt that. A 396 10.5 motor has small domes, but I would have thought something with as big of bore and stroke of a 454 wouldn't need domes. However, these in this picture are supposedly 454 closed chamber 11.1 pistons, so I stand corrected.
s-l1600.jpg