I have access to a 1.58 gear set in a powerglide. thinking of trying it and wondering if anyone has tried one.

Concerned it might be too big of a drop from a 1.80 to a 1.58.

1.69 doesn't seem like it will last Don't think I'm fast enough for a 1.58. Almost 14 mph different at the top of 1st @ zero slip.

4.40s-4.50s baby blower car. 4.10 gear. 34.5 tire. Might step up pulley a little. Dont think it's a drastic power change.

Zero performance change going from a 33.5 tire with a 4.30 to a 4.10 and 34.5. dropped about 200-300 rpm at 1/8. don't think the c1550 hoosier grows like the MT 3183 did

Why, what’s the objective?

1.80 here and no reason to change, 4.40s with a 4.30 gear and the C1550.

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrous1:

Zero performance change going from a 33.5 tire with a 4.30 to a 4.10 and 34.5. dropped about 200-300 rpm at 1/8. don't think the c1550 hoosier grows like the MT 3183 did

There was a performance change shown in the fact there wasn't a change in ET.

Taller tire + lower numerical gear equals a less efficient converter the boost liked.

It might prefer the 4.30 gear 1.58.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Rietow,

I can not say for sure because you have a 4.10 gear and 34.5 tire and convertor plays a big part in it to. You want to hit it hard enough to get it up on the tire and get good wheel speed. But not too hard to where it is not consistent.

As long as you have enough power and convertor to make it work the 1.58 may be a good thing. You would leave a little softer and MPH better at finish line both of which could help you at both ends of the track.

You also said the tire change from 33.5 to 34.5 was 200 or 300 RPM difference at finish line but did not say where your peak power is. You want to shift a few hundred RPM over peak power and a little over at finish line.

May be worth trying but I do not know if it will help you because there is so many variables.

^^^translated...I don't have a clue but felt compelled to reply as usual and retard is our self proclaimed resident street/strip hero, assembling shyt for a few local naive and clueless with parts from the 90s

Again, what is the objective? Car don't work? Fix it don't bandage the issue.

no issues.
It was aggresive with a 4.30, 33.5, and 1.80. but this was my NA 4.80-4.70 set up.

Put on a baby blower. Has a ton of torque. Picks up everytime you raise the shift

struggled a little in 90* weather. Went to the c1550(34.5) and 4.10 at the same time. Performance stayed the same( was actually happy. thought it would slow down) car much more manageable

Still learning the combo. Likes low rpm launches. May add a little more boost this year. My 1.80 gear set has a ton of passes on it. Thinking of replacing it before it breaks.

Just because you can get one does not mean you need one. I don't see it doing anything other than slow your car down, I run a 180 and have a whole lot more power than you have.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Just because you can get one does not mean you need one. I don't see it doing anything other than slow your car down, I run a 180 and have a whole lot more power than you have.

Kind of what I figured. I want a spare trans. Might buy it and just put a 1.80 in it and sell of the 1.58. Think something in the 1.60-1.70 range might be closer. I know at this level not everything is a black and white answer at this level and results may vary. Some trial and error/ R&D may be needed.

Those gear sets were made for BIG hp cars to get them off the line, especially when they are running small radial tires, no prep, things like that....they had to kill the launch enough to get the car moving, and let the power management make up the difference.....

We have some VERY fast cars here that run a 1.80/3.89/34.5-35 combo and run well. Even a couple of the faster blower cars that run a B&J or Lenco are still running about a 1.80ish first gear......

I agree, I think you're wasting your money on a 1.58 gear set, because you're going to end up going back to what you already had.....even if it's free to try, still a waste of money for the effort....

This will go against the opinions here but I believe it’s a good idea depending on why you want to do it. I am still considering it myself and I’m the slowest in the group answering. Steve’s car will never see the conditions I regularly race in. I run high gear only through the hot part of summer but I combat trans heat. If I had the 1.58 I could still leave soft, have a smaller rpm drop and not ride the converter as hard when the tracks aren’t as good. Taking rear gear out kills rpm at the finish and the car doesn’t run down there the way I want it to.

Sometimes it’s not about what people think you need. Your question was about if anybody has tried it and most haven’t but will try to talk you out of it because that’s not conventional wisdom.

I might be interested in the gear set if you decide to sell it. If not and you have it, why not try it?

Another that is clueless ^^^

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Just because you can get one does not mean you need one. I don't see it doing anything other than slow your car down, I run a 180 and have a whole lot more power than you have.

EXACTLY!

Big Steve…KNOWS!

It's real simple, if you run all 1/8 mile the 1.58 is way, because it'll be quicker & faster x 4.56 final gear.

You damn sure can't take advise from know nothing, do nothing, monkey see monkey do crate engine nazi t i t milk Ed, he'll be the last monkey in line to do whatever everyone else is doing.

If it's a 1.58 we know it's a Sonnax, so you can't hurt it. Here's your second reason to get it in the mix.

I've got a transmission here now, guy goes 4.30 - 4.40 n/a with a 585, he can't keep a gearset in it. They've had the pump out of this thing so often, they'e managed to rip the threads out of the pump cover, the slide hammer attaches to pull the pump.

But don't listen milk t i t s Ed, he's nothing but a know nothing, do nothing monkey see monkey do crate engine racer. He has no clue of how anything works.

Only took 3 minutes to prove my point. LOL I never said Steve was wrong nor did I say anyone else was wrong.

OP many won’t comment on here anymore and give an opinion because they don’t want to be berated for not agreeing with a single way of doing things.

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrous1:

Zero performance change going from a 33.5 tire with a 4.30 to a 4.10 and 34.5. dropped about 200-300 rpm at 1/8. don't think the c1550 hoosier grows like the MT 3183 did

There was a performance change shown in the fact there wasn't a change in ET.

Taller tire + lower numerical gear equals a less efficient converter the boost apparently liked.

It might even prefer the 4.30 gear 1.58.

quote:

I've got a transmission here now, guy goes 4.30 - 4.40 n/a with a 585, he can't keep a gearset in it. They've had the pump out of this thing so often, they'e managed to rip the threads

IMAGINE THAT ....

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Sometimes it’s not about what people think you need. Your question was about if anybody has tried it and most haven’t but will try to talk you out of it because that’s not conventional wisdom.

I might be interested in the gear set if you decide to sell it. If not and you have it, why not try it?

Curtis, that 1.58 gear set would be excellent to try in your roadster vs running hi gear only.

In 1/8 mile racing you can cut the track in half (1st gear to 330 and hi gear to 1/8) using a numerically lower first gear. This allows for a softer leave and desired maximum finish line rpm.

Agree on your statement. I don’t walk the same road as any other racer because they already have the results I don’t want to duplicate.

To the OP, if you do Not purchase this trans, I’d be interested in trans price and location.

If the OP wants to slow his 60 foots and run slower he’s on the right course

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1320racer,

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Just because you can get one does not mean you need one. I don't see it doing anything other than slow your car down, I run a 180 and have a whole lot more power than you have.

yep. 1.80 here also, and sometimes I run a 4.10 rear with it also

Of course you have a 1.80.

seabass…KNOWS!

I ran a 1.64/4.10 combo with great results, but I was making some pretty good power and was pretty aggressive with the tune up.