Restoring or retro moding a 1969 Panel. Has 454 with 3 oin the tree. Other thgan being almost theft proof the 3 on tree is of very little use,
Probably keeping 454 and adding MFI. As for transmission I have a 4L80E trnamission anc converter. Not sure if one controller will do both MFI and transmission or if need seperate setup for each. Figure maybe 475 hp when engine is done, nothing badass just enough for good tire smoking when want to play.
So if building mild street rod/truck. Maybe very light towing of old school trailer and fed for shows. Other than that driving around with some playing. What would be you choice for such a build. Straight gear out of question I know me and thats bad idea.LOLThis message has been edited. Last edited by: wideopen231,
America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
June 01, 2025, 06:05 PM
imakehp
quote:
Originally posted by wideopen231: Restoring or retro moding a 1969 Panel. Has 454 with 3 oin the tree. Other thgan being almost theft proof the 3 on tree is of very little use,
Probably keeping 454 and adding MFI. As for transmission I have a 4L80E trnamission anc converter. Not sure if one controller will do both MFI and transmission or if need seperate setup for each. Figure maybe 475 hp when engine is done, nothing badass just enough for good tire smoking when want to play.
So if building mild street rod/truck. Maybe very light towing of old school trailer and fed for shows. Other than that driving around with some playing. What would be you choice for such a build. Straight gear out of question I know me and thats bad idea.LOL
For quick and easy it's hard to beat the old reliable glide....if you need/want 3 gears then a turbo 400
. Dave
F J B
June 01, 2025, 07:14 PM
fastracer482
TH 350 or TH400. Either would serve your purpose very well.
June 01, 2025, 08:30 PM
Canted Valve
I hadn't entertained the thought, but it would be a blast to drive 3-on-the-tree one more time. Shades of my grandads '53 Belair or my families '56 Ford wagon (w/Thunder Bird emblem).
Illegitimi non carborundum
June 01, 2025, 10:51 PM
wideopen231
my bad. Should have stated would like something with od. While will be some what hor rod still plan on some mountain cruises like fall of the year and maybe trout fic=shing trip. All 120 mile trip and riding around. Highway speeds have old BBC sining pretty good.
Had 700r4 in Z/28 ,figure it not hold up to 454 qith mild hop ups. n sure if anything has od other than 4l60 and 4l80, While conputer does give lots of option just as soon have as little computer controlled as possible.
Could yank 6 speed out of z/28 I have sitting. Exactly wHAT i NEED big boat with hopped up big block and .5:1 in sixth. Hell ran 170 in camaro and even with suspinion up grades sound like bad idea.LOL
America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
June 02, 2025, 01:08 PM
SlyFox
I've done a 200-4R in a Chevelle with 3.73 gears, but honestly, with the torque of a 454, the best, easiest, and cheapest way to do it is a TH400 and 2.73 gears. Maybe 3.08's if you're only going to be on the highway infrequently.
Mike
June 02, 2025, 01:09 PM
SlyFox
The controller and associated wiring for a 4L60E or 4L80E is going to cost as much as you're got invested in the rest of the truck.
Mike
June 02, 2025, 02:51 PM
sr4440
MFI on a street car?
Without data, you’re just another guy with an opinion.
June 02, 2025, 05:10 PM
Top355x
Turbo 400 and a gear vendors
June 03, 2025, 01:15 PM
Goob
Late model OD stick light duty truck transmission??, or just put a TH-400 in it with a highway friendly rear gear. You ain't racing it, right?
"Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular." Dave Cook N375
June 05, 2025, 01:04 PM
Triple Nickel
4L80E out of a motorhome or other 1.5+ ton chassis vehicle. They have straight cut planets in them while the ones out of passenger trucks have helical gears. If you are going EFI most of those can control the transmission, if not, your going to need a stand alone controller. The shifters get expensive and the controller is about the same, i think my controller was 500 and shifter 700 or vise versa by the time you buy wiring harnes and all the other doo dads they need to make them work. Being based off the turbo 400 platform, i heard they are good for 1000HP after the shift kit, assuming its one with the straight cut planets.
OD is only like 0.7 so its not as much as you think. The lock up converter is really impressive but i've got a 3500 stall in mine so when it locks the converter its an event (very firm and noticeable) if the rpms are below stall speed which 99% of the time they are.
June 09, 2025, 03:43 PM
1.Slow_fivE.0
IDK why everyone is saying TH400/PG. The 4L80 is the perfect option since you want over drive. Personally I would do EFI over MFI and then your EFI controller could double as your transmission controller too. Holley Sniper/Terminator/Dominator are probably the most user friendly options for someone that doesn't have any EFI tuning experience.
------------------------------------------ "Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persist in his or her error."
"To achieve greatness, one must be willing to dance in the voids of chaos and strife to conquer their future."
June 10, 2025, 10:12 PM
wideopen231
quote:
Originally posted by SlyFox: The controller and associated wiring for a 4L60E or 4L80E is going to cost as much as you're got invested in the rest of the truck.
Well it very low production number truck(less than 5000 made) and have turned down multiple offers over 10k and that is with it need good amount of body work(ubderway now). Being inherited does mean will have more in everything than in orginal truck.
Controller is about 800 to 900. The 4l80E will cost nothing. Sitting our back, Pulled out of truck I bought for 600,sold engine for 500, rear end for 300, scraped for salvage for 375. So better than free.LOL Transmission runs great , Was literally owned by older farmer and driver very easy around. When picked truck up had a stalling problem if let idle down. Left garage turning tires and did not see reason to backout.LOLThis message has been edited. Last edited by: wideopen231,
America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
June 10, 2025, 10:13 PM
wideopen231
Sorry guys mistated MFi habbit, EFI for street. Hey statge efi 2 times and MFI 1000 so.
America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
June 10, 2025, 10:17 PM
wideopen231
quote:
Originally posted by Triple Nickel: 4L80E out of a motorhome or other 1.5+ ton chassis vehicle. They have straight cut planets in them while the ones out of passenger trucks have helical gears. If you are going EFI most of those can control the transmission, if not, your going to need a stand alone controller. The shifters get expensive and the controller is about the same, i think my controller was 500 and shifter 700 or vise versa by the time you buy wiring harnes and all the other doo dads they need to make them work. Being based off the turbo 400 platform, i heard they are good for 1000HP after the shift kit, assuming its one with the straight cut planets.
OD is only like 0.7 so its not as much as you think. The lock up converter is really impressive but i've got a 3500 stall in mine so when it locks the converter its an event (very firm and noticeable) if the rpms are below stall speed which 99% of the time they are.
I had 700r4 with lockup that was wired to manual switch.Like stated when locking it up it was veru noticable especialy when in throttle,Which was 90% of time.LOL
America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
June 10, 2025, 10:24 PM
wideopen231
quote:
Originally posted by Goob: Late model OD stick light duty truck transmission??, or just put a TH-400 in it with a highway friendly rear gear. You ain't racing it, right?
Define racing it.If mean at track not really. If you mean not running it hard. Hell never been in anything I did not run hard in past 43 years of being legal to dive no reason tki start now.
America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
June 10, 2025, 10:27 PM
wideopen231
quote:
Originally posted by Top355x: Turbo 400 and a gear vendors
Looked into gear vendor. love idea but damn not cheap.
America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
June 10, 2025, 11:32 PM
Tom396
quote:
Originally posted by SlyFox: I've done a 200-4R in a Chevelle with 3.73 gears, but honestly, with the torque of a 454, the best, easiest, and cheapest way to do it is a TH400 and 2.73 gears. Maybe 3.08's if you're only going to be on the highway infrequently.
This! Not only is the TH400 tough, so is a 2.73 ring and pinion. Lots of tooth engagement. Run a fairly tight converter, though. Otherwise, it will slip a lot at normal speeds with that engine and gear set. Take care. Tom Worthington
If it seems that bracket racing has gotten too expensive for you, maybe you are just doing it wrong.