I am considering making my bracket car a dual-purpose ride. I would like to be able to run electronics brackets like I am doing now, but also want to be able to do the Drag Week type events, but can't do that with the PG and 4.30 gears I'm using now. So I would like to use a full manual trans brake 4L80 and switch to a 3.70 or so rear gear so my starting line ratio would be a little better than the Glide, but would have a 2.78 cruising gear with the overdrive. The car weighs about 3200# now and runs high 9's.

Does anyone use or know of someone using a 4L80 for bracket racing sucessfully? Since it's basically just a TH 400, I would think it wouldn't be an issue.

Is an electronic controller still needed using the full manual?

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:
Is an electronic controller still needed using the full manual?

Nope.

There are forward and reverse valve bodies available along with transbrakes with or without "pro" brakes that work only on 1st gear or 1st and 2nd and lockup racing converters.

Pretty much anything you would want.....

Following because I am considering doing the same to my 68 Camaro.
A good buddy years ago put a Gear Vendors overdrive in his BBC/TH400 Nova, and drove it to the track & back all season, drove it about 600 miles to the Division Bracket Finals, and won that, then drove it home. I don't even know if Gear Vendors is still around, and I was always thinking the converter had to get pretty hot on the highway. I would think the lockup converter and OD of the 4L80 would keep things cool in the trans.

I don't think durability is an issue to 1000 HP +, but the wide ratio split between 1st and 2nd could be a challenge for bracket consistency.

I ran a full manual 700R4 for a period, back in the 90's. It was fun, and really great for leaving off the footbrake, but inconsistent.

quote:

Originally posted by Goob:
I don't think durability is an issue to 1000 HP +, but the wide ratio split between 1st and 2nd could be a challenge for bracket consistency.

I ran a full manual 700R4 for a period, back in the 90's. It was fun, and really great for leaving off the footbrake, but inconsistent.

The 4L80 has the same gear ratios as a TH400, the 700R4 has a much lower 1st and are known to not work well on the dragstrip.

quote:

Originally posted by FootbrakeJim:
Following because I am considering doing the same to my 68 Camaro.
A good buddy years ago put a Gear Vendors overdrive in his BBC/TH400 Nova, and drove it to the track & back all season, drove it about 600 miles to the Division Bracket Finals, and won that, then drove it home. I don't even know if Gear Vendors is still around, and I was always thinking the converter had to get pretty hot on the highway. I would think the lockup converter and OD of the 4L80 would keep things cool in the trans.

This exactly what I was thinking, the lockup will allow you to run a good converter and still have a lockup for cruising to keep the heat down.

quote:

Originally posted by "The Bender":

quote:

Originally posted by Goob:
I don't think durability is an issue to 1000 HP +, but the wide ratio split between 1st and 2nd could be a challenge for bracket consistency.

I ran a full manual 700R4 for a period, back in the 90's. It was fun, and really great for leaving off the footbrake, but inconsistent.

The 4L80 has the same gear ratios as a TH400, the 700R4 has a much lower 1st and are known to not work well on the dragstrip.

Aha, I was not aware of the ratios of the 4L80.

700R4 is a 3.08 low
Sporty, but not much good for any high HP for sure.


My TH 400 is a 2.10 low, 1.40 2nd unit, so there's that.

2.48 to 1.48 is still a considerable jump.

I wonder if the custom ratio TH 400 stuff will work?