Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
It should be fast indeed.
10 speeds tho...might as well use a CVT. What does that give you a 500 RPM sweep per gear change?
Has anyone heard what this would sound like for a muscle car? I like the longer wind up of revs...10 speeds would be so short it would sound like the same gear note the whole time?
In a 1/4 mile run I'd be willing to bet a 2 speed Power Glide will beat an 8 or 10 speed ZF in two of the same cars with the same engine. The only difference being the transmission.
Well.... not quite true. The rear gear ratio has to be right, and the torque convertor has to be very loose.. but in general you can build an ultimately faster drag-only car, keeping the engine and vehicle weight identical, with a 1-, 2-, or 3-speed automatic and a stupid high-stall-speed convertor. No question. Its horribly energy in-efficient, but it does the best job of getting down the track in a minimum time. Top-fuel is direct drive with controlled-slip clutches for much the same reason.
I think the drag-prepped Camaro from just a few years ago actually still used a Powerglide, though maybe it was a TH400.
The current Mopar factory Drag-Pack Challenger uses a 3-speed automatic:
http://www.mopar.com/dodge/challenger/mopar-drag-pak/
And the "worlds quickest Magnum" was actually built using a modified TH400:
http://moparconnectionmagazine.com/videos-record-setting-8-second-dodge-magnum-srt8/
Nothing wrong with using a TH400 or a Torqueflite 727. They'd be even better choices, and are stronger. My point is for a muscle car that's going to be running a 1/4 mile there are better choices than a 10 speed automatic.
I have quite a few fond memories of the old Powerglide and it was the first transmission that came to mind today for a "muscle car".