should i go to a powerglide trans

[gpracer]

my buddy has a 78 camaro we have been racing for about 5yrs now putting in better motors as we go we just built a 388 stroker with 13 to 1 comp victor jr heads and intake and a 648 lift cam we put all urethane in motor mounts trans mount motor is all roller we took it out to the track last friday to do some testing ok here are my ?s should we go to solid motor mounts cause we broke the tranny in half at launch and lost all gears and would a powerglide solve this problem with the bellhousing thanks for any info u can give

[rob41willys]

What does the car have for a cage? Frame connectors? sounds like it has to much flex. Just putting in a powerglide won't help breaking the housing IMO

[gpracer]

the car has no cage it does have frame connectors

[kwkracing]

How is the rear end in the car? leaf springs? ladder bars? 4 link?

Changing to a powerglide will not fix the cracking problem.

[gpracer]

leaf springs we are going to put solid mounts on the motor and a new trans u guys think that will fix it or keep it from happening again thanks

[tkilby]

The powerglide will of course have a higher 1st gear, taking a little off the intial hit. But sounds like you should first look into maybe a motor plate, mid plate, engine travel limiters and roll cage. But do stay with the urethane transmission mount. IMO

[kwkracing]

yes, i agree, if you want to go solid on the tranny, you are going to need to put a motor plate and tranny plate on the car. If you just put the stock replacement solid mounts, the result is a broken bell housing in most cases. Cars are weak and do alot of twisting and the weak link is something solid. Check and make sure that when the engine mounts are installed, that the tranny mount lines up with no bolt or nut in the crossmember. If its crooked, theres the problem! :D

[tkilby]

yes, i agree, if you want to go solid on the tranny, you are going to need to put a motor plate and tranny plate on the car. If you just put the stock replacement solid mounts, the result is a broken bell housing in most cases. Cars are weak and do alot of twisting and the weak link is something solid. Check and make sure that when the engine mounts are installed, that the tranny mount lines up with no bolt or nut in the crossmember. If its crooked, theres the problem! :D

Regardless of what is done to the car I would stay with the urethane transmission mount. IMO

[fla1976]

I agree, stay away from the solid trans mount. Sounds like the body is flexing. Recommend the cage and front and rear plates.

[gpracer]

we have not run a solid trans mount it is the urethane mount i was over there tonite and found out the original motor mount location is off on the drivers side about an eighth of an inch from the pass side so it might have been in a bind anybody heard of this ? we are going to run solid mounts on motor and urethane on trans with plans of caging her soon all info is appreciated and thanks for any more help u can suggest

[Tod74]

I would run a new, stock rubber trans mount. Until you get this car lined out.

[jmarksdragster]

First, NEVER run a solid trans mount. Chassis flex will usually break it when you start making power. Second, make sure you pull the driveshaft back at least one inch at rest (jacks under the rear end housing, suspension loaded) to engage in the rear end. Much less will jam it into the trans especially if, third, you run more than 4* down pinion angle, and you would need to fix as well. Fourth, your car needs at least a roll bar. I had a full frame Chevelle that ran 12's and was shocked at how much more consistent the car was after installing a roll bar.

[john858]

i was going to put my two cents in but these guys covered everything so listen to them