#47986 - 02/17/09 04:03 PM
4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
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VStock
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Registered: 10/25/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Michigan
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I know it's easy to put a Muncie or Saginaw 4 speed behind a 230 or 250, but does anyone know if they ever came from the factory that way? I'm mostly interested in the 1966 to 1972 time frame, Camaros, Chevelles, and Novas. I'm looking for something good enough to convince the NHRA to allow me to run a 4 speed behind a 230(first choice) or 250.
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#47988 - 02/17/09 04:19 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: VStock]
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tlowe #1716
12 PORT ADVERTISER
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Registered: 04/01/04
Posts: 2332
Loc: Dysart, Iowa
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i have looked thru my books and asked questions on other sites. it was not a standard option, but could have been installed by a dealer. i have a 1966 chevrolet dealer album (very cool reading) it only shows a powerglide, 3 speed stick or 3 speed with overdrive as options.
i would suggest using a powerglide with a larger stall. it will be easier on the drivetrain and will be very consistant. tom
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#47990 - 02/17/09 04:38 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: 64NovaWagon]
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gearhead
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Registered: 07/12/00
Posts: 1613
Loc: madison, wi
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Looking at my Hollander under the engine codes section, the only six with a 4spd that I see is for the '67-69 Camaro.
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#47995 - 02/17/09 06:43 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: tlowe #1716]
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VStock
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Registered: 10/25/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Michigan
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Thanks for the link - that was real helpful!
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#47997 - 02/17/09 07:32 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: tlowe #1716]
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VStock
Active BB Member
Registered: 10/25/08
Posts: 95
Loc: Michigan
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I guess maybe I should ask - just how much difference would a 4 speed make compared to a 3 speed? I'm talking for a drag race only car - and yes, Tom, I may well end up going with a Powerglide. But part of the fun in racing is shifting!
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#47999 - 02/17/09 08:44 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: Beater of the Pack]
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tlowe #1716
12 PORT ADVERTISER
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Registered: 04/01/04
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Loc: Dysart, Iowa
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stick shifts will break amazingly easy when launched at high rpm. in fact the whole drivetrain suffers. tom
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#48070 - 02/22/09 08:14 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: tlowe #1716]
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chevman32
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Registered: 03/16/05
Posts: 58
Loc: Sanger, Ca.
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I never had a trans break on launch with a 6 cyl. but broke many on power shifting from 1st to 2nd. I knew of a 1953 Corvette with a 261 and Saginaw 4 speed, it ran close to 100 MPH in the quarter mile.
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#48072 - 02/22/09 08:37 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: chevman32]
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CNC-Dude #5585
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Registered: 09/27/08
Posts: 1738
Loc: N. Georgia
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I've used a Ford toploader tranny quite successfully in a 496 BBC Camaro. Try to find one from a Big Block Mustang or Torino, they have a larger diameter input shaft, and they have a 2.78 first gear ratio. Lakewood makes an adapter pilot bushing for it to use in a Chevy crankshaft, and drilling a blowproof bellhousing to the Ford tranny pattern is fairly easy. My car weighed close to 3600 lbs. and had 10" slicks on it, and I usually lauched the car between 4500-5000 RPM, and only broke it once in 4 yrs(and that was from tire shake in first gear). The gears in them are so much thicker and stronger than in any Muncie or Borg-Warner. The cases are cast iron and don't flex or distort like the aluminum cases of the Chevy trannies as well. Might be a good alternative for you. Many other stick cars use the Jericho transmission, but they are pricey. You can use a Doug Nash Competition 5 spd in Super Stock and was legal, you just have to use a special shifter made by Long, that skips either 3rd or 4th gear,so you still only have use of (4)forward gears, technically having a 4 speed. At one time it was also allowed in the NHRA Stock class, that too could be an option.
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#48145 - 02/26/09 05:02 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: Twisted6 I.I #3220]
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Bruce
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Registered: 05/03/00
Posts: 670
Loc: Boise, ID
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I ran a Saginaw 4-speed behind a decent street 292 in a 66 Chevy II weighing about 3300lbs. It ran 14.5s here at 2700 feet on drag radials leaving at ~3000 rpm and never had a trans problem. Did need to go to better axle shafts however....
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Inliner #1916
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#48180 - 02/27/09 02:14 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: Mean buzzen half dozen A.K.A. Hank]
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Bruce
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Registered: 05/03/00
Posts: 670
Loc: Boise, ID
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The 3300 included my fat rear and a 292 weighs more like a big block. It was all steel, all original glass, with a full interior and even with the spare and jack in the trunk. I weighed at Denver during the 2000 Inliner Nationals.
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Inliner #1916
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#48279 - 03/02/09 03:34 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: Mean buzzen half dozen A.K.A. Hank]
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Bruce
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Registered: 05/03/00
Posts: 670
Loc: Boise, ID
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The car itself weighed around 3100. It also had about 15 gal of gas in it at the time
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Inliner #1916
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#48356 - 03/05/09 09:08 AM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: Twisted6 I.I #3220]
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63ChevyII
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Registered: 06/27/05
Posts: 585
Loc: Redlands, CA
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nova weights:
http://www.novaresource.org/weights.htm
I have a chart here from Hot Rod Oct 1977.
It lists a 194-230-250 @ 410 lbs
and the SBC @ 575
I was told to split the difference between the two to get a 'guesstimate' of the 292 weight.
I'd like to post the chart here, but wondering about copyright issues ???
Edited by 63ChevyII (03/05/09 09:08 AM)
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#48360 - 03/05/09 04:50 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: 63ChevyII]
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Bruce
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Registered: 05/03/00
Posts: 670
Loc: Boise, ID
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I have never seem a published weight on a complete 292. When we put one in the 66 to replace the 194, it bottomed out the stock springs which were in good shape. Ended up with a set of a/c equiped sbc springs to get the ride height back.
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Inliner #1916
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#48538 - 03/10/09 09:53 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: Mean buzzen half dozen A.K.A. Hank]
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Unsafe6
Active BB Member
Registered: 04/04/07
Posts: 26
Loc: Cranbrook,BC,Canada
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I put a saginaw 4spd behind my 194 in my 66 chevy 2. It worked great with the 3.27 first gear it got out of the hole real nice and had a good gear spread that helped the little motor alot. It drove like a different car really helped. Super easy to install to. just had to cut the hole in the tunnel for the shifter. Watch your shifter choice so it doesnt interfear with your speedo cable.
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Id have more 8s but I can't count that high
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#49222 - 04/10/09 01:51 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: tlowe #1716]
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vectorsolid
Active BB Member
Registered: 04/09/09
Posts: 25
Loc: Montana
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stick shifts will break amazingly easy when launched at high rpm. in fact the whole drivetrain suffers. tom
Depends on the driver. If you're sitting there with no pre-load on the clutch you're gonna smoke some parts. Preload the clutch a bit with a staging break and it works fine for most folks. just gotta get the slop out of the drivetrain before you launch.
I made about 200 passes last year on manual transmission cars with some launches close to 8200rpm. high 10's 135mph.
takes practice though to get a proper pre-load.
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#49321 - 04/13/09 10:10 PM
Re: 4 speed behind Chevy 230/250
[Re: Mean buzzen half dozen A.K.A. Hank]
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vectorsolid
Active BB Member
Registered: 04/09/09
Posts: 25
Loc: Montana
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Post'em, We're open minded here! X2 post it. I like to see some pics. Or refer to video link If possible. MBHD
Now, mind you, for the record, I am a "car guy". Domestic, lowrider, import, ratrod, lifted trucks, streetrods, I love 'em all. I'm in the middle of a few vintage dragster builds right now too. I'm mostly here to learn about the 235 engines and what Needs to be done for my vintage digger projects. 
It's the white car,
http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=maltapairuj4.jpg
Here's a vid, It's a poor pass, but you get the idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DsKCgLMfOA&feature=related
Lot of improvements since last season, and should be 400 pounds lighter and another 50-60hp too. Perhaps high 9's are in it's future...we'll see talk is cheap... 
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God doesn't like ugly.
We need pics of this car. 
)?
