powerglide & LQ9 options

[thachevythang]

Been a while since I posted. Really dug myself into a project with the LQ9 swap.

Here's my question. Will a powerglide tranny mount up to the LQ9 or only to the older blocks? I'm in need of a new or a rebuild. come across a deal for rebuilt powerglide for $185. I know serious dragsters run them and they handle alot of power for those applications. I'm just wondering if my 350 tranny will hold up to the performance I'm looking to put into the LQ9. Also, short or long tail powerglide? Will be running a 350 for a good while, I guesstimate, until I get the LQ9 built to perfection! (85 shortbed 2wd 305 swapped to 350 / 350 trans) Thanks Ahead. Heres some good stuff!!!

Recently aquired some new vehicles that I may find a place for the LQ9 instead. My father passed away when I was a few months old. Over the years my mother lost contact with that side and I recently got back in touch. My uncle kept all my dads rides and handed the keys over for a few and they all run.

69 camaro (needs tires, paint about 70%, interior wear, would be best to restore. Has a 327/ unknown trans)

56 bel air (2dr green w/ white top, remember it when I was a kid 'til about 3 but mom gave it back! original condition could use a tune up and LQ9 potential. Seen one with a LS block and looked sweet.)

57 apache (My favorite by far. Except color. Yellow stepside chromed everything pretty much. Some old nascar dude muncer, munster, somethin like that built the engine back in the day! 454 bored over unknown. Has powerglide and a tilt front clip. Uncle only made sure it would run and take her round the block. Also LQ9 potential. swap the BB over to the 85 and look into turbo!)

Uncle kept the 69 AMX. Kinda crazy but had one in High school. Sucked down gas like no other! Drunk driver hit me and totaled it out! He kept an SS el camino (he drives daily and he restored) 64 ss impala (original and mint Its been safe all these years I'm not gonna move it), 72 ugly butter color SS nova (not a fan of em), and a 79 trans am (Look funny to me) That was just my dads. He has a collection all his own!!!

Update on LQ9: after a dud with the first deal, found a second complete, accesories, harness, etc. Purchased the mounts and a/c replacement bracket. On the backburner now because of holidays,funds and new toys!    Looking into Carb vs Injected. Best performace additions etc. Want it to be a BEAST of an engine in whatever I put it in.

[Captkaos]

There is no way I would run a powerglide behind anything unless I was a serious bracket drag racer.  A TH350 can be built to handle the power, or a better option is to get overdrive.

Are you ditching the EFI?

[thachevythang]

Are you ditching the EFI?

I'm thinking about it. I read up on the Hot Rod mag with all the LS builds. 900 HP carbed setup. Thought of doing that conversion to get rid of the throttle module and be able to run it normal. My harness has to be spliced back together with the TAC module. It would end up being more budget friendly not having to mod the harness so much.

Powerglides an option because its already built and available. I'm needing one like now but I'm not too much for drag racing except when our county host a few events here. So powerglides not practical for long road trips?? I'll also be running a mild 350 I took a crack at building for a good while. Trucks my daily driver and really need to build on the LQ9 before I even think about the install.

[SUX2BU99]

The PG is just as practical as the TH350 on the highway, since they both have the 1:1 3rd gear ratio. Where the PG will suck big time in a street driven vehicle is around town. It's like a TH350 with no 1st gear. They have a 1.7x 1st gear, which is similar to 2nd gear in most 3 speed auto transmissions. So that will result in very sluggish acceleration. I believe dragsters like them because they are lightweight (aluminum case), efficient in their power transfer (less rotating parts and mass), and dragsters use a crazy high stall anyway to keep the revs up when they launch and have so much power anyway, they don't need the torque multiplication from a deeper first gear.

In short, look for a rebuilt TH350.

[Captkaos]

If it is a daily driver I definitely wouldn't dump the efi.  With a mild Cam change on a LQ9 you could be at 550hp and still have efi.

[N2TRUX]

Are you going to install an 8 track and CB radio too? I mean I dig the retro look, but why going totally backwards when the technology is at your fingertips.

[thachevythang]

Are you going to install an 8 track and CB radio too? I mean I dig the retro look, but why going totally backwards when the technology is at your fingertips.

I wish!!! LOL!!! NOT REALLY. This is my first ride that I'm actually building on. I got tired of payments and just aftermarket bolt ons. I got bored with it. Never did anything other than regular maintenance. Once I had what I wanted on whatever vehicle I would trade it in for a new one.

I have NO IDEA what I'm doing but learned ALOT from the site about our year trucks. I finally have the direction I'm going in but still learning. Did scrap the powerglide idea and got this http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-30229/

I'm doing this all solo! Shops around here have NO IDEA what I'm asking for them to do as far as the swap or anything else for that matter. I've been told parts aren't made for these trucks! NOBODY here can wire a vehicle! Paint and Body, forget it. 3 month turnaround for a roller job! Its hard for me since I'm a newbie with minimal skill and figure to go the easiest route to actually get it done.

LQ9 update! Harness is off to get TAC module spliced back together. Still waiting to see if I should mod the harness myself or get it done while ECU is programmed, VATS delete, etc. QUESTION? Will my stock gauges still work or do I have to get aftermarket? If so what sizes are needed to do this mod? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVy9bFZyDfk

Thanks for all the input guys!!! Finding this site is what gave me the courage to buy the truck and get the info needed to build on it!