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Set Up? Need some Opinions

The Satellite Cometh

The Satellite Cometh

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Happy Father's Day All!

Well, I took the car out for some fun on Sunday, weather was perfect. Took a few of my guests for rides and whatnot.

My issue is that the car seems like its not as quick as it should be.

My set up, as told to me by the previous owner is this:
1969 HP 440 block and iron heads
Bored .030 over
Steel crank
"slight edge ground off the port area of the heads" (whatever that means)
Mopar Purple shaft .509 lift
2.73 open rear (it IS a Satellite after all) need to address this, I know
TCI 1800-2200 RPM stall converter

As for right now, my theory is that I am "overcammed" or "under converted". It goes OK upstairs with the 727.

I am thinking that the .509 Purple cam is too much for this application. And/or I need a higher stall converter.

What do you all think?

Any thoughts/opinions GREATLY appreciated.

Don
 
Your cam is fine. You need 3.23--3.55 gears to wake it up. The convertor is all about how fast you leave the line and is not something you are going to feel around town and just punching it.
 
Yea, I was thinking 3.55's would be great.

I either have to get a whole new rear differential and gear set, or try and locate something off a factory big block car with an 8.75 rear. Don't think they made 3.55's back then. Went from 3.23 to 3.91 and then 4.11 in the Dana's if I am not mistaken.
 
Wrong again. There are 3.55's available.

Anyone know where where I can get a Sure Grip differential with 3.55's without spending $1000?
 
hi,you might want to talk to s/g cuda on the abody site.has gears and parts,and builds also.good guy to deal with,his name is roy. mark
 
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What's this guys name?
 
Heck yea with the .509 cam and that converter with them gears it will be a low end pig ! You need a good street/strip converter with at least 3000 stall and if you stick with them gears I would go to another cam. If not I would go to at least 3.91's. What intake and carb are you running ? Ron
 
Hey Ron, I am running an Eddy Performer RPM intake and a Holley 750 vaccuum secondary model 3310.

I have to change the gears out. It's an open diff with some 2.73's in there. It's a low end pig for sure.

I have to find out how I can get my hands on a sure grip diff with at least 3.55's in there, rather than changing out the converter (which is brand new).
 
Its hard to find a Sure Grip out there that's for sure.

Are there any other differential options that will give me stock like ride withou a full "lockup" rear that is dangerous going around corners?

Can anyone recommend one to me please?
 
That .509" cam is good but not with your gears. I'm sure you don't have the compression for it either. If you want to keep that cam and run it the way it's intended you are looking at 4.10's and at least 10:1 CR. Personally I'd go with a smaller cam AND run 3.23's if you want a nice street driver.
 
Oh, and the best factory type SG unit for the old 8-3/4 is the power lock 4 pinion type. They are still out there and are rebuidable.
 
If you go with 355 or 391's (which is what you need) it will tighten up the converter even more. You will probably find you'll need a 10" converter which should be around 3000 stall.
I would go with the 391's and a 10" converter.
 
I ran the 509 cam in my 440. You need more gear and stall speed. The 2200 isn't enough stall to get that cam into the power range. I know it sucks that you have a new stall already but read the info on that cam. I think it says for an A/T car if needs a 3500+ stall. I may be wrong but I know when I hit the pedal that thing came alive right now.

440
3500 10" convertor
4:10 gears
10 to 1 CP (iron heads)
750 Holley DP

I had serious traction issues with this set up, I was using M/T Sportsman Pro's 29.5/12.5/15. It cruised great. I took many a trip on the interstate over a hour each way. Cruised the strip in stop and go traffic in 90+ degree heat plenty of times.
 
wedge5 said:
I ran the 509 cam in my 440. You need more gear and stall speed. The 2200 isn't enough stall to get that cam into the power range. I know it sucks that you have a new stall already but read the info on that cam. I think it says for an A/T car if needs a 3500+ stall. I may be wrong but I know when I hit the pedal that thing came alive right now.

440
3500 10" convertor
4:10 gears
10 to 1 CP (iron heads)
750 Holley DP

I had serious traction issues with this set up, I was using M/T Sportsman Pro's 29.5/12.5/15. It cruised great. I took many a trip on the interstate over a hour each way. Cruised the strip in stop and go traffic in 90+ degree heat plenty of times.
Click to expand...

That is good to know. I am working on some options for rears right now. I hear that I shouldn't go higher (or lower whatever) than a 3.55 set up if I wanted to cruise. My brother is telling me to do 3.73's - definately not going higher (or lower) than that.

Kinda torn between the 3.55's and 3.73. I do have an A/T so I would think the difference in RPM cruising at 70mph would be very minimal. Running a 245 60 15 tire right too.
 
Satellite Cometh the 3.73:1 gear is a great compromise for the street, I used a set behind a 383ci, 440ci & a 479ci b-engine, in a couple of 68-69 RR's I had stock 3.23:1, 8.750" or 3.54:1 Dana's rear before & it really woke them up & are very streetable even on the freeway. There is a 3.54:1 gear available for Dana's also but the 3.73:1 is a great street/performance gear. I ran much taller tires than you have , it will help to go with a little taller rear tire if you go to a much lower gear... I also went 9.77et @ 135mph with a 479ci in a 68 RR auto with 3.73:1 gears, so they will perform well at the track also... If you go to a lower gear ratio (higher number) you will need a looser smaller diam. TQ converter. The lower the gear the less effective you will have in stall speed... You don't have to have it, it's for increased performance purposes mainly... There are far better cams out there than the old tech. purple cam 0.509". Call Comp Cams, Lunati or Hughes or even Crane they all have decent grinds for Mopars. You can get your gears, sure grip diff. & Cam at Mancini Racing. Good luck. Budnicks
 
Last edited:
3:73 is the standard gear ratio that GM has been using for MANY years in their large SUVs and trucks with the OD trans. If you want to know the kind of RPMs they run just ask someone that has one what they are on the highway when they put the truck in 3rd. You also have to take into account the overall tire diameter as it will likely be much taller than what you will be running.

3:73 is a good gear choich in my option. I had them in several mid year Corvettes over the years with 15" tires.
 
Awesome advice. We are going step by step here to make the old girl run out well.

1st mission - rear. Looking good there. I have a few leads. Found a rebuilt one on CraigsList local in NJ for $595 with 3.55's - looking strongly there.

Then I guess I will address the torque converter. Slip the 2200 and go for a 3000.

Then it will be a head and cam package. Already have the Eddy Performer RPM manifold, so I am OK with that.

Then exhaust system.
 
I got a semi-local guy asking $595 for a rebuilt Sure Grip 3.55 set with a 489 case.

Is that a good deal?

Should I jump on that?
 
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