Mocajava
Well-Known Member
Plus the special torque converter from TCI, almost forgot that.
GM 4L80E swap into a 1968 GTX Resto-Mod
- Thread starter dpaul63
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Average Joe
Well-Known Member
I really like those! Adjustment fairly manageable?
dpaul63
Well-Known Member
According to John Mercedes, they are unique and add for much more power due to their lift capabilities. I cannot speak about the ease of adjustment yet. Honestly I have been sworn to secrecy about many parts on this build which have beeen recently developed. To me, all I care about is a solid, relatively noiseless valve train, and what the dyno says when Joey runs it on motor and then with the Edelbrock Stage 3 blower. I'm going to start a thread on the specifics of my 68 GTX build. I haven't yet because I want to wait until the engine is in and see what things are left to address. Then there's the fact that she's still in fab, so my fab guy wants to reveal the car at SEMA 2017. I see so many members doing such great work on their Mopars, yet I can't say the same. I've spent a ton of money on here because I can't do the work myself anymore. The sad part is that she won't be my creation, but I'll take her just the same!!
Malicious
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I was talking about this on the weekend at a local car show. There are some guys that just cant stand 'check book' car builders, personally I have no problem with them as long as they don't pretend they built the car. Give the credit where the credit is due. I've done every thing on my car except the paint and proud of it. But as I get older (and I'm not that old!) it gets harder to find quality time to work on the car. So *maybe* my next classic might be brought (complete or close to), doesn't make me less of a car guy. Having said that its highly unlikely I'll buy because to me, the build is one of the best parts! Ha
To be honest the only thing I hate about "check bookers" is I don't have their bank account to roll my own build!
Point is, don't be sad about not building it. Just enjoy it once its done and credit the talented guys that are putting this mean mofo together for you!
To be honest the only thing I hate about "check bookers" is I don't have their bank account to roll my own build!
Point is, don't be sad about not building it. Just enjoy it once its done and credit the talented guys that are putting this mean mofo together for you!
dpaul63
Well-Known Member
It's funny, I've spent so much of my life putting helicopters back together that it would be my destiny to have someone else build my dream car. When you said "checkbook builder" I thought about all the years I served in the Corps without a pot to piss in, nor a window to throw it out of. I never thought about the day that would come when I could build actually pay for a project like this. Or to have a builder like Joey Arrington building an engine for me. With that being said I am blessed to have people like Joey and John Mercedes working to build my dream engine. Twenty-one years in the Corps, two wars and years of hard living took it's toll. So I realized I couldn't do it and did what I had to do to get the money, to include siphoning off all the profits of my mutual funds. I appreciate your sentiment and give all the credit to those whom have worked many late nights to get her where she's at. I'm not rich, but I realized you can't take it with you!
Malicious
Well-Known Member
Agreed. I think it is all too easy to get caught up in "i did it all myself" or even "X built this car" when the reality is we all want the same thing (well most!) to get your dream (or as close as possible) car and enjoy it! Mine isn't that special or finished (are they ever?!) but I love driving it. If I had the chance on the next build to have some one with amazing skills do some of the work for me, paint, engine, chassis, I'd be all over it!
Anyway, hope you didn't take that the wrong way, just trying to saying if your enjoying it, your doing it right, what ever it is (wrench or commission). Looking forward to seeing how it turns out... especially the trans!
Anyway, hope you didn't take that the wrong way, just trying to saying if your enjoying it, your doing it right, what ever it is (wrench or commission). Looking forward to seeing how it turns out... especially the trans!
Sweet5ltr
Well-Known Member
Love what you guys are doing and the information you've been providing, but the transmission pricing alone is . . . 
The 727 is one of the best street-strip transmissions of all time, and can EASILY be built to handle 1,000-1,200HP+ for $3,500-$4,000. Why on Earth would you spend $6,000+ on a GM transmission setup. . . I understand it isn't my money or build, but wow. . . PLEASE take a look at theturboforums.com, we have a plethora of high horsepower F/I Mopars, and nearly all of them run 727's. It comes to a point, where it doesn't make financial sense, but you're well below that point, even with 1,000HP.
You're looking at an increase of around (+/-) 15% by going to an overdrive transmission over a non-lockup 727. You will probably want some 2.76-3.23 rear gears to keep your launch soft under boost.
IMHO, I would go the procharger route. Why exactly does he want you to utilize an Edelbrock S/C?
*I served seven years in the Army, didn't hit my ten year mark for a reason. Common sense is easily lost in a sea of guidelines, regulations, and training manuals. Thank you for your service!
The 727 is one of the best street-strip transmissions of all time, and can EASILY be built to handle 1,000-1,200HP+ for $3,500-$4,000. Why on Earth would you spend $6,000+ on a GM transmission setup. . . I understand it isn't my money or build, but wow. . . PLEASE take a look at theturboforums.com, we have a plethora of high horsepower F/I Mopars, and nearly all of them run 727's. It comes to a point, where it doesn't make financial sense, but you're well below that point, even with 1,000HP.
You're looking at an increase of around (+/-) 15% by going to an overdrive transmission over a non-lockup 727. You will probably want some 2.76-3.23 rear gears to keep your launch soft under boost.
IMHO, I would go the procharger route. Why exactly does he want you to utilize an Edelbrock S/C?
*I served seven years in the Army, didn't hit my ten year mark for a reason. Common sense is easily lost in a sea of guidelines, regulations, and training manuals. Thank you for your service!
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Love what you guys are doing and the information you've been providing, but the transmission pricing alone is . . .
The 727 is one of the best street-strip transmissions of all time, and can EASILY be built to handle 1,000-1,200HP+ for $3,500-$4,000. Why on Earth would you spend $6,000+ on a GM transmission setup. . .
You're looking at an increase of around (+/-) 15% by going to an overdrive transmission over a non-lockup 727.
Your numbers are wrong. A 3rd gear is 1.0 to 1.0 direct drive. Most overdrives are in the .67 to .75 range, far more than the .15 you mentioned. I can't imagine anyone would bother to install an overdrive that only reduces rpms by 15%. The reasons that many people choose to install an overdrive is for better freeway manners, better fuel economy, a quieter ride and less engine wear.
dpaul63
Well-Known Member
Sweet5ltr, when I hadLove what you guys are doing and the information you've been providing, but the transmission pricing alone is . . .
The 727 is one of the best street-strip transmissions of all time, and can EASILY be built to handle 1,000-1,200HP+ for $3,500-$4,000. Why on Earth would you spend $6,000+ on a GM transmission setup. . . I understand it isn't my money or build, but wow. . . PLEASE take a look at theturboforums.com, we have a plethora of high horsepower F/I Mopars, and nearly all of them run 727's. It comes to a point, where it doesn't make financial sense, but you're well below that point, even with 1,000HP.
You're looking at an increase of around (+/-) 15% by going to an overdrive transmission over a non-lockup 727. You will probably want some 2.76-3.23 rear gears to keep your launch soft under boost.
IMHO, I would go the procharger route. Why exactly does he want you to utilize an Edelbrock S/C?
*I served seven years in the Army, didn't hit my ten year mark for a reason. Common sense is easily lost in a sea of guidelines, regulations, and training manuals. Thank you for your service!
Sweet5ltr, when I had my old 500 stroker, I had a 727 built to handle a 1,000 hp. It was great from red light to redlight and the gears would bang through so quickly that I hit the rev limiter all the time. The tranny was fine until you hit between 50-55 mph and then between the droning of my TTI exhaust, and the sound from the tranny, it made the driving experience great if I were 16 again, but unfortunately I'm 53 with very little hearing to speak of behind the constant high frequency buzzing I have in both ears. I'm not ruling out a 727 because they can take a beating. I'm trying to make my GTX as fun to drive as a modern car, but pay homage to the unique coke bottle design of the B body. It may turn out that my finances will only allow for a 727, but for now I'm sticking with a 4L60, or a 4L80. As far as why Joey recommended a Edelbrock TVS supercharger is because he has made some serious horsepower with the setup. I think the hardest part of the third iteration of my GTX is trusting the guidance I've got from John, and using a Edelbrock is not my first choice. With that being said, I have a ported and polished 6.1 intake that I'm going to be listing on the performance parts forum. What has been the coolest aspect of this build is getting input from Mopar people. You guys have been there, done that, and have the t-shirt to prove it!
dpaul63
Well-Known Member
Malicious, thanks for your input. When it's all said and done, the very fact that bringing a B body back to life is what it's all about. I was too young to drive when I saw my first GTX, AAR Cuda, or Super Bird, but they all left a life long impression on me. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a camaro, or chevelle. So my choice of building a Mopar was also due to the fact that I always root for the underdog, and walk my own path despite what the current trends are. Cheers Mate!
Sweet5ltr
Well-Known Member
*****Fuel Economy-15%*****
Sweet5ltr
Well-Known Member
My car cruises great with a 2.93 rear gear and 28.5" tires. I always run between 70-80 MPH on the interstate, I'm averaging 15 MPG with my converter setup. I got the same mileage with 4.10's, 30" MT DR's, and a 4-speed! My father mentioned that the car was good for 17 MPG new, so I guess we aren't doing too bad now
AFR is 14.3-14.5:1 while cruising.
CanadSavoy
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Sorry if I missed this answer via searching.
I am considering the same trans (4L60E) for my 64 Savoy. Could you tell me how a speedometer was implemented. I do not believe this trans has a cable mount and is only electronic output for speed.
Mocajava
Well-Known Member
The speedo issue can be solved with a digital odometer that runs GPS and much more accurately! I built an entirely new dash and have all digitals from Speedhut that cured a lot of my issues trying to get everything to work together. Along with a Ron Francis harness and the complete Holly EFI system from tank to distributor to throttle body.....the wiring scares me to death but have a CO/local electronics Guru installing it now
Riverdawg
Well-Known Member
Like mocajava said, digital and gps. They put in Dakota Digital gauges in the Charger.
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dpaul63
Well-Known Member
I got mine through Silver Sports. There is an adapter that allows for the use of a speedo cable.
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