Got the engine started up in my Monte, first sounds that've come from it in almost 9 months. A big block on open headers is not something your ears forget :D :eek: Incredibly loud, the whole car was rocking just at idle and with the primaries just opened a bit the sound was completely deafening... just rediculous.

:cool:

graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Gotta love it! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by aubreyt213:
....incredibly loud, the whole car was rocking just at idle and with the primaries just opened a bit the sound was completely deafening... just rediculous. Ain't it grand :D

graemlins/beers.gif thats music that your ears are hearin'. Just outa curiosity, whats the combo?

:D :D My new 396 is about a week away from being fired up on the test stand. Should be pretty loud, 10.4:1 compression 404 on open headers! The neighbors are going to love me. graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/beers.gif :D :cool:

1971 daily driver Monte Carlo 3800ish#
454 .100 over, 4.25" cast crank (506")
10.5:1
Pro topline 320cc Iron heads 2.25/1.88
Comp Cams XE284 240/246 at .050 .574/.578 lift 110 l/s
MSD Pro Billet distributor, Blaster 2 Coil, and 6al box
850cfm BG Mighty Demon
Professional Products single plane intake
Hooker Comp. Headers 2" pri. 3 1/2" coll.
3" exhaust w/ h-pipe, 40 series flows(open headers right now)
12 bolt posi w/ 3.73s
Hughes th-400 trans
TCI 11" 2800 stall
Engine dynoed at 593hp@5500 rpms and 646 ft/lbs@ 4200 rpms at the flywheel.

You'll love that trans...going to my 4th season with mine.

Just one point to consider on the converter and it is NOT Criticism. It will likely give up .4 to .5 seconds in ET due to how tight it is. For streetability it will be awesome and the car will run cooler and quieter.

Best of Luck and keep us posted

Tom

Yea, That was my biggest dilemma through this whole project because I want the most performance I can get out of it yet it will be driven on the street almost everyday. I know it wasn't the best choice of converter, definetely is the weak link in the combo. What I'm wondering is will it last long racing, because I'm going to be using slicks and I'm wondering if that'll kill it. It'd be nice to find a converter that would be good enough for everyday street use and still not hold me back racing but that seems near impossible without spending $800+ on a converter :eek: And if that's the case since the car is 90% street I almost have to lean towards the 'street' converter unfortunately :rolleyes: At least theres good new with the trans., if it held out 3-4 years already behind that 540 of yours I'm sure it'll hold up great in a meager 506 smile.gif

I am not sure of the TCI you have, I know Steve Oldani sells them and would be a good source on longevity. I run a 9" Trans Specialties with a 4200 flash that is also great on the street. When I went from a 3000 stall 9" (same exact converter just built tighter) to the one I have I picked up .3 to .4 seconds....$650.

My Very strong advice is that you get an envelope and start tucking away some dollars for that Torque Converter you really should have for maximum performance and decent street manners. Yes It will end up costing $700 to $900 by the time you are done, but the converter is Essential to any combination and especially to the one you have invested in.

The Hughes TH400 has been behind an 11.70's to 11.40's 468 for 2 years and 1 year behind the 540, I don't push the 540 as much as it is capable of as I am looking for more consistency than the absolute fastest ET. A few obvious part changes in my combo a couple tuning mods and I could run .5 second quicker. BUT I will have a hard time hooking the car consistent enough to post some wins because the track I race is...ummm??? how can I phrase this.....let's call it "Traction Challenged".

The regular racers in my class, some of them are/were paid drivers in other cars owned by someone else race mid 12 to low 13 second cars for this reason when we race on Wed Nights...My goal was to run in the 10's no matter what the weather while building up a high mph to help on the top end for racers who may have trouble judging speed as I chase them down...and I also have to deal with the traction conditions during for evening racing.

So it all depends on what you are really after.

Enough of this rambling... graemlins/boring.gif I have to go put the snowplow on for another storm tomorrow smile.gif

Originally posted by aubreyt213:
Got the engine started up in my Monte, first sounds that've come from it in almost 9 months. A big block on open headers is not something your ears forget :D :eek: Incredibly loud, the whole car was rocking just at idle and with the primaries just opened a bit the sound was completely deafening... just rediculous. :D graemlins/thumbsup.gif

keep us posted...

Yea I'm probably gonna end up swapping it out eventually. What would you recommend, I dont think anythin higher than 2400-2800 would be right would it, because I won't even be revving past 5600 rpms, is there a streetable one that won't sacrifice ETs?