I post this in the C6 section. I know there's a few c5's running them as well. I've searched for powerglide threads and the C1 and C2 sections mostly come up. I'm having trouble finding a local shop that is comfortable tuning a 6l80 car that'll be around 1400rwhp. I guess my only other option is a powerglide. I do not want a th400. I'm looking for people with experience driving them on the street. I have a f1x on the car so I have to run a loose converter (creates more heat). I'd most likely run a lower gear to be able to drive it on the freeway. 3.43 2880rpms at 70mph, 3.25 2740rpms at 70mph, 3.15 2646rpms at 70, 3.00 2570rpms at 70mph. Of course the lower gear makes it more sluggish off the line which effects the ET. My only concern is I don't want to turn my car into a strictly race car. I want to enjoy it on the street without having to pull over and letting the trans cool. I don't want to make it sluggish to wear a Jetta can pull me from a stop light. I went through the trouble of making a 6" radiator and 6" intercooler to keep the car cool (car can idle for 45+ minutes at 170 degrees). I don't want my trans to be the limiting factor of why I can't enjoy my car. Car is 70% street 30% track. My car is a 2013 with 4000 miles. It is not a daily driver. I race the king of the street class. Which requires a 60 miles Cruise. I'd probably drive an hour or two at most on the highway.

 

I think it's strictly a matter of personal preference. Powerglides came stock in vehicles with much less power than yours so based on that fact alone, we can easily argue that there will be no issues with it being "streetable". The issue is that you've gotten use to a 6 speed automatic. The question is, will you personally be ok with a high stall and only 2 gears?

A friend of mine had a powerglide with a fully manual reverse valve body in an '81 Camaro. The car had your basic camel hump iron headed small block 350 with a lumpy cam and a 150 shot. I think it had a 3500 rpm stall. I absolutely loved driving that thing on the street. That's just me. Some people may hate it.

 

You didnt mention ifyou are running FI or nitrous but would assume so if you are posting here.
If you are running NA it will proably be a dog on the street without gearing.
Glides are great for outright racing- but hard to live with as a daily on other than a mild car. I ran one in a V8 vega but it was 14:1 destroked 400, roller cammed out the *** and 4.56 gears w a 4k stall.even with that it felt mushy driving around town at part throttle. It actually went faster with a clutch turbo 400 [poor mans Lenco}
Why do you not want to run the 400? I think you would be happier with it on the street.

 

It's a f1x car. I'd have to cut the trans tunnel to fit a 400. I definitely don't want a car that's mushy.

 

Out of curiosity, have you gotten a quote for a powerglide conversion ?

 

Yes

 

I think the issue isn’t really the “driving around” part. As with that much power, you’ll have a boat load of spirited fun driving it.

But, the lack of a lock up will create a lot of heat. You’ll need a really solid trans cooler setup.

As you said, there are a ton of gear ratio choices for the 9”, so you can fine tune the converter/gear setup for your car. It’ll still be fun to drive on the street and a terror at the track.

Best of success with your goals.