You are correct on all counts here. I have a close friend that has a clutch flight that he ran in the '60s. Now it sits on the shop floor, he won't sell it (he might loan it). But he won't run it anymore. he said aside from everything else, without the torque converter there is nothing to take up the shock, so if you get good traction something has to break. I have not run a Lenco type tranny but I was aware that they are a big old parasite. For me it is just a wants one thing. I may actually build a big horse/torque mill eventually. Well maybe if I discover that someone forgot to write me out of their will.
Lenco's are cool for sure but will slow a car down with less than 2,000 HP. Like you said they are parasite even on high HP engines but the trade off is they don't break. Anyone that don't believe how much power they rob just have one setting on the bench pull all the sticks back to high gear and try to turn the input shaft.
If I was going to use any 4 gear tranny it would be an 18 spline A833 Mopar hemi transmission that been modified as a slick shift....These were used from the factory in A body hemi superstock cars back in the 60's...If not this then maybe Ford toploader....But always modify them as a slick shift...
What is the bellhousing of choice when running a SBC and a Ford Toploader ? I have an old McCleod for street use, but I need one with current cert. Thanks.
In my 55 Chevy I ran the snot out of a BW T-10 that was originally mated up to a FI SBC 272 (punched out 265) it all came out of a '37 Ford - old local drag car.
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