Reccomendations for my combo?

[Zippy]

I have Cliff's book,  and followed it yeas ago when I first did my Q-jet.  But now,  I am redoing my 455, and want to make sure I had/have everything as best I can. 
72 455HO Block, .040" over bore, 4.25" stroke. Icon flat tops, 2 eye relief.  70 455HO Heads, #64  87scc chambers.  Comp is 10.6:1. Putting in a Melling SPC-8  RAIV clone cam with Crane Cam saver lifters, 1.65 roller rockers.   
Mated for now, to a TH400 w/3500 tight converter.   3.08 rear gears in a 77 TA.
 MY carb is a 77 800CFM model   17057262 casting numbers.  Car is street warrior/ long cruse use, I live in the BC Canada Mountians.  Run form 800-4000Ft.  Home is 1200Ft elevation.   Haven't taken my carb apart yet on this rebuild.  But wondering suggestions for jets, metering tubes, APT height etc.   I have played with it so much over the last 12 years, I wana start fresh. 

[old cars]

Make sure you use the correct valve spring with that cam and check for coil bind according to lift and rocker ratio. I am not a fan  of 3500 stall converter for street touring car although sometimes it can be worked out with a high quality converter. Cliff will direct you on the carb.

[Cliff Ruggles]

What brand of cheap converters are you testing?  I use a "tight" 10" converter that flashes to 3600rpms on a full throttle start with traction, 1.59 60' and you'd never know it was even in there for "normal" driving. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zVdoLR-VzM

Slip in high gear is less than 100rpm in the lights and on the brakes as hard as you can sitting still you can't get past 1800rpm's without the tires spinning. 

In contrast I've seen 3500 stall converters from TCI, B & M, Hugh's, Summit and others that were so "loose" for normal driving you'd see near 3000rpms just to back the car out of the driveway!

The technology is there so you can "have your cake and eat it too", but it's not going to be cheap.

Anyhow, for the carb I'd recommend calling me at the shop.  I can put together a custom kit with tuning parts so it dead nuts on the money right off the bench. I use the same carb on my own 455 and nothing we've ever tested against it will make more power on the dyno or run quicker at the track.......tks.....Cliff

[old cars]

Yes I have a friend with a 496 BBC  3500 stall that is too loose like you say. Don't know the brand. My car has a 2000 stall Hugh's converter. Can you tell us who built your converter.

[Cliff Ruggles]

Not for nothing but I've tested ALL of the Hugh's units and they aren't that great.

They make several BOP units, like a 2500 and 3000....TURDS!

Don't get me wrong, they do OK, but they are trying to take a large diameter converter and make it less efficient.  Although they couple OK, they slip too much everywhere for my liking.  I've removed them right here in the shop and installed custom built 9.5" units that flashed 800-1000 higher but were tighter everywhere else.

I've been selling converters over 23 years.  The first 19 years I used Kris at Continental to build them for me.  Currently using TSP and get raving reviews from them.

Here is a recent testimonial from a very dedicated hobbyist that knows his way around these things:

Cliff


thought I would give you an update. last weekend was our first chance to get to the track this year.


converter is working great. only 250rpm more on the street than the old XXXXX converter and it`s really woken the car up on the 60ft. before was normally 1.60 now it`s 1.52 and pulls the wheels up. ran into a head wind all weekend but car still went it`s quickest at 10.90. should see some 10.8`s without the wind.


thanks again for your help with this.


Rick

[old cars]

tried google TSP converter . Can't find them

[Kenth]

https://www.texas-speed.com/c-3398-torque-converters-flexplates.aspx

[Cliff Ruggles]

That's now who does my converters.  If you are interested in one call me at the shop.....

[old cars]

With my street touring car 454 BBC 500hp 2.73 rear axle gear I would need to run street slicks using a converter that flashes to 3600.

[Cliff Ruggles]

When it comes to this hobby, TOO MUCH POWER IS JUST RIGHT!......IMHO.....

[Zippy]

Ya, I think my converter was from Texas speed, or someone down there.  About 8 or 9 years ago.  But not many miles on her.  She does seem to work well.  All I remember was sending all the car info, and asking for a tight 2600.  But she flashes to 3500 with traction.   But pulls down to about 250rpm or so above a manual for my gearing. 

[old cars]

"But pulls down to about 250rpm or so above a manual for my gearing."

What do you mean by this?

[Zippy]

"But pulls down to about 250rpm or so above a manual for my gearing."

What do you mean by this?

Meaning light throttle highway cruse is about 250rpm above what would be if I had a manual.