newly purchased 66 SB, 352, std, swb, 2llb,

Looking for some suggestions on,

- electronic distributer, currently has points
- MSD unit, currently has one but best guess its been around a while
- carburation
- coil
- other performance goodies

appreciate any insight and suggestions,

thanks

nighthawk

 

Looking for some suggestions on,

- electronic distributer, currently has points Errr better off letting someone else suggest something here

- MSD unit, currently has one but best guess its been around a while MSD 6A or the 6AL

- carburation My choice edelbrock 650cfm

- coil I'll let someone else take this one as well

- other performance goodies Alum intake (if you can get one), P/S (not really performance but a nice luxury), upgrade to front disc brakes with power assist rear drums, headers and dual exhaust, electric fuel pump, electric fan(s), that's bout all I got off the top of my head.

appreciate any insight and suggestions,

thanks

Keep in mind I know just about nothing and am learning as I butcher...errr restore my own truck

 

whats your budget?



Basic stuff would be petronix drop-in pointless ignition and petronix flamethrower coil. Edelbrock 600 or 650 carb. Edelbrock rpm aluminum intake. headers. 941 cam.

 

well actually i do (at least thats what my wife thinks)

I'm not limiting myself at this time. Actually considering changing out the engine along with the xmsn, just to be certain i have something dependable.

looking to suggestions (posted in engine swaps) on what engine/xmsn(std) to consider.

thoughts along those lines would be helpful,

thanks

 

What's wrong with the 352?

 

Good question.

Haven't been able to run it out, trans only has two gears forward, but i'm concerned about putting a couple grand (parts/labor) into a xmsn and then having to go back in and do the engine for some as yet unidentified reason.

 

Well, you could fix the transmission and if you find there’s something wrong with the 352 and you don’t want to fix that you could drop in a 360 or 390 and use the same transmission.

 

if you have a 352 now, the only thing I might consider an improvement is turning it into a bigger FE. 390, 410, or bigger if the bore will support it. The FE series engine is one of the best truck engines ever made. If it's running clean, with no smoke now, I wouldn't touch it.

What transmission are you running in it now? and what will you be doing with it? There are a wide range of standard trannys that will bolt up. If you want a granny 4 speed, there are the NP435(6.69) T98, T18, and T19. there is also a 5 speed non overdrive granny box, the Clark. For non granny's, there is the NP435(4.56), T18A, and several versions of the "Top Loader". for 3 speeders, your choices are all but unlimited, as a large number of them were made that will fit the bellhousings used on the FE. I have heard that the modern 5 speeds, the NV4500 and the ZF can be adapted to fit, but those get expensive and would need some fab work done.

The only thing to avoid would be a T5. as great as they are, its not a good choice behind a torque motor like a big block FE.

As for cost, I just picked up a NP435(4.56) for free. Its strong enough that it was used in busses, and dump trucks, so I have no fear of it breaking in my half ton. they are good for hundreds of thousands of miles between rebuilds, but not being a granny box, its less desirable, and the price is cheaper.

 

B66

considering a Tremec TRK600 5 speed.

your thoughts?

 

I'd skip a Tremec, although they are good. First reason, they are only rated to 500 FP torque. a stock 390 FE is putting out 450. thats not much room.

the other thing I don't like about the Tremecs is there gear ratios. WHile close ratio boxes are good things in high rpm sports cars, they are relitivly bad things in trucks, and even worse when mated to a torque motor like an FE. the TRK 600's gearing is something like:
1st, 2.87
2dn, 1.89
3rd, 1.28
4th, 1.00
5th, 0.64
Reverse, 3.00

The 500 has slightly better gears, but is even lighter weight. A Long stroke motor makes torque all through the RPM band, but doesn't rev up very fast, so you want to stay in the gears longer, and you have the power to be able to. a wide ratio transmission would be better.


What do you plan to be doing with the truck? Towing? Hauling stuff? Hauling ***? drag racing? Stoplight racing? Something diffrent?

 

I've been studyin' up on the Tremec's and the TKO600 is rated at 600 ft/lbs. It's the TKO500 that's rated at 500 but the gear specs quoted are more or less correct. The 500 starts off with 3.27 1st gear while the 600 has a 2.97.

What I want is the .64 OD altho there is an .82 also available. I figger with my 275/75/16's and the 3.54 in my Dana 60 that .64'll be pulling 1500 rpm at 60 mph.

Besides that I'll have 4 gears to get me where the only 3 I use in the NP435 get me now. That oughta handle any light towing I might do.

Info is scarce but I think the granny version NP435 is 3.03 in the gear I start off in anyway. Most close ratio tranmissions start off below 2.50. I believe a close ratio toploader is 2.32. I know my bro runs a close ratio Muncie box that's 2.41.

Nighthawk, a Google search on Tremec got me to Keislerauto.com and another outfit called Standard Transmission? Keisler seems to be leading the field.

You'll need a new rear yoke and possibly a mod to driveshaft length. Keisler will fab a Xmember for ya but I plan on making my own. A new clutch disc to match the Tremec input shaft is a requirement and I'm still trying to figure out what's needed at the bellhousing and which of the 3 available input shaft lengths is best. Keisler knows tho.

I'm probably still a few months away from it because of other projects and the $2-2.5K it'll take, but I've decided on the TKO600.

 

for the distributor try www.performancedistributor.com i'm not sure about the 352 but i they offer an electronic distributor for the 300ci that is sort of an all-in-one. module, coil and distributor are all in one drop in unit. just run one 12v hot wire to it

 

Thanks one and all. Lots to consider. Still trying to sort through it all but the input is greatly appreciated.

To all others who check the link, appreciate any further thoughts.

have a great one

nighthawk