451 & TC problem

[Deano]

I have a 69 charger with a 451 stroker, however my TCI breakaway TC has a stripped drain plug. Ordinarally I would have just re-thread the hole and inserted a new plug. Well, I'm tired of no vaccum for my power brakes, uh .509 MP cam & AFB 750 also. I pose this question, what would be my best avenue to gain power,and vaccum and not play with the tuning whenever the weather changes. I realize I put together an engine with (after the fact) parts that work, but conflict each other.
I thought of changing the cam & ordering a TC that would match, is this my best venue? Could I just change the TC to a higher stall rate to have better Idle, but would that solve my vaccum? I'm thinking no but I'm not a pro...I love the way it operates now with the low stall but the brakes and idle suck for a hwy car. If I turn the idle up i get the inevitable clunk or bang from the drivetrain which is strong, but will only take so much.

Here is what I have:
ross pistons, eagle conn rods, steel crank, MP .509 292* Cam degreed at 107* overall, 73 400 Iron heads pocket port & polish stock valve size, 9.5-1 comp due to chamber in head. AFB 750 carb, Hooker super comp headers 2", aluminum high output water pump. 727 TCI streetfighter Tranny (rebuilt) and a Breakaway TCI 2400-2600 TC, GearVendors overdrive, 8.75 w/4.10 sure grip diff.
4.10's and a three speed on New Mexico hwys = blown up mopar

[John_Kunkel]

A converter that's loose enough to increase idle vacuum would probably be undriveable on the street and would build a lot of heat in the process.

[Deano]

Yeah, thats what I was afraid you'd say. So the only option would be replace the cam with something that would promote power and vaccum without completely reworking my combo? I thought of a torque conveter w/ 26-2800 stall but i'm unsure what that would do for my vaccum problem (probly nuthin). When I installed the .509 Cam the Comp Mopar grinds were still new and not much was really known or spoken about them.

[firefighter3931]

With the GV overdrive you need to keep the stall speed reasonable or you will generate too much heat while cruising down the highway. Best solution is to swap in a cam that better matches the rest of your combination. 

The 509 is a descent old school grind but it needs some stall and gear to operate properly on the street. Power brakes are non functional with a cam of this duration so really it's not that street friendly. The big overlap also makes tuning a nightmare unless you have a carb designed/calibrated with an agressive fuel curve.



Ron

[Deano]

Firefighter3931,

[Deano]

firefighter,
After my tantrum I have have come to grips. I would really like to install EDDY Alum heads and I was thinking of a COMP .507/.510 extreme energy Cam. I don't know which head though, I'm think'n 88cc to keep my compression down. Would this work best with the rest of my internals? Also i was thinking of a stall converter from COPE Racing Trans (PTC 11" 2600-2800). I appologize in advance, I'm good at stock replacement or replacing something thats already built, however I'm failing in the design portion of our hobby.

[firefighter3931]

OK...now your talkin ! 

Converter ; the PTC 11in or Turbo Action "street hemi" model would be my choice....either will work for the cam i'm recommending

Cam ; Comp XE275HL which is a fast rate of lift Chrysler hydraulic profile. It will work with the stock E-Head springs, retainers and your current pushrods & rocker arms. No parts replacement....just bolt it in and go with the E-heads. 

Heads : 84 CC Rpm castings closed chamber. There can be issues depending on what headers you have on the car currently because the RPM's have angled plugs. Another option is the Mopar performance aluminum 452 casting which is identical to the Eddy Rpm but it has straight plugs so they work with all headers. The 452's are made for MP by Edelbrock....same flow, quality etc...

You want the closed chambers for tight quench which eliminates detonation. The open chamber heads are designed for a quench dome piston...not a flat top like the Ross slugs you are currently using. Static compression will fall in the 10-10.5:1 range which will be pump gas friendly....no worries.


This combination will make an easy 450-475hp and 500 + ftlbs of torque. You will be able to run power brakes and tune it easily....lots of manifold vacuum. Off idle throtle response will be sharp when properly dialed in...you'll love how the car idles, accelerates and behaves.

My buddy Rob has basicly this same combo in his Cuda allthough the engine is a 408 stroker smallblock with RPM heads and the 275HL cam. I spent a day tuning and dialing it in earlier this month and the car is Sweet. Punch the gas in drive from a dead stop and it lights the 28x10 tires up for 300ft. It won't stop spinning until you let off the throttle.  Pulls 16in of vacuum and idles with a nice mellow lope at 800rpm in gear. Very street friendly. 

The one thing i will also recommend is a carb change to a double pumper. The Proform 750 would be an excellent upgrade and worth every cent. 



Ron

[Deano]

Ron,
     Thank you so much for your help Sir.    I'm running the Hooker 1 7/8 super Comp so I'll look to see which will work better for my application. I plan to mount the MP .509 Cam on a plaque and hang it in my garage as a testimonial of what happens when not enough research goes into a project.  I really look forward to seeing this thing tear up southern NM, however I'll be more excited to see it stop at the traffic lights. Thanks again and I'll keep ya'll posted

[firefighter3931]

Ron,
     Thank you so much for your help Sir.    I'm running the Hooker 1 7/8 super Comp so I'll look to see which will work better for my application. I plan to mount the MP .509 Cam on a plaque and hang it in my garage as a testimonial of what happens when not enough research goes into a project.  I really look forward to seeing this thing tear up southern NM, however I'll be more excited to see it stop at the traffic lights. Thanks again and I'll keep ya'll posted

You're welcome Dean. I can tell you right now that the 1 7/8in SuperComps are the worst headers with an angled plug head. If the headers are in good shape and you want to keep them then look at the MP aluminum 452 heads. To make those work with the Eddy Rpm's you will have to clearance several primary tubes....seen it before and it ain't pretty. 


I had a 509 a long time ago.....it was in the engine for a very brief time.  It's still a good cam but it's not very friendly and needs too much stall and gear to perform adequately in a street car. Good low buck drag race cam....launch at 3800 and shift at 6000. 


Keep us up to speed on your progress. I can offer some tuning tips once the new combo is up and running. 




Ron