Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

Hello my fellow truckers, I hoping yall are keeping the rubber down and the shiny stuff up. (lol)

I have a 73 stepside with a 406 with all the fixins. Lunati solid roller drivetrain, cam lifters, I'm running 1.6 rocker arm with stud girdle, AFR 210 competition Package heads, Holley 4150 850. Out back 456 and detroit locker. I should tapping at the door of 700 horsepower.

I was on schedule for a chevy 400 with a gear vendor already have new B&M holeshot converter 3000 stall that is what i need to run this combo. I decided to call a aduible, go with a 700r4 from mad dog transmission. I have mixed emotions about the guy, He has everything I need filler tube, tv cable brackets what ever I need to set up. Full competition rated up to 700 horses,
full reverse pattern, everything I am looking about $1700-$1900. I want the best of both worlds with the overdrive. I am looking to buy a transmission that can withstand the beating on going to give it. Looking for some adivce from veterans.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

700r4 to 700hp..
it will push the drum throw the case..
the th400 g/v will last longer

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I just went with an Abruzzi powerglide (Perhaps not what you want but)..

I had an issue with it. After 6-7 miles the trans had an issue. I called Marco Abruzzi and explained to him what happened:

Installed
Checked distance from verter to flexplate prior to bolt it up (5/32 drill bit fit)
Added 8 qt's fluid
Heat cycled 2 times running it through the gears and checking fluid level which was spot on
Took it for a ride

Stood on it once in 1st and the verter went to 6k (which is supposed to be 5,200)
Drove it a little more and put it on the brake (Again flashed to 6k)
Got about another mile. Was in high gear at about 60mph and stood on it.
I heard a pop, shifted to N turned the ignition off and coasted to the side of the road.
Towed it home.

Pulled the lower line off which is the output from the verter and had no fluid movement.

Called Marco that next monday and he said I must have broken the pump. He told me to pull the trans, put it on a pallet and call him when done. He is paying freight both ways and fixing it for free as well as restalling the verter he built for me. That is great customer service, stnding behind his work.

I tell you this because I believe a shop that takes care of their customers should be acknoledged and the word spread. Abruzzi has transmission is some very fast cars along with monster trucks. He also tests each transmission on a trans dyno to ensure it works as well as checking line pressure. He came recomended to me and his prices are very fair. I'm sure he could also supply you with all the needed parts. I suggest giving him a call and see what he has to say for you. His number is 330-369-1707.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I really appreciate you boys that "Got your ears on' (LOL).

Abruzzi's turbo 400 was my first choice and research his transmission for hours on end. It was perferct transmission choice for me until I thought about the 456's outback and how it would drive on the "Big Slab" (LOL). I decided to go with 700r4 cause of the overdrive. Well one things is for sure is that abruzzi trans will work. Well I apprecite the good info.

I am "down and gone" (lol)

I apologize to the people who might not undertand me but I have a tendacy to use alot trucker slang.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

Have you considered a 4L80E? It is basically a TH400 with an OD. I don't know how the cost of building a 4L80E would compare to a TH400 with a Gearvendors unit. If you have the 4L80E built as a full manual, you don't need the standalone controler.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I hear you "loud and proud" captain (lol)
I new about the 4L80E and knew it used a controller but didn't know to make it full manual now that is good idea. What will something like that cost me. I definitely "Got eyeballs peeled" for that set up.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

TH400 W/ GV is in the territory of a 4 or 6L80E built. Both will be near $3k. Unless you find a good deal on a used one. A built TH400 alone is near $1000-1200 new. The GV new is $2k.

Check out Marv 's engine. He only has 666HP and his heads are insane. Not throwing you down, but your probably in the 600 range unless your spraying or running 8k rpm. An 850 4150 would most likely hold you back above 600hp let alone 700. There are a few nasty 406 on here most in the 600 range. I believe 68C10Kid has a similar build with 605hp.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I agree 700 is a little optimistic especially for the little 210's on a 406,, , but I can bet no matter what it makes it will shread a 700r4 on commnd. Jake Shoemake is a member here and builds a VERy stout 700r, but I think he will not even offer one when your making this kind of power. I would definately look for something else if it were mine..

That said,, I have a buddy running low 10s in a 3390 pound Nova with a Hughes 'street strip' TH350 he bought through Summit. Just throwing another name out there that can be vouched for.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

Marv,

I didn't realize Jake was on this board. He is the one that I continue to recomond for the manual valve body with trans brake for the 80E's..

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I see all you boys have your "Bird Dogs" on (lol),

I really didn't want to say to much about my science project, but actually she falls on her face just a bit after 7600 RPM. I know everyone is hung up the size of my heads (lol) but these are compettion package eliminators with quite a bit of work done to them. Granted it is still a few peices I have left out, thats why I said I should be tapping at the door of 700 horsepower. I can assure you I definetly have more than 600 (wink,wink,wink). I know I am a "sucide jockey" with this old truck of mine (lol) lol.

I have caught alot of them boys off guard with this little mystery combo, believe boy this is not the first or last conversation about this little sbc 406.

Truth of the matter is that, I have an old arch rival down in Southern California that I trying to put in retirement for the year. We have Healthy, and do mean boy, Health wager on the best of 3 run. I just wanted the overdrive.
No disrespect to any of you fellows, but I am truly limited to what info I can give out because he is also on this forum. LOL LOL LOL. I have been waiting a long time to get this old boy back. lol

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I know nothing about trannys. But I do know a that only builds and races his own trannys. Supper nice guy. His name is Leo and the company name is Remac transmissions. I would guess 90% of his business is race cars. And his prices are awesome. Give him a call and see what he thinks. Good luck.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

Couple of questions. First how big a tire are you running and have you thought about 4.11 or 4.30"s. If this is about a drag race call Hughes and get a turbo 350 and a convertor built for your motor and put a 4.30 in it. And if money is no object there are guys building 200's for super stock cars that are way stronger than a 700 ever thought of.
Jimmy

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

Seen an article on something similar on this from.summit. Couldn't find it.
http://www.summitracing.com/expertadvice/
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

Figure I'll throw my 2 cents in here :) I would strongly suggest investigating the 4l80e some more. I went through 4 700r4's in my '84 behind a relatively mild 406, so in my '64 I'm going to try out a full manual 4l80e. I've done a ton of homework online and almost everywhere I've looked claims that a mildly upgraded 4l80e (no major hard part upgrades) can handle nearly 900 hp. My plan is to just freshen up my 4l80e ($500 ebay score) with new clutches/seals/etc. and use the Transgo 4l80e-HD3 full manual kit. The cool thing about the Transgo kit is it uses a vacuum modulator mounted internally which allows the line pressure to be load dependent so when you're putting around town you're not barking the tires all the time (it's fun barking tires, but not good for a daily driver ;)). By my figures I should have less than $1500 in it and it should be good for at least 600-700 hp.

Just my 2 cents

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I spend a tad more to have mine refreshed (i didn't do the work myself) and have a converter setup for it. I told the builders what I was looking to do and they said I would have to run the truck absolutely ragged to get a 4l80e to bust with 5-600hp.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

JEGS High Performance
http://www.jegs.com/c/Transmission-D...10559/10002/-1

Summit Racing Equipment
http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...c+Transmission

Mad Dog Transmissions
http://www.maddogtransmissions.com/S...ults.asp?Cat=1

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I use PerformaBuilt. Their Level 2 is perfectly streetable and can handle 700rwhp. The level 3 more so. They have great customer service and are currently going out of their way to handle a claim for me now.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

The 700R4 isn't the right tranny for your combo. 4.56 and a 3.04 first gear wouldn't work out to well unless you are running super huge tires.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

I redid my tranny i'm using a Chev Th400 with B&M 2800 HoleShot Converter and a TCI Full Reverse Manual valve body & TCI stage 3 shift Kit with a 34 Element Spraque from a 4L80e pretty bullet proof with the power thats running it a 355 cu.in. with 2:02 Heads and 4:10 gears on a Detroit True Track with 30 spline axles in a 10 bolt. I can run it hard all day long with no issues. The th400's are a tough tranny and they can handle horsepower.

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

i went with a turbo 400 with transbrake from tci trans. with a 4000 rpm torque converter
my engine is around 700 hp 502 blower with a 4.11 rear end
reverse shift pattern with b&m quick pro shifter ,
next transmission im building my self turbo 400 but going to use a air shifter system

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

Just curious if anyone uses Lenco Racing Transmissions?

I always thought they were pretty cool.
http://www.lencoracing.com/

Re: Racing Transmission Advice Needed
 

The Lenco can handle whatever you throw at it and they also have a version that runs a converter rather than the normal clutch but they suck on the street (trust me, I know from experience!).

Go see Jeff Gillette at Shucks transmission in Dublin. He runs a 6 second Top Sportsman car and is a multi-time national event winner in Comp (and probably S/C etc).

Plus he is local to you.

I believe he is using Spec Rite converters which is owned by Rod Burbage (Pro Mod) out of Redding.

(925) 828-4111