TH350 better than 400?!?!?

[iluvmy72]

My tranny is in the shop...it's a TH350.....they actually told me I'm better off with a TH350 and a shift kit than I would be with a TH400.....they said they're almost the same but from their experience, the TH350 seem to be more rugged.....also they said I'm better off with my stock cooling system which routes the hoses to the radiator as opposed to a external and he said this tranny will last longer than a 700r4 ever will and if I want another gear, he said I can pick up an add on overdrive unit for about 400 bucks or so and it will help preserve the life of the tranny.....is this new or wrong information because I was told the complete opposite.....this transmission shop is owned by a friend of the family and would never do me any wrong.....My mother in law works there as well but could they be wrong?....I'm just curious....and I'm not worried at all....just thinking about the towing.

[diggin69]

I have never heard of a add on over drive must be new or he knows somthing I dont, 400's can handle abuse, but a well built 350 can handle up to 4-500 hp. if it is built right, you should be fine for the street with the 350th so I would say you are good to go.......

[6869704X4]

This is just one company.
http://www.gearvendors.com/

[slam33]

What do you have in front of it? A 350 seems to work best with a SBC and a 400 works well with a BB. The 400 will eat about 30hp to drive it. The 350 has a better 1st gear. As for a cooler, run an auxillry cooler if you can, the lower the trans temp the longer it will last. As for the OD, most of these units are based on the old Doug Nash unit which has been around since Moses built his first Hot Rod. There up there in price, around $1200 or so. A 350 with an OD will probably outlast a 700r but it's not as cheap as a built 700r. Easiest thing and cheapest thing you can do is have your 350 built stronger and hook up a cooler to it.