TH350-C transmission, opinions please.

[trendkill]

I found out today that I have a TH350-C transmission. I know that they have a lockup torque converter. Can I get some opinions on this type of transmission so that I can decide what do about the one I have. Thanks.

[Boog]

With the lockup converter it is almost like an overdrive tranny in that it reduces the engine rpm when locked up thereby increasing fuel mileage. This tranny requires the electric/vacumn solenoid and brake lamp switch to make the lockup feature work correctly. However some guys take a cheaper route and wire in a toggle switch to manually lock/unlock the converter. You must remember to unlock it every time you come to a stop or it can kill the engine.
A local tranny shop told me I shouldn't run that trans without the lockup hooked up and working as it will kill the trans in short order. Could be a liability thing. It is in my truck but has not been on the road yet. Palf70step has one in his truck. Maybe he can answer some of your ?s

[Palf70Step]

Like Boog, mine is not yet on the road. I was told by my tranny guy you could run them without the lock up option, but you would have more slippage off the line, like a hi stall converter, but without the power. Yes it will kill it eventually and before it' time, but I have know a few folks to drive them for years without the lockup connected.

MY $.02, if you have the choice go with a 2004R for the overdrive, or just use the normal T350. It will be a bit stouter unit. Had mine not already been rebuilt, I would have used the T350 I recently acquired instead.

[Boog]

Oh hey Bill. I knew you were right around the corner. I have that tranny in mine only for initial startup and moving around the shop and yard. I have a regular T350 to build and put in later.

[trendkill]

Thanks fellas. I'm not sure if the guy before me had it hooked up.I would really like to go with a th350. I probably will. Then it becomes pick and choose with some other stuff for my truck.

[Tx Firefighter]

I was broke one time and needed a trans so I bought a used TH350C from a junkyard. Obviously, it was used when I got it and I ran it 4 years without ever hooking up the lockup. I put about 75k miles on it like that. I never saw any signs I was hurting it in that time by running it unhooked.