How much abuse can a TH400 take?

[mikajo39]

So I know the TH400 is a pretty tough transmission, but mine has seen better days. I took it in to be examined (for 190 dollars blehhhh) and they said they'd rebuild it for 1200 dollars. Then I told them my application and they said for it to survive behind 400 hp it would need to be upgraded a lot, for the nominal fee of 2100 dollars! Are they feeding me a load of bull? Or would I just need a higher stall speed converter and a shift kit?

[vectorit]

I'd shop around.
I had a TH400 built for a 400hp BBC, and IIRC I spent under 1000 bucks.
That was with out a torque converter, which the shop offered to build for me specifically for my transmission. But, that item cost almost the same as the trans build!

Plus the shop that built it specialized in high performance transmissions.
In case you are interested, this is the guy that built mine.
http://www.mogitrans.com/

[mikajo39]

yeah AAMCO just doesn't seem right, mine was kinda shady like they wanted to wring me dry haha

[Beatcoaster]

you can get brand new tranny's built for 400hp+ for $1500 and just bolt it in...$2100 is a joke

[cwgreen1971]

I spent $400 to have mine rebuilt with shift kit, then bought a 11in Break Away torque converter for $265.

[mikajo39]

Originally Posted by cwgreen1971

I spent $400 to have mine rebuilt with shift kit, then bought a 11in Break Away torque converter for $265.

thats pretty good, All the transmission shops around my area are all chains like AAMCO and stuff no speed shop builders or anything and it's so friggen expensive I got to look harder i guess

[t&tkennels]

why not buy a tci , there rated for 450hp. & alot less than $2,100.

[prostreetC-10]

Agreed with the above. If you look at Jeg's and Summit, you can get a pretty darn nice and strong TH400 from B&M or TCI new for what it can take to build a used one.....and TH400's will handle 400 hp all day long. It's the torque that's hard on them anyway.

[Tx Firefighter]

My trans shop charges me 950 to do a TH400 and warranty it for any horsepower level.

[Cdeno0001]

shop around, or buy a new one. for 2100 dollars I'd better have a sweet ass overdrive tranny!

[jakeshoe]

A stock Th400 will live long at 400 HP.
Some minor upgrades and 800 HP isn't a problem.

I sell 800 HP capable TH400s for $1000 outright (no core).
These have the 34 element sprag, 6 clutch direct, 4 clutch intermediate (both one clutch added over stock), rollerized in several locations, HD snap ring for intermediate pressure plate, valve body mods for high performance use, dual feed oil to direct clutches (mandatory over 400 HP), blueprinted pump assembly, and other improvements.

I have a TH400 on the shelf that would work for your needs, its near stock but dual fed directs, slightly firmer than stock shifts, etc, I built it for a motorhome and customer never picked it up.

I'll make you a deal on it shipped to your location.

www.jakesperformance.com

I'm well known on other forums for my trans work.

[Tx Firefighter]

I just checked Summit. You can buy a B&M, TCI, or Hughes crate transmission for 1000-1300 dollars. Then, sell your old core on Craigslist for a couple hundred to recoup some cash.

Figure a few hundred bucks for a premium brand torque converter on top of that and you're in like Flynn.

[jakeshoe]

The Jeg's and Summit brand trans are probably TCi units.

I've been into a few of these unit's and not impressed. Hard parts re-used that shouldn't have been and all have been basically a stock rebuild with their name brand shift kit.

If I were ordering a name brand unit it would be the Hughes. I know the head builder at Hughes and they at least use the Transgo valve body stuff on their TH400's at that level.

A stock torque converter is less than $100 with trans purchase.

[jeffspower]

$2100? For that, I'll fly out to your place and do it for you. I'll throw in training for free so you can do it yourself the next time and save $1800

Seriously, If you are up for it, get a manual & a video and do it yourself. A guy at work just done his first tranny that way- a 4L60E without any troubles. You don't need to spend much for special tools on a TH400 either.

[mikajo39]

Originally Posted by jeffspower

$2100? For that, I'll fly out to your place and do it for you. I'll throw in training for free so you can do it yourself the next time and save $1800

Seriously, If you are up for it, get a manual & a video and do it yourself. A guy at work just done his first tranny that way- a 4L60E without any troubles. You don't need to spend much for special tools on a TH400 either.

I would totally rebuild it myself, but I lack the space, It's summer break and I have the time and actually for once the money but no space and my dad is against it for some reason, "you can make expensive choices when you're 18" automatic transmissions confuse him, he enjoys a manual's simplicity

[jeffspower]

I can relate... I don't think my mom appreciated me rebuilding carburetors on her dining room table when I was a teenager

Heck, I don't have a decent place to do work now either. When reverse went out of the TH400 in my '88, I took it to a friends shop & let him do the rebuild and R&R. For the $425 he charged, I wasn't about to work off a cardboard creeper in the yard

[jim zag]

Buy some tools and some books and READ and research and LEARN and DO IT YOURSELF it is only a TRANSMISSION!!! It is not ROCKET SCIENCE!!!