good tranny for 500+ ft/lbs torque?

[brennecke]

Ok, I'm planning on building a cad motor for my truck. I want to drive it daily, but want to be able to put that power to the ground without blowing up my trannie. Will a basic th400 make it? or do I need to buid one up to deal with the torque?
3.73 gears currently, but might consider something less harsh.

Also, are there any manuals that would work? and how would I make one mate up?

[Randy70C-10]

You'd be surprized at what a built th350 can handle. Also, you lose more rear wheel horsepower through a th400.

[brennecke]

Ok then, what constitutes "built"? Is it something I can do myself with a kit, or do I need to get a pro to set one up for me?
I'd love to put in a six speed, but need lots and lots of money!!!

[BadAzz70PU]

Originally posted by Randy70C-10
You'd be surprized at what a built th350 can handle. Also, you lose more rear wheel horsepower through a th400.

I agree with Randy, I believe the only thing that really ever breaks in turbo 350's is the second gear sprag. You can have a heavy duty one put in reasonably. My dad is running 9's consistantly on a turbo with only one failure ever (in about 15 years) and that was second gear. Since he put in the new sprag, no problems.

[68 with 350 TPI]

TH400 you will need a good rebuild and a 34 element sprag thats about $50.

TH350 you will need good rebuild and a 36 element sprag and steel drum about $300

The 350 will not take as much power as the 400 but it may be cheaper to build a 400 depending on what is easy to get near you.

You could always get a 4L80E....kinda like a 400 with overdrive
Heavy and costs alot but tough and has overdrive

Around where I live I get 350 turbos for 25-50$ and 400's for about 150.


BTW I highly suggest a good shift kit and not some B&M/TCI kit.
Trans-go makes a good one.

[cadpowered]

I have two, a 1967 extended cab with a Caddy 472, and a Longhorn with a Caddy 500. I have Caddy T400s behind both, and they do the job. In the 67 extended cab the column shift indicator even works and lines up.

[imdarren]

I would think a stock TH350 would hold up to about anything if you don't "hook up". If you have an empty (light bed) and regular tires, seems like you could smoke em all day long with no problems.
So my question is... Could a TH350 hold up to 500+ ft/lb of torque with big rinkle walls / slicks and more weight in the back?
Or, would you just be better off building a TH400?
After all, how much power is lost to a 400 vs 350 when you are talkin' 500 ft/lb?
Just curious. I'll be needin' to build one (have one built) soon.
Darren

[68 with 350 TPI]

Well opinions are like a$$ holes.
Everyone has one and most of them stink...

But from my own first hand of going through some 350 turbos in my camaro I would say to get a built 400 if you are really wanting to make the veheicle hook up with some slicks.

You can make a 350 do everything a 400 can do with the right parts.
But when it breaks it will cost more to rebuild the 350 with all the good parts than it would to do a 400 with the same.

The big diffrence is the price diffrence up front in my opinion.

I went through a rock crusher ,two 350 turbos,and one 400 with a trans brake.
But the 400 held up best of all of them to the crazy torque of the blower motor.

It really depends on what you plan to use it for.
If its a street strip, drag , with or without trans brake etc.

[imdarren]

Anyone else have an a$$ hole? I mean opinion?

Darren