Need Transmission suggestions please! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

DevinM · 05-12-2002, 05:11 PM

I've been told that my 71 Short Wide w/ posi has a Turbo 350 tranny. It's only a weekend driver, but this last weekend I lost the tranny while driving around town. Fortunately, I added 2 quarts and made it home with a trail of fluid all the way up my driveway. My question: what should I get to replace it. I don't want factory new, but want a new/rebuilt automatic. Should I stick w/ the Turbo 350? or upgrade to something else. AND, how much is it going to cost me? Thanks in advance!

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'71 Chevy C-10
'62 Imapla SS
'73 Nova Hatch
'73 Chevelle Deluxe
SUNDERLAND, MA

ColinOpseth · 05-12-2002, 05:13 PM

the Turbo350 is an inexpensive, simple, and common transmission..

i doubt you need the strength of a Turbo400..

a 700R4 is a good idea if you have the money for the swap, and it'll get you a few miles per gallon worth of money put back in your wallet..

if i were you i'd just keep the trans, swapping something else could be a headahce

69 longhorn · 05-12-2002, 05:23 PM

Well , its a judgment call.......i like the 400T's,but they do eat a little more power to turn. Mine has been goin for 10 seasons strong(stock overhaul/shift kit,& high stall verter). Its had the livin hell beat out of it too,ran a hopped 455 Olds ,a 425 Cad,& 2 small block chevs........the Olds is still my favorite,but the 383 dont do bad! A well built 350 T will handle the abuse of a pretty hot smallblock,you might look into TCI if you are doing a little weekend racing,& they are about on line (for price),as a trans shop rebuild on a 350 T. good luck.........69 longhorn.

AZ68 · 05-12-2002, 06:13 PM

the 350 would be your cheapest solution-
I have a 700 r4 and love it it gets better mileage and the 1st gear is awesome -- you would have to move crossmember, I think, its been awhile differant linkage -- its a good swap- but will cost around 700- 1200

Project1970 · 05-12-2002, 06:32 PM

If I were you, I'd either stick with the TH350 (if mileage / freeway drivability isn't an issue, or if you have a taller (numerically lower) rearend than 3.73, like 3.07 or 2.73) or upgrade to a 700R4. I doubt you'd really need the extra beefiness of a TH400 for your average truck. I kinda wish I had a TH350 instead of a TH400 in mine, but the core was free, heh. Friend of my dad's bought a big block but didn't need the TH400 it had hanging off of it. It's worked great for the 2 years and 20,000 miles I've beat on it, barking the tires on the 1-2 whenever I want to (and sometimes when I don't! lol) but since I've got a 3.73 rear and mileage/freeway ability is a BIG concern now, it's coming out for a 700R4.

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Project 1970 - soon to be seen at http://milhouse.treylis.org:81/

Longhorn Man · 05-12-2002, 08:55 PM

Stick with the 350...onless someone replaced them, or it was optioned differant, you should have the 3.07 gears, which'll get you about 2400 RPM or so at 60 MPH.

That isn't too bad.
You already have the core to get rebuilt, and if it is the original one, you'll still have the proper numbers if that matters to you or the next person.
I purchased one rebuilt a few years ago, with a new verter, I had no core, and it had a 2 yr waranty...cost me just shy of 300 bucks. That's not bad. Get greasy installing it yourself, and it'll still be less than the wife's new car note.
In case you are not sure on your tranny designation, or wanna double check yourself, here is a pan identifier.

------------------
'69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man
I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it.
FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite.
E-mail longhornmail@yahoo.com
My name is Andy...not Randy...I'm in Ohio...Not Illinois...close enough?
Columbus Ohio

[This message has been edited by longhornmail (edited May 12, 2002).]

>X< · 05-12-2002, 09:37 PM

while were on teh subect, longhornmail, what is a powerglide, my buddy has one in his 68 maro, is it just a lighter weight three speed, why doesnt anybody put these into our trucks, just wonderin

slam33 · 05-12-2002, 09:43 PM

Powerglides are a 2 speed trans, stick with the 350, sounds like it was ok till it lost it's fluid. The 350 is a good, strong trans and will be the simplest to reinstall. Just a thought, a 400 and a 700r will fail if they run dry too.

------------------
71 basic C-10 350. The only option is the rust.No nothing on it, but thats all about to change. <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410

" TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410

</A>

05-12-2002, 05:11 PM	#1
DevinM Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Deerfield, MA USA Posts: 198	Need Transmission suggestions please! I've been told that my 71 Short Wide w/ posi has a Turbo 350 tranny. It's only a weekend driver, but this last weekend I lost the tranny while driving around town. Fortunately, I added 2 quarts and made it home with a trail of fluid all the way up my driveway. My question: what should I get to replace it. I don't want factory new, but want a new/rebuilt automatic. Should I stick w/ the Turbo 350? or upgrade to something else. AND, how much is it going to cost me? Thanks in advance! ------------------ '71 Chevy C-10 '62 Imapla SS '73 Nova Hatch '73 Chevelle Deluxe SUNDERLAND, MA __________________ '71 Chevy C-10 - Current '62 Imapla SS - Traded for my current '73 Nova Hatch - traded for ATC-350X '73 Chevelle Deluxe - First car (R.I.P) DEERFIELD, MA

05-12-2002, 05:13 PM	#2
ColinOpseth Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 283	the Turbo350 is an inexpensive, simple, and common transmission.. i doubt you need the strength of a Turbo400.. a 700R4 is a good idea if you have the money for the swap, and it'll get you a few miles per gallon worth of money put back in your wallet.. if i were you i'd just keep the trans, swapping something else could be a headahce __________________ Webmaster: www.h-body.org

05-12-2002, 05:23 PM	#3
69 longhorn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: rock island,il,usa Posts: 5,382	Well , its a judgment call.......i like the 400T's,but they do eat a little more power to turn. Mine has been goin for 10 seasons strong(stock overhaul/shift kit,& high stall verter). Its had the livin hell beat out of it too,ran a hopped 455 Olds ,a 425 Cad,& 2 small block chevs........the Olds is still my favorite,but the 383 dont do bad! A well built 350 T will handle the abuse of a pretty hot smallblock,you might look into TCI if you are doing a little weekend racing,& they are about on line (for price),as a trans shop rebuild on a 350 T. good luck.........69 longhorn. __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

05-12-2002, 06:13 PM	#4
AZ68 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: peoria az Posts: 181	the 350 would be your cheapest solution- I have a 700 r4 and love it it gets better mileage and the 1st gear is awesome -- you would have to move crossmember, I think, its been awhile differant linkage -- its a good swap- but will cost around 700- 1200 __________________ 68 c-10 lwb to swb 383 lr stroker 700 r4 starting frame off now phoenix, arizona

05-12-2002, 06:32 PM	#5
Project1970 14.1 @ 96MPH Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 2,811	If I were you, I'd either stick with the TH350 (if mileage / freeway drivability isn't an issue, or if you have a taller (numerically lower) rearend than 3.73, like 3.07 or 2.73) or upgrade to a 700R4. I doubt you'd really need the extra beefiness of a TH400 for your average truck. I kinda wish I had a TH350 instead of a TH400 in mine, but the core was free, heh. Friend of my dad's bought a big block but didn't need the TH400 it had hanging off of it. It's worked great for the 2 years and 20,000 miles I've beat on it, barking the tires on the 1-2 whenever I want to (and sometimes when I don't! lol) but since I've got a 3.73 rear and mileage/freeway ability is a BIG concern now, it's coming out for a 700R4. ------------------ Project 1970 - soon to be seen at http://milhouse.treylis.org:81/ __________________ Project1970 - LS1 Swap Complete!

05-12-2002, 08:55 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Stick with the 350...onless someone replaced them, or it was optioned differant, you should have the 3.07 gears, which'll get you about 2400 RPM or so at 60 MPH. That isn't too bad. You already have the core to get rebuilt, and if it is the original one, you'll still have the proper numbers if that matters to you or the next person. I purchased one rebuilt a few years ago, with a new verter, I had no core, and it had a 2 yr waranty...cost me just shy of 300 bucks. That's not bad. Get greasy installing it yourself, and it'll still be less than the wife's new car note. In case you are not sure on your tranny designation, or wanna double check yourself, here is a pan identifier. ------------------ '69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it. FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite. E-mail longhornmail@yahoo.com My name is Andy...not Randy...I'm in Ohio...Not Illinois...close enough? Columbus Ohio [This message has been edited by longhornmail (edited May 12, 2002).]

05-12-2002, 09:37 PM	#7
>X< registered IWATA user Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 4,483	while were on teh subect, longhornmail, what is a powerglide, my buddy has one in his 68 maro, is it just a lighter weight three speed, why doesnt anybody put these into our trucks, just wonderin __________________ -'63 Ford Fairlane 500 coupe, v8, auto, faded and rusty. awaiting built roller 302 and some flat black -'99 Honda Prelude. vtech/5spd. no pipe, no intake, bone stock. awaiting new top end. -01 GMC Yukon SLT 5.3 dented and scratched with a noisy tranny. Take off that Von Dutch hat before i stab you with a 000 Mack.

05-12-2002, 09:43 PM	#8
slam33 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 1,432	Powerglides are a 2 speed trans, stick with the 350, sounds like it was ok till it lost it's fluid. The 350 is a good, strong trans and will be the simplest to reinstall. Just a thought, a 400 and a 700r will fail if they run dry too. ------------------ 71 basic C-10 350. The only option is the rust.No nothing on it, but thats all about to change. <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 " TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 </A> __________________ 71 LWB 350/350still working on it but it's going tp be sweet. www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html " TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 </A>



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