Swap out TH350 for 700R4 / expected cost

[LT102]

Don't want to lose the Dana-60 4.10 gears but with a TH350 the RPM's are too high. Best way to go looks like a 700R4 but would like to have some idea of what others have paid for this professionaly swapped out. I'm pretty good wih the mechanical work but there is no way I can do it myself. Just trying to budget my restoration. Thanks

[71meangreenc10]

First,
Do you have the trans and all the parts to do the swap? If No is the answer, there are alot of parts you have to get if you want this done right and not sloppy. I have done two myself and its not cheap.

Paying for it done right would in my guess be around 1500+ to 2800ish. Again, this depends on your demographic in the US and your expectations. The quality of the rebuild is the biggest price factor. Some places start out at a grand just for the transmission. I can PM you all the parts I changed to make me feel comfortable in the conversion. I have made a 600 mile trip with my GMC with no problems and I did all the labor (except rebuilding the trans) myself.

Another factor to consider that adds cost, but again how do you want your ride is the rear end. Are you going to gear the diff to match the trans or are you going to leave it stock?

Some people just change the trans and they end up not happy, its because they didnt think how the trans swap would affect the rest of the vehicles performance.

Let me know.

Smitty

[danheit]

Sorry to thread hijack, but I'm interested in this as well. Smitty, can you provide the items you changed? I am looking to do the swap myself, and already have a GOOD (I drove it and pulled it) 700R4 from a 90 GMC. LT102, you say you are mechanical, why wouldn't you want to take on the task of installing your transmission? Providing you purchase one ready to go (doesn't need a rebuild), if it is just a matter of swapping parts out, would that interest you?

[71meangreenc10]

Originally Posted by danheit

Sorry to thread hijack, but I'm interested in this as well. Smitty, can you provide the items you changed? I am looking to do the swap myself, and already have a GOOD (I drove it and pulled it) 700R4 from a 90 GMC. LT102, you say you are mechanical, why wouldn't you want to take on the task of installing your transmission? Providing you purchase one ready to go (doesn't need a rebuild), if it is just a matter of swapping parts out, would that interest you?

First,
What is the current trans you have? 400 or anything else. I have done both.

Can PM all the details.

Smitty

[shawno72]

I just did this a week ago, check my build thread. I was fortunate enough to have "the homey hookup" so I paid $1500 for everything BUT mine was also converted from 4 speed manual to a 700r4. I would expect to pay up to $2000 for a nice built trans installed.

[danheit]

Smitty, I'm going from a 350/Th350 to a TBI 350/700R4. I have the CPU and all wiring, so I'm ok there. I have been reading up on it, and it looks like my biggest obstacle will be the driveshaft length. I have a 71 LWB. Also most likely going to swap out the rear end from the GMC that the engine/trans came out of. 90 GMC 1500 Sport.

[JOJABOY]

If you have the new 700r4 already. You will need the Throttle Valve (TV) cable. A torque converter with the lock up speed that you will want on your truck. You will need to wire the lock up. and you will need to do the drive shaft work. Everything can be installed and wired up yourself to include having to slide the trans cross member back or drill new holes for different trans (this all depends on whether you are going from th350 or from a th400). But the drive shaft and slip yoke.....you will need a shop to do this work. There's a different spline count from th350 to th400 depending upon which you are switching from. The 700r4 has the same as the 350 but the 400 has more splines so a different yoke would be needed. And once you have your shaft cut or lengthened...it will need to be rebalanced.

I plan on making a TH400 to TH700r4 swap this summer. I will buy the new trans, torque converter, TV cable and lock up......move my cross member back and install a new trans mount. then I will buy a 700r4 yoke and have my drive shaft shortened and balanced at a trans shop. I think I can get it all done for under $1000.

[Chvy2NV]

Subd.

[shawno72]

This is the tv I used on my truck. Very simple to install and it looks/works great!!

http://www.tvmadeez.com/