Turbo 400 R.I.P.

[dmsteele92831]

Well, I took my truck in and the mechanic tells me the tranny is a goner

I'm looking at getting one possibly locally or off of ebay from Jackson Performance Transmissions. Does anyone have any past dealings with them? Also I may have a buddy that can give me one out of a 76 camaro, it has been rebuilt with a mild shift kit and a stall of about 1900. Will it work since it was on a car? Also I have a 3.08 rear end so is a 1900 stall still ok?

[cameeks]

Should work fine

[larry may]

Is the tail housings the same length ie shrt or long . Stall should work ok for stock use.

[cameeks]

forgot that 400 had diffrent tail housings

[dmsteele92831]

What's the size difference of the tailhousing? ( i.e. short- 6" long 13")

[jgrh64]

if you have to replace anyway -what about a 4L80E, strong as a 400 w/OD

[dmsteele92831]

I thought the turbo 400 did have OD??? Also will it be ok with 3.08 's in the rear and 31 tires?

[cameeks]

No it is a 3 speed but not sure on the lengths

[OLDIRON69]

Just a heavier duty 3 spd than a TH350

[dmsteele92831]

So the only way to get a od is to go to that 4L80E. Does it bolt-on directly?

[jgrh64]

if your running a big block an extream small block or working really hard all the time (heavy towing or always fully loaded) you need a 400 or 4L80E if not you can use a 700R4 ( like a TH350 with OD) some others have done all swaps try a search but with todays gas prices only going up every year OD makes sense

[Vince M]

The 4L80E is a great tranny but it is electronically shifted and will need a controller to shift it. Aftermarket units are expensive. The 700r4 is your best bet for a four speed auto. Saves you gas, saves your motor, quiets down the ride at freeway speeds. No controller is needed as it shifts just like a three speed auto (TH350, TH400). If you go the 700r4 route invest in a lockup torque converter and a kit to engage it.

[cameeks]

TCI has a new valve body for the 700r4 that makes it to where you always have 200 psi in the transmission. With out it you have to make sure you adjust the TV Cable right or you will just burn up the 700r4. The kit just turns the TV Cable into a Kick Down Cable.

[mnunn454]

Originally Posted by dmsteele92831

So the only way to get a od is to go to that 4L80E. Does it bolt-on directly?

Auto Tranny Overdrive options (that I know of) include:
TH200 4R
TH700 R4
4L60
4L60E
4L80E
Gear Vendor's Bolt-on Overdrive

Strongest option is the TH400 with a GVO bolted on, but it's also likely the most expensive at around $2600+.

Stock, the TH700, and 4L60 variants are all about the same strength, and roughly equal to a TH350. The TH200 is a little weaker

The "E" vaiants above require electronic control box.

The 4L80E is about as strong as your TH400.

The TH200 is the same length as a TH350/400, minimizing the additional work required to install it.

Any of the above transmissions can be made stronger for a price The Bowtie Overdrives built TH700 in my Elky works well behind a 454.

Hope it helps.

[3/4tonterror]

if you were closer id give you a perfect th400 rebuilt 2 yrs ago,i dont need it.WHY NOT JUST REBUILT THE ONE YOU HAVE?

[kxmotox247]

Do not buy one from Jackson Performance. I just pulled the "Street/Strip" rebuilt 350TH from my street rod after it destroyed itself in less than 4 miles.
I mailed it back to them and have heard nothing other than a description of all the stuff that was broken inside. When I pulled the pan, there were pieces of broken plastic as well as all the clutch material. Lots of red metalflake in the converter. I don't think it was even rebuilt. 1 month later and I can't even get them to reply to my emails now.

[dmsteele92831]

Thanks for the Jackson Performance Feedback. Also it turns out I actually have a 200r4 (the mechanic took a quick look under my truck and thought it was the Turbo 400) I called around and there's a local guy that will rebuild it for me with all the upgraded internals, shift kit, gears, beefy servo and a new converter for $1200. I'm gonna take him up on that! Only thing is I have to take the tranny out and get it down to him. So I'm gonna pick up a Haynes Manual and try to get it done this week. Any tips would be appreciated. I have a jack and tools and I've taken out an 82 Toyota trucks tranny before so I'm hoping this is just as easy.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

thats not to bad a price, shouldnt be hard to pull out probly easier than the toyota

[kxmotox247]

Just received my transmission back from Jackson Performance. It took 2 months to get my transmission repaired! Here's the stinger though... I'm not even sure it's the same 350TH since it's now covered in a gallon of the cheapest looking black paint they could find. Plus, no torque convertor was returned with the tranny. Needless to say, I'm not happy.
I originally purchased a Street/Strip tranny which was supposed to have all the bells and whistles. I will be taking this unit to a local shop for dissasembly to see if it truly has been rebuilt and it it has all the specialized parts inside that I paid for. I'll post the details on what I learn.

[cooters]

i would verify that a 200r4 is in a truck, ive never seen that before. Also your buddys camaro never came with a 400 from factory either. Turbo 400 trannys have the same length tailhousing as far as i know except the turbo 375 came in a 12 inch tailshaft for the station wagons

[OLDIRON69]

Originally Posted by Vince M

The 4L80E is a great tranny but it is electronically shifted and will need a controller to shift it. Aftermarket units are expensive. The 700r4 is your best bet for a four speed auto. Saves you gas, saves your motor, quiets down the ride at freeway speeds. No controller is needed as it shifts just like a three speed auto (TH350, TH400). If you go the 700r4 route invest in a lockup torque converter and a kit to engage it.

the kit to engage the overdrive? I'm looking into this swap as well. I tow a good bit and don't want to go the wrong route the 1st time. Does the kit work like a tow/haul controller like the late model trucks??

[dmsteele92831]

It's definitely the 2004r. The guy I bought it from converted from a 6 cyl to a 350 with that tranny installed. I have OD (or had) and I got underneath the truck with the mechanic and a manual and it's the 2004r. After a little research I've found out that stock they aren't very good on a truck, but if you rebuild them and upgrade your internals it will work great. There's a ton of posts on here about people arguing for a 700r4 or th 2004r. From what I seen it's pretty much a toss-up.

[68 Stepside]

Originally Posted by cameeks

TCI has a new valve body for the 700r4 that makes it to where you always have 200 psi in the transmission. With out it you have to make sure you adjust the TV Cable right or you will just burn up the 700r4. The kit just turns the TV Cable into a Kick Down Cable.

I'm all over this....would you happen to have a link or model number available?

[cameeks]

Originally Posted by 68 Stepside

I'm all over this....would you happen to have a link or model number available?

http://tciauto.com/WhatsNew/Files/TC...eValveBody.pdf

[Omnivec]

I well add some info. The 200r4 in stock form is weaker then the 700r4 since it came in mostly v6 cars like cutlass's and monte carlos, but it has way better gearing then the 700r4 mostly a better 1st to 2nd shift. It can be built to handle anything now a days. As for the overdrive needing a controller,it is not true its the torque converter that needs the controller as 700r4s and 200r4s have lockup torque converters to help with mpg and heat cruisen down the highway. I have put a couple 700r4s in older cars and I just rewire the trans to lockup the torque converter in 4th using the the 4th gear switch that is built in to the trans and using power from a relay that is powered by the brake switch (to help with 4th gear panic stops). http://www.700r4.com/tech/tcc/index.shtml They sell a good cheap kit
.............................1st.......2nd....3rd.....4th

Power Glide........ ....1.76......1.0

TH350 ...................2.52.....1.52....1.0

TH400....................2.48.....1.48....1.0

700-R4/4L60...........3.06.....1.63....1.0.... .70

200-R4...................2.74.....1.57....1.0.... .67

4L80E....................2.48.....1.48....1.0.... .75