help choosing transmission - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

23and56 · 11-20-2002, 11:22 PM

Getting ready to put new chevy crate 350 into rust free 70 1/2 tonand would like to have a little input from board members on choice of trans 350,400,or 700r4.will pull boat or car trailer so any help appreciated.

cableguy0 · 11-20-2002, 11:29 PM

if ur doin a lot of pullin get yourself a th400 if u can find one. if not tci seels em for like 900 bucks minus verter

slam33 · 11-20-2002, 11:48 PM

350 is the easiest and cheapest way to go and it's a great tranny. The 400 is next in line becuse there are already parts out there like the driveshaft with the right yoke. It's a great trans but it will cost you about 30 hp to spin it. The 700 is going to be more money, they cost more, you need to shorten the driveshft and the TV cable is touchy. For your app I would go with the 400 becuse it does hold up better under towing conditions. Get a big cooler for it, and throw in a good set of U-joints and center bearing while your at it. A good tow converter, headers with a H-pipe will get you some torque down low where you need it and an RV/tow cam would be a good shot too.

cableguy0 · 11-20-2002, 11:51 PM

i actually saw a write up on horsepower consumption of trannies and the th350 sucked up 35 horsies and the th400 sucked up like 44 not a big difference for the added strength

crazy longhorn · 11-20-2002, 11:59 PM

The 400t gets my vote for towing.......they are a tough trans

shadetree · 11-21-2002, 02:25 AM

I vote a 6 speed! Or, a 5 speed (second choice) or even a 4 speed, ANYTHING that requires a clutch! But, I'm just an old red-neck, so, go ahead with the slushboxes.

lukecp · 11-21-2002, 11:29 AM

Like everyone says, the TH400 is a tough tranny in high-horsepower or towing applications. If you aren't gonna tow very much with it, get a TH350. The TH350 also has a little lower first gear than the TH400.

busterwivell · 11-21-2002, 02:12 PM

Just so you get every opinion, I'd go with a 700R4, in fact, I just had one put in my 71. I LOVE IT! It's a totally different truck now.

Slammed67 · 11-21-2002, 03:11 PM

Hey Busterwivell, isn't it so much more fun to drive??? I vote for the 700R4 too!

busterwivell · 11-21-2002, 04:08 PM

God, it made my work truck a toy!!!!!!I've driven it to work every day this week, instead of riding to work with the wife in the Tahoe like I usually do. Told her they told me to put lots of miles on it right away and bring it back when I get 500 miles on it. Heck, I'm almost there already! I knew I'd like it........it changed the Studebaker drastically, too!

**COBALT** · 11-21-2002, 04:13 PM

I simply love Th400s. Cheap and easy to rebuild and maintain. Solid as a rock.

In the future I'm going to invest in an overdrive unit with push-button so I have 6 "gears". Can't wait.

11-20-2002, 11:22 PM	#1
23and56 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: barnum Posts: 127	help choosing transmission Getting ready to put new chevy crate 350 into rust free 70 1/2 tonand would like to have a little input from board members on choice of trans 350,400,or 700r4.will pull boat or car trailer so any help appreciated.

11-20-2002, 11:29 PM	#2
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	if ur doin a lot of pullin get yourself a th400 if u can find one. if not tci seels em for like 900 bucks minus verter __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

11-20-2002, 11:48 PM	#3
slam33 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 1,432	350 is the easiest and cheapest way to go and it's a great tranny. The 400 is next in line becuse there are already parts out there like the driveshaft with the right yoke. It's a great trans but it will cost you about 30 hp to spin it. The 700 is going to be more money, they cost more, you need to shorten the driveshft and the TV cable is touchy. For your app I would go with the 400 becuse it does hold up better under towing conditions. Get a big cooler for it, and throw in a good set of U-joints and center bearing while your at it. A good tow converter, headers with a H-pipe will get you some torque down low where you need it and an RV/tow cam would be a good shot too. __________________ 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>

11-20-2002, 11:51 PM	#4
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	i actually saw a write up on horsepower consumption of trannies and the th350 sucked up 35 horsies and the th400 sucked up like 44 not a big difference for the added strength __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

11-20-2002, 11:59 PM	#5
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	The 400t gets my vote for towing.......they are a tough trans __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

11-21-2002, 02:25 AM	#6
shadetree Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Knightstown, in, usa Posts: 2,525	I vote a 6 speed! Or, a 5 speed (second choice) or even a 4 speed, ANYTHING that requires a clutch! But, I'm just an old red-neck, so, go ahead with the slushboxes. __________________ 1970 long fleet, 355 4 speed, primer, walnut goodies

11-21-2002, 11:29 AM	#7
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Like everyone says, the TH400 is a tough tranny in high-horsepower or towing applications. If you aren't gonna tow very much with it, get a TH350. The TH350 also has a little lower first gear than the TH400. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

11-21-2002, 02:12 PM	#8
busterwivell Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sahuarita, AZ USA Posts: 2,033	Just so you get every opinion, I'd go with a 700R4, in fact, I just had one put in my 71. I LOVE IT! It's a totally different truck now. __________________ Bill - Tucson, AZ 47 Chevrolet 2 dr sedan 56 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan 66 Chevrolet Malibu 2 dr 4 speed 71 Chevrolet C30 Longhorn 86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (Sold) 01 Chevrolet Tahoe IM - BUSTERWIVE@aol.com

11-21-2002, 03:11 PM	#9
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Hey Busterwivell, isn't it so much more fun to drive??? I vote for the 700R4 too! __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

11-21-2002, 04:08 PM	#10
busterwivell Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sahuarita, AZ USA Posts: 2,033	God, it made my work truck a toy!!!!!!I've driven it to work every day this week, instead of riding to work with the wife in the Tahoe like I usually do. Told her they told me to put lots of miles on it right away and bring it back when I get 500 miles on it. Heck, I'm almost there already! I knew I'd like it........it changed the Studebaker drastically, too! __________________ Bill - Tucson, AZ 47 Chevrolet 2 dr sedan 56 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan 66 Chevrolet Malibu 2 dr 4 speed 71 Chevrolet C30 Longhorn 86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (Sold) 01 Chevrolet Tahoe IM - BUSTERWIVE@aol.com

11-21-2002, 04:13 PM	#11
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	I simply love Th400s. Cheap and easy to rebuild and maintain. Solid as a rock. In the future I'm going to invest in an overdrive unit with push-button so I have 6 "gears". Can't wait. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.



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