Please tell me about a 350/700R4 combo

[Grizz1963]

New to these trucks and also always played with 4 cylinders only.

I have started talking to a guy about a truck with a 350/700 R4 combo.

From what I understand it is a V8 350ci motor and an autobox with 4speed and overdrive.

You may think I am mad asking, but keep in mind we are in England so these things are not common.

My questions are as follows.

What is the reliability of the gearbox?

Is it a 4 speed auto with an economy overdrive ?

Just how good can they be on fuel with this combo?


ANY OTHER INFO AND TIPS AS WELL AS TEASING WILL BE APPRECIATED.

There will be more of these questions and threads from me later

Thanks in advance

Rian.

[Racer2172]

Grizz, The 350/700r4 arent a bad combo, 350 are cheap to maintain and can be modified to make some good horsepower. The 700/R4 is a good transmission as long as it is has been adjusted properly. The overdrive helps a lot for fuel mileage and allows the motor turn a lot less rpms. If it has been installed into an older truck the driveshaft will have been modified. Depending on the build of motor and how well it is tuned with the overdrive you can get decent mileage but much less compared to 4 cylinders you are used to.

[64fleetside]

I get 18+ regularly with mine, 3.42 rear gears. Yes the top gear is overdriven. Early models(up til 86 IIRC) were more failure prone, but are usually easily upgraded when rebuilt and last pretty good.

[kieth]

Gear fast run slow, send me the spec's on the truck and I will send you a torque to the ground chart that also shows how fast the truck will go at 2000, 3000, 4000 rpm.....Here is what I need

1. engine (model year ) hp and rpm

2. transmission

3. rear axle ratio

4. tire diameter (ground to top of tire)

5. Your email address

I will send you the analysis for this truck so you can see how it will perform

Kieth

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by kieth

Gear fast run slow, send me the spec's on the truck and I will send you a torque to the ground chart that also shows how fast the truck will go at 2000, 3000, 4000 rpm.....Here is what I need

1. engine (model year ) hp and rpm

2. transmission

3. rear axle ratio

4. tire diameter (ground to top of tire)

5. Your email address

I will send you the analysis for this truck so you can see how it will perform

Kieth

Hi Keith,

Thanks for the reply.

I am in the earliest stage of negotiation.

Spoke to a friend of a friend of the owner of the truck for about 70 minutes today.... and want the truck on first impressions.

It is 750 miles from here, and I am trying to "stealth buy" it if everything seems good.

I wil see what I can find out about the truck in the mean time.

It is a 1960 SWB Fleetside Chevy C10 with 6 stud rear hub and 5 stud front as someone was not paying attention when they upgraded the front to a disc brake clip.

If I get any decent info, I will let you know.