th 400 trans - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

griesel72 · 12-11-2003, 10:28 PM

Is there any benefit to a 400 trans over a 350? Someone told me that the shifts are vac controlled, but does this mean you can't shift manually?

Thanks for the help

David

69ChevySB · 12-11-2003, 10:32 PM

i had a 307/3spd in my 69 shortbed and i recently switched over to a 350/th400 combo...i can shift manually with my b&m floor shifter and the only vacuum line is one hose running from the trans to the intake...however the th400 usually involves an electric kickdown switch

69ChevySB · 12-11-2003, 10:34 PM

also, to answer your first question...the turbo 350 is fine if you have a moderate small block...the 400 is just a more heavy duty transmission and usually is put behind a big block..just a stronger tranny is pretty much it...

griesel72 · 12-11-2003, 10:35 PM

i was considering putting a 454/400 in my 72 2wd, but wanted to be able to shift down with my bm shifter like you have, thanks for the help.

David

**old Rusty C10** · 12-11-2003, 11:10 PM

while i post here and all i have 73+ trucks for now ( always looking for a nice 72) the truck im giving my son is a 76 and its got the 250 I 6 and came from the factory with a 3speed stick on the column. I was thinking of pulling out the standard transmission and replacing it with the th350. After sepaking with the guy who rebuilds all my transmissions ( and this guy is good he does all the airplane tugs at the airport) he said id be better off with the th400 due to the fact that if has more power ( due to the load my trucks pull and with the jackrabbit starts and all the kid will be doin with the truck. its kinda built heavier and would be a better transmission for my application

cableguy0 · 12-11-2003, 11:16 PM

the th350 is great for small blocks making 350 horsepower or so in a truck and over 400 in a nice light car with low gears. i however break a th350 every few months with a 400 horse small block in my heavy truck but im sure my lead foot has a little something to do with that. i need to upgrade to a th400. basically if your going to beat the hell outta the vehicle get a th400 and be done with it

dinnut · 12-12-2003, 01:20 AM

when i do the 383 in my truck im gonna go for a turbo 400 instead of my 350 because they ARE stronger

lukecp · 12-12-2003, 01:30 AM

Also a stock TH400 loves to come out of 1st gear if you manually hold it there around 5000rpms, and do a nasty tire-chirping, neck snapping 1-2 shift.

My favorite thing about TH400's. I wish i had one

sdredneck · 12-12-2003, 01:58 AM

If you performance build a th350 then you can throw atleast 400 hp at them. I am running a 400sb in my 72 blazer with 400+ hp and I have no problems. Plus the th 400 robs the rear wheels of 40 hp. Plus you have to deal with an electric kick down linkage. I know that I like the th 350 in my Blazer better than the TH 400 in my 3/4 ton truck.

**Stocker** · 12-12-2003, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellow72custom
Also a stock TH400 loves to come out of 1st gear if you manually hold it there around 5000rpms, and do a nasty tire-chirping, neck snapping 1-2 shift.

That sure brings back memories. When I was young & foolish, I bought a new '69 El Camino, 396/375 with a TH400. The engine redlined at 6500 rpm, but if you held it in first, it would hit about 6900 before slamming into second - maybe not good for the mechanicals, but it sure felt great!

lukecp · 12-12-2003, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stocker

That sure brings back memories. When I was young & foolish, I bought a new '69 El Camino, 396/375 with a TH400. The engine redlined at 6500 rpm, but if you held it in first, it would hit about 6900 before slamming into second - maybe not good for the mechanicals, but it sure felt great!

We always did it in my friends truck....'76 C10 with a 305 and 3.08 gears. It flat out amazed me how hard that thing would shift with a stock 305 under the hood....i was behind him once and watched him lay a 6' long patch of rubber on the second gear scratch....

I can only imagine what it would be like with a 396/375

Hooter · 12-12-2003, 03:30 AM

turbo 350's will eventually go into second even though youre in 1st we did in in my friends 4.3 van when we were trying to grenade the motor ust have been around 7 grand

12-11-2003, 10:28 PM	#1
griesel72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Howard, Kansas USA Posts: 1,997	th 400 trans Is there any benefit to a 400 trans over a 350? Someone told me that the shifts are vac controlled, but does this mean you can't shift manually? Thanks for the help David __________________ 1969 K10 Custom 10 1997 Z71 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 2006 King Ranch 1980 Wife

12-11-2003, 10:32 PM	#2
69ChevySB dropped69 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grand Canyon State Posts: 120	i had a 307/3spd in my 69 shortbed and i recently switched over to a 350/th400 combo...i can shift manually with my b&m floor shifter and the only vacuum line is one hose running from the trans to the intake...however the th400 usually involves an electric kickdown switch __________________ "And yet I find, yet I find...repeating in my head. If I can't be my own, I feel better dead." -Layne Staley (R.I.P)

12-11-2003, 10:34 PM	#3
69ChevySB dropped69 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grand Canyon State Posts: 120	also, to answer your first question...the turbo 350 is fine if you have a moderate small block...the 400 is just a more heavy duty transmission and usually is put behind a big block..just a stronger tranny is pretty much it... __________________ "And yet I find, yet I find...repeating in my head. If I can't be my own, I feel better dead." -Layne Staley (R.I.P)

12-11-2003, 10:35 PM	#4
griesel72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Howard, Kansas USA Posts: 1,997	i was considering putting a 454/400 in my 72 2wd, but wanted to be able to shift down with my bm shifter like you have, thanks for the help. David __________________ 1969 K10 Custom 10 1997 Z71 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 2006 King Ranch 1980 Wife

12-11-2003, 11:10 PM	#5
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,313	while i post here and all i have 73+ trucks for now ( always looking for a nice 72) the truck im giving my son is a 76 and its got the 250 I 6 and came from the factory with a 3speed stick on the column. I was thinking of pulling out the standard transmission and replacing it with the th350. After sepaking with the guy who rebuilds all my transmissions ( and this guy is good he does all the airplane tugs at the airport) he said id be better off with the th400 due to the fact that if has more power ( due to the load my trucks pull and with the jackrabbit starts and all the kid will be doin with the truck. its kinda built heavier and would be a better transmission for my application __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

12-11-2003, 11:16 PM	#6
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	the th350 is great for small blocks making 350 horsepower or so in a truck and over 400 in a nice light car with low gears. i however break a th350 every few months with a 400 horse small block in my heavy truck but im sure my lead foot has a little something to do with that. i need to upgrade to a th400. basically if your going to beat the hell outta the vehicle get a th400 and be done with it __________________ 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.

12-12-2003, 01:20 AM	#7
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	when i do the 383 in my truck im gonna go for a turbo 400 instead of my 350 because they ARE stronger __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

12-12-2003, 01:30 AM	#8
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Also a stock TH400 loves to come out of 1st gear if you manually hold it there around 5000rpms, and do a nasty tire-chirping, neck snapping 1-2 shift. My favorite thing about TH400's. I wish i had one __________________ '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

12-12-2003, 01:58 AM	#9
sdredneck The Crazy Kracka Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 60	th 400 If you performance build a th350 then you can throw atleast 400 hp at them. I am running a 400sb in my 72 blazer with 400+ hp and I have no problems. Plus the th 400 robs the rear wheels of 40 hp. Plus you have to deal with an electric kick down linkage. I know that I like the th 350 in my Blazer better than the TH 400 in my 3/4 ton truck.

12-12-2003, 03:30 AM	#12
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	turbo 350's will eventually go into second even though youre in 1st we did in in my friends 4.3 van when we were trying to grenade the motor ust have been around 7 grand __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life



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