15 replies to this topic

[Struggler]

I'm all for it, it will be faster over the 1/4 with any auto and easier on the drivetrain.

JMHO

[LXCHEV]

If you're leaning towards drag racing and a bit of street cruising - a T350 will be great. It's one of those things if built right once, you'll never have to touch it again.

I love the T350 behind my 383 Chev. I use the car for regular street driving, heaps of cruising, long distance trips, as well as heaps of drag racing and performance car events (it gets a fair workout). Years and years of trouble-free service, I'm stoked.

Of course, you'll get lots of manual-die-hards saying don't do it... so at the end of the day, it's all personal preference.

I think, from a maintenance / allowing your girl to drive it / practicality and user-friendliness point of view you cannot go wrong with a good strong T350. There's a reason they are so popular.

[mr5000]

i love manuals but unless ya got some cash to throw around autos work out cheaper

[gtrboyy]

TH400 has a much larger different slip yoke than the th350,th700 & trimatic use.

I've driven cars with manualised autos & big stallies,quite liked them in the cars they were in.Have even put an auto in my lc not that long ago only to realise that this car should go back to being be a manual car,has been for twelve of the thirteen years I've owned it so will put a manual back in when I get the chance.

You got a price for that toploader set up?

Edited by gtrboyy, 21 April 2008 - 11:50 PM.

[ls2lxhatch]

The TH350 is smaller than the TH400 and will fit without tunnel mods. The cable shifters from the Statesman do not fit without tunnel mods but the rod linkage shifters from the Kingswood, Premier & GTS will fit without problems.

The TH700 would also be worth considering if you plan to cruise the Hwy. They can be built to handle 700+ hp.

[LS1LX]

Mate put a $100 service kit thru the TH400, add a stall converter and away you go.

No need to spend $2000 on the TH350, a stock TH400 freshly serviced will still be stronger then any TH350, all day every day.

Just modify the tunnel.

[antelopeslr5000]

Toploaders are now rare as rocking horse shit so if I snap it, i'm up the creek big time.

I read somewhere that new Toploaders are available, pretty sure it was either AMC or Street Machine magazine that I read it in.

[Struggler]

Yes the T400 is big and heavy and sucks HP but it will work OK and won't be stressed.

The only T400's I have put in LH/X's have been behind 308's and have only needed floor massaging to fit an OE shifter. Cable shifters fit without needing the floor touched at all. This may or may not be the case with a SBC.

As suggested, fit a shift kit and filter to your T400, get the bands adjusted, fit it and have a go. You will need to get the tailshaft shortened (don't forget to get it rebalanced !!) and a new uni to suit your diff. You have everything else.

I used a T400 for a while in my tonner. It was a stocker with a convertor and shift kit and worked fine. I later swapped it for a 'glide and picked up some MPH and a bit of ET but the 60' slowed. The T400 was a better street box (still had auto in drive).

Get a good cooler and fit a deep pan and it will live. At least this way you get your junk mobile and see how you like the 3 speed.

JMHO

[antelopeslr5000]

Try LA Motor Repairs.

More info at David Knee Toploader Transmissions.

Or don't bother if you've already decided to go auto!

[gtrboyy]

UDLOSE:I'm looking for a g/box,bellhousing to suit a turbo pattern 308,hydraulic clutch set up etc to fit into my lc.

I still have a th400 still sitting in my garage that I wont be using,should sell it to make room lol.

[marko1au]

hope this helps ,lx torana ,350 chev, t400 trans, cable shifter, no mods whatsoever to trans tunnel, does have modified cross member to mount gearbox,does have hole in top of tunnel for shifter cable, gearbox has had overhaul manual shift kit installed 3500 - 4000 converter.

mark