Thread: 700r-4

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Well, I made my decision. The first Camaro is going to get a 350 turbo instead of the 700R-4. Anyway, the trans doesn't have reverse, but is definitely a buildable core. If anybody needs one, make me a REASONABLE offer and it'll be yours......


PS----Anybody got an idea what these 700's are worth as core value?????

FWIW, personally I think you chose wisely

Now go get you that Gear Vendors OD unit that grows on trees!

Kitz

Dave,

Please understand that I'm not knocking your choice by any means here. I'm not a really a big fan of the 700R behind a bunch of horsepower and personally would agree that you're making a better choice going the way you are.

That being said, is the choice for a TH350 simply a matter of availability? Maybe it's just my own prejudices; but wouldn't a TH400 be a better choice? If not, I'm curious as to why. I'm really only asking the question to hear your (and for that matter, other's) opinions on the matter, not to try to sway you or anyone else one way or the other.

Cheers,
Dutch

Originally Posted by kitz

FWIW, personally I think you chose wisely

Now go get you that Gear Vendors OD unit that grows on trees!

Kitz

Allready called them..... Not out of the question yet...

Originally Posted by Firechicken

Dave,

Please understand that I'm not knocking your choice by any means here. I'm not a really a big fan of the 700R behind a bunch of horsepower and personally would agree that you're making a better choice going the way you are.

That being said, is the choice for a TH350 simply a matter of availability? Maybe it's just my own prejudices; but wouldn't a TH400 be a better choice? If not, I'm curious as to why. I'm really only asking the question to hear your (and for that matter, other's) opinions on the matter, not to try to sway you or anyone else one way or the other.

Cheers,
Dutch

Dutch, got a good price on a 350 and guaranteed to take the torque... Main reason, my tranny guy sez a well built 350 will take almost as much abuse as a 400 and it costs a little less and weighs a bunch less. The other Camaro will have a 5 or 6 speed as it should have!!! I don't like automatics, but this one is for my significant other who doesn't want to have to shift......

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Dutch, got a good price on a 350 and guaranteed to take the torque... Main reason, my tranny guy sez a well built 350 will take almost as much abuse as a 400 and it costs a little less and weighs a bunch less. The other Camaro will have a 5 or 6 speed as it should have!!! I don't like automatics, but this one is for my significant other who doesn't want to have to shift......

Excellent. Glad to hear you got a deal on the 350 I see your logic and would imagine that depending on how your significant other drives it, it really shouldn't be a problem.

As for the auto vs. manual thing, I hear you, it's automatics for my bride as well. She probably wouldn't mind shifting near as much as I would mind replacing clutches all the time...

Actually, she's a very good driver and it really wouldn't be a problem at all; but, I know she likes the automatics a bunch more.

Cheers,
Dutch

Originally Posted by Firechicken

Excellent. Glad to hear you got a deal on the 350 I see your logic and would imagine that depending on how your significant other drives it, it really shouldn't be a problem.

As for the auto vs. manual thing, I hear you, it's automatics for my bride as well. She probably wouldn't mind shifting near as much as I would mind replacing clutches all the time...

Cheers,
Dutch

Man, I don't have a bride!!!! Tried that a couple times and found Hot Rods a lot easier to live with!!! This is a girlfriend, gonna build the car for her, first time it scares the heck out of her then she'll sell it and pay me parts and labor, keep the balance. We've done this in the past a number of times, works out quite well....

Originally Posted by Firechicken

Maybe it's just my own prejudices; but wouldn't a TH400 be a better choice?

but the turbo 400 weights more and takes more horsepower

My little 350 has a shift kit and I have been abusing the hell out of it for 2 years and it hasn't leaked a drop of oil nor failed to shift hard even when hot. I will stand behind it as tough.

Originally Posted by gassersrule_196

but the turbo 400 weights more and takes more horsepower

It does weigh more, which is a disadvantage. I would also agree that the 400 takes more hp to turn....however it also takes more hp fed abuse and survives....

I no everyone says It weighs more ,but how much more?

You can get them all to handle 1000 horse power,with enough money.Which will be the cheapest to get max horsepower?

I really have no idea, I would imagine the 400 can take the most horsepower but like I said, I don't know squat about automatics and don't like them anyway!!!! Tranny shop will warranty the 350 for the torque the engine will be making and that's good enough for me. As for the wieght, not sure but somewhere I've heard the 400 is about 30 pounds heavier. With a nip here and a tuck there I've managed to take about 130 pounds off the car, hate to give it all back on the trans and converter.....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I don't know squat about automatics and don't like them anyway!!!! .....

AMEN

My TH400 (which is a BOP bell housing pattern and a short shaft) weighs about 190 lbs (I think the shipping sticker quoted it at 188lbs).

From what I have heard and read, the TH400 eats up about an extra 15-20 HP over the 350 due to the extra weight in the rotating assy. The fact that the rotating assy is heavier though also makes it more durable which is the trade off (and also why I chose it, obviously not that that makes it the better choice, just why I did it). The weak points of the 350 is supposedly the sprag and the output shaft.

With a shift kit, a 350 can be built to take some torture. In a stock set-up though behind the kind of torque a big block can produce, is IMO begging for it to grenade. GM put the 400's in stock with big blocks to handle the extra torque.

In reality if an auto is going to be used for racing, an aluminum power glide is I believe, the way to roll. There is much less parasitic loss in a glide than really about any other auto and they weigh less too. They just don't have the lower first gear. But, like anything else, you would have to add some after market goodies to make them live.

I too prefer manuals if all out performance is what I am after, they don't eat up all the HP that the auto's do. Also, to me, they are lot more fun to drive as long as your not in stop and go traffic all the time...

the 700r4 was suppose to be a new, improved 400.