Thread: trans gears

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have a 85 camaro with a 700r4 transmission. but the trans went out, and i have a spare t350 trans out of a pickup. but i know the gears are not the same, and i dont want the acceleration to be worse, nor do i want the overdrive mileage 2 get any worse. so how would i go about changing them gears to be the same. or what gears could i use to make it possible better. the cars my work car, dream car, grocery getter, and my weekend pride. the motors very mild, just a mild highway cam, alittle tweaking with the q jet, and free flowin exhaust. goin to transform in a year or so, to a weekend warrior, but 4 now want it 2 be a real streetable car. any info would be greatly appreciated.

Can't change a 350 into overdrive. Don't think you can even get ANY other gear ratios that'll fit into a 350 (at least not for normal money). Get another 700 trans from a junkyard or second hand somewhere, they're not difficult to find and don't cost a lot. or, as Streets said, rebuild your old one, but that takes some expertise (which I for one haven't got ) And for the 350 you'll probably have to change your driveshaft. Wouldn't go to those troubles, if I were you.
JMO,
Max

There is an optional gear set to make low gear lower in a TH350, BUT the parts alone are about $500 before labor AND then low gear is still not as low as in a 700R4, so even with the change and expense your low gear response will be less. Further, the TH350 mount is forward of the mount for the 700R4 so you will have to change the mount and the driveshaft may have to be longer(?). Overall it is just easier to repair the 700R4 and might actually be cheaper than changing the low gear in the 350, moving the mount and maybe changing the drive shaft AND losing the OD 4th gear in terms of lost mpg. Note that the 700R4 has a terrific low gear ratio, lower than many stick shift trans!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Summary of above in three words:

Repop the 700/R4.