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I have a question for you tranny experts out there......I presently am running a TH400 with 4.11 gears and am considering replacing the 400 with an O/D unit. I am a bit ignorant when it comes to comparing trannys and am looking for a little more highway friendly transmission. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated......Thanks!
I would suggest checking out a Gear Vendors Overdrive unit. It may be out of your price range and may not, I don't know; but, everything I've seen or heard has them performing better than a 700R or 200R in cars with a bunch of horsepower.
Here's a link to their site:
http://www.gearvendors.com/hotrods.html
The best part is that since it plugs onto the back of your TH400 which may already be built for the strip, it takes the guesswork out of it. Anyway, lotso luck with your search.
Cheers,
Dutch
I like the Gear Vendors suggestion but they are pricey, about $2400 for one for a TH 400.
Yeah, I've checked out Gear Vendors and they are pricey. I had a tranny vendor at the recent Goodguys show here in OC quote me $2500.00 for a 700R4 complete/installed.
The GV unit would turn your TH400 into a 6 speed transmission as you can switch it in and out instantly in any froward gear. I am no fan at all of the 700R4 on any modified SBC's or any BBC's. A built TH400 and GV unit will handle just about all you can give it on the street.
Kitz
I don't know guys, I like the 700R4's for the street. I've had mine in the willys for a year now and it hasn't missed a lick. I really like the low 1st gear and the overdrive allows the 4.10 rear to run down the interstate nicely. I don't know how much power Highbinder has but if its a street car I don't think he will kill it that easliy. And, you can get a good one built for a whole lot less than $2000.
Another thing I don't like about the GV is the added length and weight.
But that is just one man's opinion.
John
How about the 4L80E? It's a T400 with overdrive.
Real HEAVEY though, but pretty buuletproof.:)
IMO, The weight? I don't think that is even a starter. If you have one (700R4) in a blown motor you either don't have a heavy foot or you have one of the very few good ones, or you have very few miles. I've seen them self destruct time and time again on much lesser motors. IMO you are surely blessed. :LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by 41willys
The 80e is a good unit but VERY expensive.
I don't know, there's many ways to skin this cat but for my money I'll take the bullet proof TH400 and GV unit, and 6 speeds ................
Kitz
Is it for the roadster? How much horse power? If just for cruizing the street and jumping on it every now and then and not beating the S--- out of it the 200R fits well and will handle 350hp without any problem.
You might want to check out this website www.transmissioncenter.net if it's for a 700R4 they have it,and plenty of good info also.
Yeah, it's for the roadster. No more than 350 HP. It would be just for cruisin' and like you say, jumpin' on it now and again. A friend of mine just put a 200R4 in his car behind a blown sbc and he likes it. Between the two trannys, the 700 and the 200, is there a clear deciding factor that makes one better than the other? Thanks for all your comments.Quote:
Originally Posted by jpelli
Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffB2
Hey thanks Jeff, a lot of neat info on that site.
You hear a lot more about people having the 700's and not much about the 200's, but a lot of folks I know have the 200's in their cars (none over 400HP) and they all swear by them. It would be a good choice in cruiser with a little extra for redlight challenges.:D
Hey kits, I have the 700 and it has been bullit proof for 6 years. AWD for traction and 525hp motor and 225 button, no problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by kitz
Wheels in the air and 10 sec trap times. It shifts flawlessly at 6800 rpm.
TyoonZR, thanks for the encouragement! I went with a 700R4 from the "Eat My Shift" guys in Florida but I do not have it running yet. Since I probably will have only 250 HP with a mild 350 SBC the upgraded 700R4 should be OK for me.
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder
K, TyphoonZR is the proper spelling. I really don't want to hurt you!Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Shillady
TyphoonZR, OK. Anyway you sure have wrung out the 700R4.
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder
Haha, Don, the most common question I get asked is, "is your drive train stock", and I can tell them yes, except for my rear end, I installed a *cough other name brand 8.8 inch*. Obviously I rebuilt the tranny with a little taco sauce, but yea, it is pretty ok!Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Shillady
It is installed in a S-15 Jimmy which I have gutted to 3400 Cdn lbs, AWD, with four drag radials, one at each corner, I can launch on the street with the juice and not break loose! Not even crotch rockets have a chance on the street, on the hwy it is a different story, I would need a two stage gizmo.!
But yea, the 700 is a great tool.
Oh, one more thing Don, imagine this, 4.10 rear end gears, 3.06 first gear, 3000 stall, 26 inch tires, and being able to nail it out of the traps! hahahah!
What kind of AWD components are you using that will stand up to that level of performance????? By "225 button", do you mean adding a 225 hp shot of nitrous???? Curious what AWD components will take that kind of punishment?????Quote:
Originally Posted by TyphoonZR
The AWD unit is out of a Safari/Astro Van, #4421 Borg Warner(I think). Yes, NOS, it is the set-up like the Typhoons and Syclones in the early nineties, except with a SBC 400 rather than the 4.3 turbo. The 7.5 dif doesn't stand a chance tho.:LOL: :LOL: Yep, I tried that twice, hehehe! You see, when you stand it on the rear two, it just shatters.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
The Viscous coupling in the transfer case takes the abuse, strange, a 4 wheel drive transfer case is too unforgiving!
I've actually driven home on my front dif alone, hehehe!
What gear ratio? Had no idea the front drive components would hold up... Do you drive it as and AWD, or go down the street on just the rear differential?????
TyphoonZR we are far apart in time and space but I recall the same attitude. My brain and experience is smaller but I am still calibrated on the old 59AB with a 3.78 rear and I liked to just keep it in low gear, wind it up and hold it there. The problem is/was if you hit a bump, teeth tended to come off of low gear (three times!). Anyway with that calibration in my head and memories I chose a 3.55 8" Ford rear so with the 3.06 low gear I figure I still have a lower ratio overall with the 3.55 and the 3.06 low gear with a bigger engine now. Anyway that setup is well within the limits you have "street tested". Hey, I remember testosterone! There was a time when I thought a '49 Merc was the maximum for the street , then a '56 Olds 88 but then my Dad bought a '69 Nova with a 350 and that is still my gut calibration so I am just trying to get back to the 350 SBC experience and that will be enough for me. According to your setup my beefed up 700R4 should be up to the task.
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder
4.10, so far so good and yes, I drive it as AWD all the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
I have no idea what you are talkin about, I am an old man, 57 years old.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Shillady
Buddy, imagine being able to nail it with 300 hp on snow and not spinning!Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Shillady
Hey, then hit it with 525 hp with wipers on fast and still running a 12 second trap time.
Then imagine hitting it with 750 hp on dry and running 10's on the street at any light with no warm up of the tires.
It's pretty ok!hahah, my ride is notorious in this part of the world.
On another note, I would love to buy a used Gear Vendor OD for another project, namely a 7.4 dually for towing.
It's a whole different thing to drive awd with power, my brother has a Mitsubishi 300 VR4 (4wheel drive & 4wheel steer) with 3.0 thats 750ish hp with our twin turbo's and no spray.
Pat
Not only is the 80 an expensive trans, it requires an expensive controller.Quote:
How about the 4L80E? It's a T400 with overdrive.