Best Tranny for all around use.

[89GMCSuburban]

That's why I say 4L80E...TH400 strength with overdrive.

 

[jekbrown]

yeah, but isnt the 4L80E computer controlled? I like having the absolutely lowest number of computers and computer controlled stuff on a rig as is possible...

j

 

[Ryan B.]

I voted NV4500. Thats my next tranny and i'll finally call it "done".

I've burned up th350's in my blazer and th400's in my camaro.. They can last years and hold up good, but eventually a slushbox will go out on you.
I swapped a 465 into my k5 and love it, other than for racing and shifting fast. The NV4500 will be good for that.
With my experience if a manual starts to go out, usually you can limp it home.. With an auto ususally you're screwed when it gives out.

 

[3 on the tree]

Air cooled Powerglide. Can be built to handle an INSANE amount of power. No tranny lines to leak, no tranny fluid to monitor/change.

 

[Jonny-K5]

Air cooled Powerglide. Can be built to handle an INSANE amount of power. No tranny lines to leak, no tranny fluid to monitor/change.

sounds great if your only driving a 1/4 mile at a time.

since people are picking trannys that arent even in the pole, my vote is for the new allison 6spd. you can shoehorn that into a blazer right??

 

[dogdaysunrise]

I voted nv4500, buy I would chose the 700r. Built right and its pretty tough. Just get a temp guage and make sure she dont get hot, and she will last a long time.

 

[2High4U]

I chose the sm465 because it doesnt rob power like the auto's do and they dont slip as much as the auto\tourque converter setup ever since I got rid of mine I regretted it awsome gearing and a very heavy duty feel

 

[8_YOUR_H2]

TH350

Because they are so cheap and easy to find. I have 3 sitting around I got for free.

 

[crash1369]

i guess by asking this im going to expose my lack of truck knowledge but what are you guys talking about when you say dd, and does anybody know what tranny i have, its an 88 k5 it does have over drive so is it the 700r4? i cant wait till i can change it to a stick though, not sure which but itll be manualk eventually. i like the 6spd idea mentiond above but i think the longer gears from like a 4spd might be better suited to this style truck and off roading and such.

 

[perp]

dd = daily driver

 

[micah]

NV4500 would be best all around i'd say... good crawl gear while still having OD, safe for towing, and longevity.

not listed, is the 700 which would be my choice for an auto (unless $$ for a 4l80e is available).

 

[73k5blazer]

Plus they use an internal slave cylinder on the newer ones->less stuff haning out to hangup on or break.

Ira

THose internal cylinders suck. Nothing like have to remove your transmission and transfer case just to change a $30 part, with 50% clutch remaining. In theory it's sounds great, compact, simpler. In practice, it's no good. In my '97 K2500 with Nv4500, the slave has gone twice now. at 80k mi, with lots of clutch life left, blew out (leaking) I replaced it. Then I did clutch at 140k, and put a new slave in out of fear. at 175k, slave out again, clutch still looks new. I'm using the GM slave too, not a cheapy parts store version. I just got lucky both times too I noticed it right away and there was no fluid on the clutch disc. It would be very easy after a 1/2 day of clutching on a leaky cylinder to ruin your perfectly good clutch.

 

[benchseat4speed]

465 for sure. Both my Blazers have 'em and I love having that 6.5:1 first gear. Reduction in an automatic sucks and it isn't nearly as strong. Plenty of people can make a good argument for an automatic so it just depends on preference, and I prefer a stick. Kevin

 

[Inu-Hanyou1776]

700r4 as well. I HATE automatics on the street, but for usage on the trails around here (Tellico for example) I would enjoy not having to constantly dance my foot on the clutch. So, if I was to build a rig that would be my daily driver and trail vehicle, I'd go with an automatic fitted with a reverse-manual valvebody so I could get the benefits of having a torque converter while still being able to shift my own gears.

EDIT - I voted th350 on the poll since the 700r4 wasn't on the list. If I had to go with a non-overdrive tranny I'd choose the TH350 since it's lighter and doesn't require as much power to turn as a TH400.

 

[blazin_blazer]

depends on use

in mud with sm 465, if you need some more momentum you clutch it to grab a gear and she sinks....i had stick searched for along time to find a th400/np205 adaptor...need momentum..now i just mash the loud pedal

 

[beastofablaze]

Air cooled Powerglide. Can be built to handle an INSANE amount of power. No tranny lines to leak, no tranny fluid to monitor/change.

Monster trucks run a built th400... thats 2000 hp, 10,000 pounds and 66 inch tires.... nough said.

4l80e is the way to go if you want od... just as industructable as the th400 but with od.

The 465 is cool but I like the way an auto tranny sets you back in the seat without gaps between gears(shift kits are a must)... and you don't have to worry about clutching on steep hills or trying to shift fast in mud.

I run a built 700r4 with the corvette kit... shifts real high and firm if I stand on it and I like being able to run 4.88's without sacrifing much gas mileage...

OD and low first gear is a very good thing to have but it will break before a th400 or 4l80e. Still a built 700r4 will handle gobs of power and rompin if its built right.

Yeah it will suck up 30 hp to the ground but the gear ratios and quick shifts of a 700r will always win a drag race with a sm465. Its all personal opinion and what you'll be using it for. SM465 would be better for towing and rock crawling but would struggle on hills and mud because of long intervals between shifts.

Do you research for your application and all will be fine.

 

[Geargrinder]

SM465. It's bomb proof It's not eating up 30HP just to turn it It's got a trail hero 1st gear and there are no issues with "keep it cool" or "go eazy on the long peddal" or "use biger better parts when you re-build it"

I am verry happy for all U guys that have a WORKING 700R4, all the guys I know personaly (my self inc.) have 700R4's. They are ALL DEAD!I would love an NV4500, but hey, if my SM465 ever quits (not likley) I can get replacment @ the 'yard for $95

 

[beastofablaze]

SM465. It's bomb proof It's not eating up 30HP just to turn it It's got a trail hero 1st gear and there are no issues with "keep it cool" or "go eazy on the long peddal" or "use biger better parts when you re-build it"

I am verry happy for all U guys that have a WORKING 700R4, all the guys I know personaly (my self inc.) have 700R4's. They are ALL DEAD!I would love an NV4500, but hey, if my SM465 ever quits (not likley) I can get replacment @ the 'yard for $95

LOL sounds like you had a bad experience.

 

[crash1369]

i was just reading this for the hell of it, but now its looking like it'll pay off i am getting suspicious of my stupid auto i guess it'll be time for a stick sooner then i thought i only had this thing for a week, oh well

 

[hack500]

sm465's are not completely bomb-proof. I've seen a couple blown up... as in broken shafts and stripped gears.