Drivetrain questions

[swettysblazer]

I have a lead on a parts truck with some goodies in it. Its got a 396, TH-400, and one ton axles. My main question is, will the 396 bolt up to my existing tranny? I have a 700R4. My other question is, is it even worth it to hook it up to the 700? I know the turbo 400 is a pretty stout tranny and its been in the truck for a while. Even at that, would it be easier just to swap my Blazer body onto the truck frame? The only thing with the blazer is I have my lift and everything else already installed and the frame is solid.

 

[4X4HIGH]

The engine will bolt up to the 700 just fine, you just need to make sure the TV cable gets hooked up and SET correctly. Depending how if the 396 is built up at all or stock will determine if the 700 will survive. Then again if the 700 has been beefed up you should be ok either way.

Truck and Blazer frames are different and while you can make anything work with time and money i wouldn't worry about trying to swap the blazer tub onto the truck frame.

 

[ryoken]

what he said... plus, keep in mind gears... a 400 likes different gears than a 700, if your blazer is geared well now...

 

[swettysblazer]

Ok thanks. I was not too sure about the transmission, and especially cause I just put some money into it not too long ago. Also most likely if i do get this truck ill be putting the axles into it too.

 

[76zimmer]

and the snowball begins....

 

[swettysblazer]

If all of this does happen, I would have to convert the truck from TBI to carburetor correct? What are the major things i would have to convert?

 

[ryoken]

if this is a street driven truck in Jersey, you'll never get it through inspection...

 

[76zimmer]

That would be the easiest way.
The BBC parts can be had, to make it TBI, the 454 had them for a few years, but I'm not sure how compatible they would be on a 396 (maybe) closed chamber head engine.

 

[4X4HIGH]

If all of this does happen, I would have to convert the truck from TBI to carburetor correct? What are the major things i would have to convert?

The donor truck is TBI? If so then someone swapped the 396 into it since a 396 hasn't been built for about the last 40 years. I would be leary of what was done to this donor truck at this point.

 

[swettysblazer]

if this is a street driven truck in Jersey, you'll never get it through inspection...

Really? The truck that its coming off of was street legal

 

[swettysblazer]

The donor truck is TBI? If so then someone swapped the 396 into it since a 396 hasn't been built for about the last 40 years. I would be leary of what was done to this donor truck at this point.

Sorry, my fault, my truck is TBI. Answered my own question haha

 

[ryoken]

well, i'm not exactly sure what your talking about here.. if your talking about putting a 396 in a blazer that had TBI, it'll be illegal...

 

[swettysblazer]

well, i'm not exactly sure what your talking about here.. if your talking about putting a 396 in a blazer that had TBI, it'll be illegal...

Thats what i was talking about. Ok, thanks for the info. The truck definitely needs to be driven on the street, as of right now it is my only form of transportation.

 

[ryoken]

yeah, if it had a small block, it needs to stay a small block... if it where that simple, I'd have put a 502 in mine a long time ago.... thus why my 87 is getting as nasty a FI 383 that i can do...

 

[swettysblazer]

Ok thats definitely a good thing to know. Me and my dad weren't sure if it would be legal. Thanks a lot. So i guess now the question is which motor. haha