What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

GMC/Chevy transmission question?

R

RJB44

1/2 ton status
Joined
Dec 3, 2005
Posts
238
Reaction score
1
Location
Northern Virginia
Hi - Can anyone advise me what stock transmission offered by GMC/Chevy was the better choice? TH350, TH400, or TH700r4?


I happen to have a 1991 GMC Jimmy with a TH700r4. Has over 140k and runs great. As far as I know the trans has not been rebulit. Any recommendations on prolonging the life?

Thanks
 
trans cooler, gauge, keep her cool...

kinda ironic that I'm answering this, I blew mine up less than an hr ago coming home from turkey dinner...
 
A '91 should have all the updates to it so Ryoken has the best suggestion in just keeping it cool & a gauge. When it comes to rebuild time there will probably be a few things to consider. Just keep reading the posts on the 700 till then.

Which tranny is best is way too broad of a question. What do you plan to do with it? It's like asking what shoes are best. Running, Army boots or cowboy boots?
 
sheesh, I just crash coursed myself on 700r4 tech for the last hr, and now have a headache...... :doah::(:haha:

corvette servo's, yada, line pressures, yada..... :haha:
 
BKinzey said:
Wouldn't have anything to do with pulling extra payload now would it?:haha::haha:
Click to expand...

haha, nice... :haha:

eh, it had about 150 g's on it... I have actually babied it, keep her cool, etc... I'm praying that somehow the tv just got out of wack.. maybe the tv plunger spring broke or something.. I'll find out in the morn....

if not, I'm researching BTO's vs Raptor, etc now... I'll go with my 205 at this point... just sucks, this is gonna suck up what I have aside for my 1 ton's and SSR's cash... and then some, looking like it's gonna be a 2 g gig.. heck, top of the line Raptor's appear to be about 3 grand...

I'm actually thinking of adding a pressure gauge




atm-5424.jpg



to my arsenal of gauges.. with line pressure also being such a critical thing with the 700r4's, along with heat... not to mention the whole BTO warranty stuff... I'm leaning towards them, but everything I'm reading isn't great on BTO..

anyway, my apologies to the original poster for the hijack... sorta kinda trying to stay on topic here for ya... :o

And I think any of the 3 GM trannies can be built plenty strong... the 400 being the most inherently strong....
 
Thanks for the feedback, Actually it is more like a daily driver (although I don't drive it much during the week) - but it doesn't go off road, just had new paint.
 
my personal opinion on your first question about which is better is the th400 but alot of people like the 700r4 for the overdrive gear on the freeway.

ryoken, one of my buddies replaced his 700r4 with one of the bowtie trannies, he loves that thing but it was like 2500 bucks.
 
what do you think the cost would be to replace the tranny out of a 90 k5 =[ i just blew my yesturday driving home from my hockey game.
 
one of the tranny shops here in town will rebuild an auto for a chevy blazer or truck for like $700 if you pull the tranny out yourself. and its just a basic build, nothing high performance.

most of your cost comes from them pulling and installing your tranny.
 
As far as trannys go stock 700r4 and Th350 are about the same in strength. IMO 700 is better because it has overdrive and a lower first gear. 700s need a good trans cooler and regular fluid changes. TH 400 is the strongest of the trannys you listed but no OD which will knock a few MPGs off a daily driver.

Royken. have you checked GM? you can get a 700R4/4l60 for around 1200. with full warrenty.
Bowies are good trannys
I put a Bowtie stage1 in a buddys truck 4 years ago still running great.
Raptors had a lot of problems years ago but they seem to have gotten them straightened out. havent heard too many bad things about them lately.
I Don't really think you need corvette servo in a truck. Why put a componet that is designed to move /shift a 3K LB sports car in a 5K+lb truck. But that is just my opinion.

Be sure you get a new torque convertor and flush out the cooler good.
 
my quickie understanding of the vette servo is it just gives more surface area for the fluid to push against...

Looks like I'm hooking up with a local builder I know and doing it with him.. best of everything, save a little labor, plus I'll be learning how to do it myself for the future.. The install is no biggie, I've done dozens...

I was amazed to see the range of quality you can go for on a torque converter...
 
just get Haynes tranny rebuild book # 10360 and rebuild it yourself and save $$$. I did just that and still going strong after 3 years and even after mudding and climbing a 45 degree rock face 60 or so high.
 
MA87K5 said:
just get Haynes tranny rebuild book # 10360 and rebuild it yourself and save $$$. I did just that and still going strong after 3 years and even after mudding and climbing a 45 degree rock face 60 or so high.
Click to expand...

Well, basically thats what I'm doing... A few cases of beer and I'll be dong it over his house after work... I'm sure I could walk myself thru it, but it'll be nice having him there to watch over my shoulder.... Dude knows his chit... :bow:

Just roughly looking it over, it looks like absolute top of the line parts are gonna run me about a grand WITHOUT the converter....

I was amazed to see a fancy 5 clutch torque converter can run a grand. :eek1::doah::haha: needless to say, thats one area I'll be going more economical.. :wink1:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom