Sorry to hear about your tranny's early demise. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I have a "rebuilt" TH400 in my 82 diesel K20,and I hope it doesnt crap out--I have little faith in "rebuilt" anything,that was not done at a professional shop--most likely mine was either "rebuilt" in someones backyard,or they just threw a new filter and gasket and modulator in it and said it was rebuilt--this was done before I bought the truck,supposedly it has very low mileage since then,,time will tell how long it will last--I've had several TH400 and TH350's over the years,so have many of my friends--despite the TH400's bullet proof reputation,I've managed to kill more of them than the TH350's,and a few of my friends had issues with their TH400's too--maybe they arent as great as they say they are--the only TH350's I had problems with was one in a 72 K5 that would not go into "drive" right away in the mornings until the motor warmed up,and the one in my 74 K20 that suddenly lost reverse with no warning--it just wont go in reverse(or the clutches are in the pan!)--its weird,the tranny worked fine when I parked it,it sat a month or two,then I went to move it and no reverse--the tranny was low on fluid,but filling it up made no difference. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.I was not a huge fan of the SM465's wide gap between second and third gear,its like driving a dump truck instead of a K truck--but at least the truck moves when you let out the clutch!.I also learned the SM465 had problems with snap rings breaking off the mainshaft,making it likely to jump out of gear--many plow trucks here had that problem,and its not an easy fix--to do it right the tranny needs to come out and gutted...I was hoping GM would start using a manual tranny that was better suited for daily on -off road use(like the one I missed at the boneyard ,the overdrive one from a diesel pickup /forums/images/graemlins/angryfire.gif).I have been tempted to crack open one of the blown 4x4 TH350's I have in my shed for cores and attempt to rebuild one myself,but after looking at the exploded diagrams,I dont feel I am talented enough to do it--and I think you need a few special tools to do it.
I'm not a big fan of automatics either--but thats what they put in 90% of GM trucks it seems--their manual trannys arent that bad,but are geared all wrong for street use--but I guess the manual is the least of the 2 evils!.I always liked the "PowerGlide" tranny's,simple,durable,but only 2 speeds,--I wonder why chevy never used one in a 4x4?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif