Trans/TC Options

[bridgeguy]

I'm looking for opinions into my available options.

Currently, I have a '74 K5 with a 350/350/203 drivetrain. I also have a totaled (moderate front side impact) '85 K5 with a 350/700/241 drivetrain. My intent is to pull the 700, rebuild it with the better parts, and put it into the '74. Eventually, I hope to build a doubler for the '74 using the 203 and finding a 205 and the appropriate parts but that is down the road aways.

Does it make more sense to rebuild the 241 and put that in the '74 as a unit with the 700 (since I have the driveshafts for that combo) or should I rebuild the 203 and fit that behind the 700 and get new driveshafts? The nice part is that I live about 20 miles from HAD so new driveshafts are not going to be a major deal other than the money.

The downside is that if I use the 203 with the 700, I have to find another 203 or down the '74 if/when I ever get to getting a doubler involved.

I've been researching this and the number of options is overwhelming so I'm looking for some input from y'all regarding all these choices.

 

[RaisedK5]

Until you are ready to do a doubler, i'd use the 700/241 better low range. have the 700 build by a reputable shop and you shouldn't have any problems. the only drawback to this is that when you do finaly do a doubler, if thats what you want in the long term, you'll have to have a short output shaft put in the 700 to bolt it to a 203.

 

[79chevyk10]

In order to use the 700R4 with a doubler set up 203/205 combo, you need to use a different/shorter output shaft out of the 700R4 to use it with a 203 range box. So unless you know how to do auto trans work, you will have to pay someone twice to go into it and swap out the output shafts. Although the 700R4/NP241 is a better crawl ratio than the TH350/NP203 set up, it might be cheaper in the long run to live with what you got and save up and do the 700R4/203/205 combo. Not to mention you'll have to rework the drivelines each time also.

 

[gauder]

I'd go with the 241 also. You could also pick up a 4:1 kit for the 241 and skip the doubler all together.

 

[mrhoes]

I heard that the 4:1 for the 241 doesnt last very long behind a v8