AMC TH400 or GM TH350

HotJimmy

I am thinking of going Auto in my jeep cj-7. I was wondering what everyone's opions on running a GM th350 or AMC th400 tranny. I already have an adapter for the gm th350. I have heard that the 400 trans steals a lot more power from your motor than a 350. true? :-| I have a healthy 401 to push it. whatcha all think???

pyagid

IIRC the th400 uses 30 - 40hp to work. I am not sure about the TH350. They are both good trannys but the 400 is a heavier duty, and may hold up to the 401 better -Paul

tarior

Heck, if you already have an adaptor, why not run a 700R4? :t:

jeepsr4ever

tarior wrote
Heck, if you already have an adaptor, why not run a 700R4? :t:

:wink:

Mudrat

jeepsr4ever wrote
tarior wrote
Heck, if you already have an adaptor, why not run a 700R4? :t:

:wink:

I like this thought :? May have a deal on a 700R4 to put behind my 360 :lo1l:
What all is needed (part number or mfr) to make it work? And which x-fer case? I've been look'n for a 208 so I can part time the front hubs ...

tarior

You need a bell housing adaptor and a flexplate. Advance Adaptors (http://www.advanceadapters.com/jeep.html )has flexplates that allow you to bolt the GM torque converter right to your 360, and for like $61 plus shipping CHEAP! The adaptor is like $345 IIRC. Then all I think you need is a 700R4 out of a chevy 4X4. It seems like '86 was the last year for Chevy to have a 4X4 with manual hubs. I don't know when the first year was for the 700R4 in a 4wd. This is of course taking for granted that the trans xmember and drivelines that you already have will work. Kinda hard to tell until you get the trans in place. :-|
I hope this is helpful. :wink:

Mudrat

tarior wrote
You need a bell housing adaptor and a flexplate. Advance Adaptors (http://www.advanceadapters.com/jeep.html )has flexplates that allow you to bolt the GM torque converter right to your 360, and for like $61 plus shipping CHEAP! The adaptor is like $345 IIRC. Then all I think you need is a 700R4 out of a chevy 4X4. It seems like '86 was the last year for Chevy to have a 4X4 with manual hubs. I don't know when the first year was for the 700R4 in a 4wd. This is of course taking for granted that the trans xmember and drivelines that you already have will work. Kinda hard to tell until you get the trans in place. :-|
I hope this is helpful. :wink:

Thanks Tarior - no cross member, no drive shafts so no problem ... right :shock: I guess I should double ccheck and make sure it's a 4x4 -700R :roll:

thanks
Pat

tarior

Mudrat wrote
tarior wrote
You need a bell housing adaptor and a flexplate. Advance Adaptors (http://www.advanceadapters.com/jeep.html )has flexplates that allow you to bolt the GM torque converter right to your 360, and for like $61 plus shipping CHEAP! The adaptor is like $345 IIRC. Then all I think you need is a 700R4 out of a chevy 4X4. It seems like '86 was the last year for Chevy to have a 4X4 with manual hubs. I don't know when the first year was for the 700R4 in a 4wd. This is of course taking for granted that the trans xmember and drivelines that you already have will work. Kinda hard to tell until you get the trans in place. :-|
I hope this is helpful. :wink:

Thanks Tarior - no cross member, no drive shafts so no problem ... right :shock: I guess I should double ccheck and make sure it's a 4x4 -700R :roll:

thanks
Pat

Of course, if you really want to start laying out $, you could use a 2WD trans, and a divorced t-case (I don't know what kind, just have to look around) with an underdrive between them :lo1l:
The Gear Vendors units are nice, but VERY expensive. I know that Spicer made, and may still make an under/overdrive unit, but I don't know the model #. A friend of mine has one laying on his shop floor, I'm trying to talk him out of it, I'll post pics if I get it.

Mudrat

tarior wrote
Of course, if you really want to start laying out $, you could use a 2WD trans, and a divorced t-case (I don't know what kind, just have to look around) with an underdrive between them :lo1l:

aint that much room for a divorced T-case in a CJ7 :t:

tarior

Oh, yeah, I was thinking in terms of my long bed FSJ. There's enough room under there for a trans, t-case, under/overdrive, carrier bearing, and probably a small village of pygmies. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

eight

Why not a tf727 with a d300 bolted to it?

Mudrat

eight wrote
Why not a tf727 with a d300 bolted to it?

Well w/the 300 that could be me - but I don't know what HotJimmy has in mind...

BTT

Mudrat

Dusty

eight wrote
Why not a tf727 with a d300 bolted to it?

Im not a big fan of the T350 the T400 is a good tranny but the 727 IF done correctly is a damn good piece of aluminium for a slush box and you can put the D300 right up behind it. the 700 R4 requires a healthy build blue clutch packs and such.

A buddy of mine is in the process of putting a built 700R4 behind his mildly built 401 in a 77 cherokee tow rig with 35's, D44/D60 and 4.88 gears. the T400 works fine but the Q trac keep shelling out seals. and he figures if he is going to spend the cash on changing to a different tcase adding an OD at the same time sure would be handy

HotJimmy

A 700r4 would be nice and I'll start looking around for one. The reason i was interested in the 400 or 350 was for saving some $$$. The 727 would also be nice, but expensive to find one not already toast and to have it built 'right'. I have a q-track th400 in another donor vehicle and gm th350's are cheap as dirt. Also I have a np205 for a 350 already. and a few th400 jeep d20's. Right now I am leaning towards the 400. I think it will be cheapest to do and most reliable. Really I'm not sure if I am even going to switch yet because I love my manual tranny, but this jeep is my sand, mud, street jeep and an auto would be faster :?

Dusty

727's were pretty easy to come by in 80's waggoneers, most i have nabbed werent toast and worked pretty well where in Nor Cal are you?

HotJimmy

I'm in the foothills, but work in the SF Bay area. I talked to a few friends who have a 727in their CJ5's and they love them, but said if it does go out the case is usually wasted. Said it happened once to him with his 401. As for finding one, I don't think it will be too hard. Wagoneers are pretty common in the wrecking yards out here

Mudrat

Jimmy how's your project?

I picked up my 360 on Fri and started cleaning the shop for the R&R with the I-6. I'm still looking for a reliable tranny (don't think the 5-spd Tremec will hold up.

So when I was at the shop today I asked Raleigh about the TH400 he has on the floor (and has been there - at least 6-7 months) It's on consignment said he'll give the guy a call on his lowest price. There are a couple things I'm not sure of ...
1) It's got an 8,000 stall converter - is that a bad thing :wink:
2) It's only a 3spd :?:
3) Installed in a restoration for about 3 months, and ran fine when pulled.
The owner replaced it with the OEM tranny when he sold the car on E-bay (it was a full frame off resto that Raleighs company did and the OEM tranny was part matched to the car - owner got close to $100K for the car) so I'm looking at the 'left over' tranny
4) Oh yea ... It was built by TCI :t:

So, I need what to make this work?
$700
The tranny/t-case adaptor (Novak P/N 134)
block::belhousing ?
An extra 12-14" in frame length

Is it even worth considering?

jeepsr4ever

You will need the chevy to AMC bellhousing adaptor plate and the tranny to T-case adaptor

Lifted79CJ7

I say just go ahead and get what you want - a 700R4 from TCI. Trust me, not having the overdrive blows. I had a TH400 in my last Jeep, and while it was almost bombproof in such a small vehicle, I always wanted a overdrive. If you are gonna go 3 speed auto, then just grab a 727 from a waggy - no adapters needed for your 360//dana 300 setup - that's what I am running and you have enough lift that clearance won't be a problem. Just my .02 Jack Oh yeah, and that motor sure is purty!!

Mudrat

Lifted79CJ7 wrote
Oh yeah, and that motor sure is purty!!

PURTY? PURTY!! It's freaking GEORGIOUS (and paid for) - I'm not gunna run it I'm gunna FRAME it :shock: 8)
Yeah, I know about the overdrive thing. I'm hoping the 5-spd holds up long enough to get the $$$ to get a stout tranny with over drive ... NV3550?? I like jamming gears, but I like to drink coffee while I do, so maybe a slush box ultimately???

Pat