if GIVEN a choice between a TH350 and a TH400 for any car I build or drive?, given that the price is the same or nearly the same in my mind, its a total no brainer Id get the TH400, simply because its only a bit heavier but significantly stronger and less likely to break, and yes its true it will absorb a bit more hp internally due to those larger components, BIG DEAL! you can have a larger safety margin once you start modifing the engine!
the th350 in factory form is designed for about 100 ft lbs less torque than the TH400 is built to handle.
both can be modified, but the th400 will always have a strength advantage if built to similar levels
you can get a TH400 too live happily behind engines that would twist up and puke parts in hours if mounted to a TH350
just remember to install a large trans cooler with electric fan on either trans and keep the fluid levels correct, do something correctly the first time with parts and components that have a significant safety margin and you don,t need to do it over again at further expence later.
any truthful trans shop will tell you the TH400 has a strenght advantage over the TH350, G.M. installed the TH400 behind some impressive big block combos in heavy applications and not the TH350 for a reason!
http://www.tciauto.com/Products/GM/gm_t ... ic_400.asp
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70320
http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/005249.html
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/for ... 41360.html
making up a few extra flywheel hp so that the th400 rear wheel hp equals the results from a TH350 is far easier than replacing the transmission should it fail!
BTW the exact same reasoning goes for the O.D. versions the 700r4 and 4L80E, Id sellect the 4L80e every last time even thou the cost is significantly higher than the 700r4
To avoid any guessing we weighed both transmissions.
the 4l80e is 40lbs heavier.
700r4 is 134lbs
4l80e 174 lbs.
Both weights are without convertor
thats INSIGNIFICANT in a 500 plus hp car that weighs over 3000 lbs
the th350 in factory form is designed for about 100 ft lbs less torque than the TH400 is built to handle.
both can be modified, but the th400 will always have a strength advantage if built to similar levels
you can get a TH400 too live happily behind engines that would twist up and puke parts in hours if mounted to a TH350
just remember to install a large trans cooler with electric fan on either trans and keep the fluid levels correct, do something correctly the first time with parts and components that have a significant safety margin and you don,t need to do it over again at further expence later.
any truthful trans shop will tell you the TH400 has a strenght advantage over the TH350, G.M. installed the TH400 behind some impressive big block combos in heavy applications and not the TH350 for a reason!
http://www.tciauto.com/Products/GM/gm_t ... ic_400.asp
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70320
http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/005249.html
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/for ... 41360.html
making up a few extra flywheel hp so that the th400 rear wheel hp equals the results from a TH350 is far easier than replacing the transmission should it fail!
BTW the exact same reasoning goes for the O.D. versions the 700r4 and 4L80E, Id sellect the 4L80e every last time even thou the cost is significantly higher than the 700r4
To avoid any guessing we weighed both transmissions.
the 4l80e is 40lbs heavier.
700r4 is 134lbs
4l80e 174 lbs.
Both weights are without convertor
thats INSIGNIFICANT in a 500 plus hp car that weighs over 3000 lbs