Automatic Transmission 2-Speed thru 10-Speed GM Autos | Converters | Shift Kits
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Considering a TH350 swap... pro's and con's?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-28-2008, 07:16 PM
  #1  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Matts94Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Considering a TH350 swap... pro's and con's?

I am having a hard time deciding if I want to rebuild my 4l60e for the second time or just switch to a th350. I know the obvious pros and cons like miles per gallon and strength, but I am looking for some people to share their stories and testimonials to help me make my decision. What do yall think?
Old 11-28-2008, 09:50 PM
  #2  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Strahley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Manhattan, KS
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

MPG really isn't that bad. I can still hit low/mid 20's on the highway with my th350/4k stall/28" tires

I went from a M6, and I couldn't be happier. It's strong, reliable, good parts are cheap, they are easy to rebuild/find a rebuilder, light, and they install pretty easy in our cars. Get one with a reverse manual valve body, a nice stall, and don't look back

Personalyl, I don't trust the 4L60e, and I would never put one in my car. If I ever make any transmission changes, it'll be either a Gear Vendors overdrive, or a 4L80e/RMVB swap
Old 11-29-2008, 07:51 AM
  #3  
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
ssmoov1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

TH350 here with no regrets, probably one of the best things I have done to my car.
I have done 2 other swaps also and they are happy with there decision.
Old 11-29-2008, 09:37 PM
  #4  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Matts94Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

That's what everyone else is saying also. How many miles do yall normally put on your cars? I only drive mine about 60-100 miles per week, hell sometimes I won't drive it for days on end. What are yall doing for the speedo?
Old 11-30-2008, 03:03 AM
  #5  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Strahley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Manhattan, KS
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I do about 25-50 miles average a week on mine during the nicer months, but I also only live ~3 miles away from work, and work about 50 yards away from where I get groceries, so I don't really do any "out of the way" driving. On the weekends I can rack up more miles, especially if I go racing (20-60 mile drive depending on the track, but I haven't gone in a while). From November to roughly mid March/April I get 0 miles, as it is garaged during the winter. If I stick to work driving only, I can get by with about $5 a week in the LS1

For the speedo, you can either use the th350's speed sensor output thingy (near the tailshaft), or you can do the front wheel sensor/VSS splice (which is what I'm doing, but hooking to an aftermarket speedo), but you'll lose ABS. I don't mind losing the ABS though
Old 11-30-2008, 11:52 AM
  #6  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Matts94Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Fwiw, I have an LT1, but I am sure you guys have read that already. I know that there is a few things you can do with an older oldsmobile sensor to make things work. How much did your guys cars pick up after the swap? I can now go out and run 7.8's all day on street tires and I expect to see 7.6's on DR's. I would think the 350 would pick up a couple of tenths and be much stronger when I start hitting it with the gas.
Old 12-01-2008, 01:19 AM
  #7  
12 Second Club
 
ls1chris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: kentucky
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I to am considering this swap also,Tired of changing clutches and shift forks.I was thinking of 3500 stall with 3.42-3.73 gears and 28 inch Et Street tire would also help with it not reving to the moon on a 65mph cruise around3200-3400.


What do you guys think about that setup
Old 12-01-2008, 03:30 AM
  #8  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (11)
 
87silverbullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Slidell,LA
Posts: 4,873
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts

Default

I guess I am going to be the odd one here and say stick with the 4l60e. I like the idea driving to the track at 80-85 mph on the interstate going to the track busting sum *** and driving home. I like my overdrive for the interstate and I can do a lot more tuning with the trans with hptuners thru the pcm. I control lockup when I want it. Im running low tens and I have no problem with my performabuilt tranny.
Old 12-01-2008, 09:20 AM
  #9  
10 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
 
pddye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: brimfield, illinois
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Whoa 20 - mid 20's on the highway?!? You will be no where near that kinda miles per gallon. I say go for the th400 but if you can find a good deal on the th350 go for it. Like I've said in the other posts I have had both a th350 and now a th400.
Old 12-02-2008, 05:49 PM
  #10  
Teching In
 
protour's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Why do people prefer a rmvb. I would think a fmvb would be better as long as you had a good shifter like a b&m pro stick to avoid shifting into reverse or nuetral.
Old 12-02-2008, 06:28 PM
  #11  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Strahley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Manhattan, KS
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by protour
Why do people prefer a rmvb. I would think a fmvb would be better as long as you had a good shifter like a b&m pro stick to avoid shifting into reverse or nuetral.
To me, it feels much more natural when shifting. On a FMVB you would be manually shifting from a stop from neutral to your last gear on the first ratchet. I don't like the idea of having to shift 2-3 extra times (depending on the trans) go hit your first gear

And for what it's worth, I don't use "park" or "reverse" on mine. I never have to worry about lifting the reverse safety (in fact my M6 boot covers it all up anyway, so you don't even know that it's a ratchet shifter in there) The only gears I ever see are N, 1, 2, and 3. I use neutral and the trans brake to go in reverse, and the e-brake in neutral to park. These are the reasons I prefer the RMVB
Old 12-03-2008, 02:11 AM
  #12  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (246)
 
robsquikz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chicago/Crown point
Posts: 4,987
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

id like to know this as well....for the lt1 cars with cam only setup and stock gears and even spraying the **** out of it what are these transmissions running compared to the 4l60 is it better or worse
does anyone have track times from the same weekend passes maybe with trans swaps??



Quick Reply: Considering a TH350 swap... pro's and con's?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:13 PM.