GeorgeC

No, not some wierd Audi model either. We swapped the TH350 back in the car this afternoon. (Do I have the record for most tranny swaps yet? This is #4 since getting the car running less than a month ago). It was freshly assembled again, this time with a little extra clearance in the 2nd gear clutch pack to soften the 1-2 shift (and let the tranny live a little longer than it has been), a BTE intermediate drum assembly, and TH400 roller clutch assembly to replace the ever so weak stock TH350 sprag.

So far so good. It has three forward gears and a reverse. That's about all I can say for now. I made a few spirited runs close to the house (the neighbors must hate me) and it feels great, shifts fine under WOT. It feels totally different now with a 2.52 1st gear again, instead of the "takes forever" 1.82 Powerglide.

Everything is checking out fine, so it's off to the track tomorrow night to see if the car will still hook up. If not, Brian (Madman) Jeffries has given me a few tips to get the suspension & torque arm dialed in. I've been assured that we can get the car to hook with the 3 speed back in it, so it ought to be a fun ride.

I wish I could've made a few more runs with the 'glide in it, but it rained out Wednesday. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

ROBS SS

iTrader: (7)

cool, yes please let us know how the th350 works out for you VS the glide....i would love to know

CutlassRacer

Yeah George we are getting to know the bottom of your car pretty good. Hope to be seeing the bottom of it on launch today at the track. I hope to get out there around 5ish. Dont tear up the bumper before I get there!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Damian

iTrader: (89)

George do you think you'll pull any more MPH out of the car with TH350?

AlonzoVersion 1.0

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Damian:
<strong>George do you think you'll pull any more MPH out of the car with TH350?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think he will and better et's.

Coach 02 A3 Z/28

iTrader: (10)

George,

Good Luck tonight. <img border="0" alt="[angel]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_angel.gif" />

Madman(Brian) is going to Sealy tonight with me to help me dail in the susp. I hope I don't tear off the bumper. <img border="0" alt="[devil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />

Coach

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Damian:
<strong>George do you think you'll pull any more MPH out of the car with TH350?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">From my one night of initial testing with the new motor, the car was running ~3mph better in the 1/8th mile than it has been with the 'glide. So yes, it should pick up some ET and MPH if I can get the car to hook.

Nine Ball

iTrader: (38)

Hey George, could you give us a list of all the different parts required to swap between the glide and the TH350? If I ever internally grenade my T56, I'll probably go with a TH350, and just want to know what my options are.

Shifter?
Driveshaft?
Cross member?
Converter?
etc..

-Tony

GeorgeC

You mean differences between a 'glide and a 350?

The 'glide dipstick is a little different, but you can use a TH350 dipstick as long as you measure the difference where the "full" mark is, and note it accordingly on the stick. The tranny cooler lines are slightly different, but required no changes on my car. Any aftermarket shifter "should" work fine with either a TH350/400/powerglide, so that isn't an issue. The powerglide has different splines on the input shaft by default, but you can use a turbo input shaft and use the same converter as a 350/400. The overall length is the same, and the tranny mount is in the same place, so no changes needed there (same driveshaft & crossmember).

For the most part, you can practically swap one for the other (TH350/powerglide) with no changes.

Tom the roofer

iTrader: (9)

Thanks for the info George. Do you use the Yank adapter plate for either of your tranny's?
Good luck with your new set up. I hope everything works out for you.
Tom <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Tom the roofer:
<strong>Thanks for the info George. Do you use the Yank adapter plate for either of your tranny's?
Good luck with your new set up. I hope everything works out for you.
Tom <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks Tom. I've never used the adapter plate with any of my tranny setups. I'm sure it doesn't hurt anything, but I've never had any problems without it.

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Terry Burger:
<strong>How much lighter is the glide?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Terry, I thought you already asked that before...

It's a 40lb. difference between my TH350 (which is a little heavier due to the JW Ultra Bell) and the glide I was using. That 40lbs. is with both full of tranny fluid.

JP98SS

I can see it now. Terry's "street" car with a glide in it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

Colonel

Yep, the 350 is going to be quicker. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

So the driveshaft lengths are the same? And this was with a short tailhousing 350, correct? If I decide to test it out I wouldn't want to have to get another C/F shaft built.

CutlassRacer

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Colonel:
<strong>Yep, the 350 is going to be quicker. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hmm, I think I will let George get on here and talk about it more.

AlienDroid

ok, is the TH350 the best tranny to get?

The yank one is 20lbs lighter then stock right?

why would your TH350 be faster if it's heavyer?

Terry Burger

iTrader: (4)

How much lighter is the glide?

Colonel

Gearing advantage.

CutlassRacer

Traction DISadvantage

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CutlassRacer:
<strong>Traction DISadvantage</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You got that one right! Could I eventually get the car to kook with the A3 and be ~.05-.1 sec quicker? Yes. Will the transbrake work reliably? No (how many electronics bracket cars do you see with TH350's?). Will the 'glide be easier to maintain and service? Yes. I think the 'glide is the better overall solution in my car.