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

Do you regret going to TH400?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 16, 2009 | 06:44 PM
  #1  
tording99Z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 2
From: Hampton, VA
Default Do you regret going to TH400?

So I have a big decision to make. I broke my built 60E and now I am trying to decide what I want to do. My options are get my 60E fixed and put it back in, while I am at it upgrade to an 80E, or throw a TH400 in the car. I had thought about going with an 80E but they are so expensive and heavy. The car is not my DD, only a weekend warrior but I am about 70 miles from the closest track and I do like to take the car about 200 miles away sometimes to drag race and I do not have a car trailer "yet". I do not know how bad a TH400 would be driving the car 70 miles with only 3 gears. Does anybody do this and how bad is it really? Do any of you guys who upgraded to a TH400 regret it? Thanks in advance.
Reply
Old May 17, 2009 | 08:12 PM
  #2  
99Z28LS1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio
Default

I haven't got my th400 yet, and Im crossing over from a M6... but if you were to get one and match it with some decent gears in the back, I would think it would be ok. A friend has a th400 in his 5.3 truck with a turbo and at 75 he's over 3200 with 22"s on the truck
Reply
Old May 20, 2009 | 05:37 AM
  #3  
White.Lightning's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (53)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 1
From: Aston, PA
Default

Swap in the TH400 and start saving for a trailer. For the times you need to trailer it you will be set. Otherwise around town, it should be a blast to drive
Reply
Old May 20, 2009 | 06:14 AM
  #4  
Z28/2002's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,799
Likes: 5
From: Your girl's back door giving her the long stroke while you're at work
Default

Not in the least bit. I still drive my car to the track which is about 20 miles. I've got a TH350 and 4.11s and love every minute driving the car
Reply
Old May 20, 2009 | 10:29 AM
  #5  
Zombie's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas
Default

I love my th400, but I have a turbo setup so I'm able to get away with running a 2.75 rear gear and 28" tall tires and a tighter converter. 70mph at 2400 rpms is nice
Reply
Old May 20, 2009 | 10:58 AM
  #6  
ndfrsd6's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 1
From: Homer Glen IL
Default

i really dont drive mine on the street but i did have an M6 and let me tell you no regrats going to the TH400 ....i dropped a .5 sec almost with no testing off idle ! i dropped .2 off my 60ft and more to come

https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-raci...k-results.html
Reply
Old May 20, 2009 | 11:38 AM
  #7  
Krazy98Z28's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,151
Likes: 0
From: Fall River, MA
Default

If you can afford the 4l80E thats what I recommend. The TH-400 is great for a track only car, but street driving it SUCKS!
Reply
Old May 20, 2009 | 11:46 AM
  #8  
LS1BLKSS's Avatar
Banned Village Idiot
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,551
Likes: 1
From: Anaheim,CA
Default

damn i just saw the sticker price on the 4l80E
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 20, 2009 | 10:59 PM
  #9  
tording99Z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 2
From: Hampton, VA
Default

Originally Posted by LS1BLKSS
damn i just saw the sticker price on the 4l80E
Yeah, I was at first going to go 80E and then I started figuring out the price of everything needed to make it work and I was going to have close to $5000 in it including the price of the trans. I couldn't justify that so I decided TH400. If I daily drove the car I would understand the 80E but considering its a weekend/track car I think the TH400 will be perfect for what I want.
Reply
Old May 21, 2009 | 11:54 AM
  #10  
forcd ind's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Default

drive around in 3rd, thats what the 400 will feel like-the 400 has a 2.48 1st, diff than your 60
i have been using 350s and 400's for 40 years, wouldnt give up my 4l80e now, lol
4l80e core, $150 (2004 unit)
parts, $350 (rebuilt myself)
converter, $725
Compushift controller, w/display, ebay deal, $980
def not as cheap as a 400, computer is big cost, but you can make a 4l80e man shift, i did it but wasnt happy with it
then again, build the 400 and have enough left over to buy a trailer
Reply
Old May 22, 2009 | 09:39 AM
  #11  
n20stroker's Avatar
8 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: nj
Default

I love my 400. Still drive the car on the streets just not as much. Tons of fun on the street.
Reply
Old May 22, 2009 | 10:06 AM
  #12  
pddye's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: brimfield, illinois
Default

Switch the car over to a th400 and with the 1500 - 2000 you save buy a nice wood floored basic car hauler. You see them everywhere brand new for 1800.
Reply
Old May 22, 2009 | 02:40 PM
  #13  
twinturbo496's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 363
Likes: 2
From: Racine, Wisconsin
Default

TH400: No lockup
TH400: No OD (adding a gear vendors will cost just as much as a 4L80e, and you still won't have lockup)

4L80E: can be just as strong as a TH400
4L80E: only a few inches longer than a TH400
4L80E: converters available with over 4000 stall speed & lockup
4L80E: lockup converters available that can lock under full throttle
4L80E: nice O.D. that can take full throttle.

I have had TH350's, 400's, 700r4, & now a 4L80E. I liked the 700R4 the best, it was light, cheap, and held up in a mid 11's 1980 malibu with a cheap 468 bbc. I built it myself, the car had a cheap 3500 converter & 4.88's with 295/50-15's on the street. I drove it to work every day (25 miles each way).

I bet you can have a 60e built that you can't easily break, and it has a lower 1st gear than the 400 or 4l80e

Go drive a 3.70 gear car with 26-27" tall tires down the interstate for about 100 miles in 1:1
Reply
Old May 22, 2009 | 03:02 PM
  #14  
tording99Z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 2
From: Hampton, VA
Default

I am done with the 60E. I know that a lot of builders are having luck with them and there are some cars that go 10's and maybe even 9's with them but the bottom line is they are very hit and miss. Some go 9's and don't break and some go 11's and do break. The 80E would be the best choice for sure except for the price and the weight. I am gonna do what the majority of everybody says which is go with the TH400 and don't look back, with the extra money I can save up for a trailer and then I don't have to worry about how I am going to get the car home if something else breaks.
Reply
Old May 22, 2009 | 03:16 PM
  #15  
LS1BLKSS's Avatar
Banned Village Idiot
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,551
Likes: 1
From: Anaheim,CA
Default

^^^ im sure you making a good choice with the TH400 since its only your weekend car... im gonna get one for sure later on... im a M6 now so im just waiting for my clutch to fire and i'll order one
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 11:55 AM
  #16  
twinturbo496's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 363
Likes: 2
From: Racine, Wisconsin
Default

Why not use a glide?
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 11:59 AM
  #17  
tording99Z28's Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 2
From: Hampton, VA
Default

Originally Posted by twinturbo496
Why not use a glide?
Well glides are only 2 speeds right? Wouldn't that be even worse than the TH400 as far as not being streetable?
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:13 PM
  #18  
black01_WS6's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,857
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers, FL.
Default

usually people that have glides have pretty light cars, f-body is not so light.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 10:07 PM
  #19  
daville_pits's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Coffeyville,KS
Default

i got i fully built th400 for sale
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:22 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE