34 element sprag

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Jan 12, 2005 | 12:23 AM

redbandit98

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From: Ft.Smith AR

34 element sprag

hey guys,i have another question..as the journey to find parts for my th400 swap continues.. i was told i need to get an older style direct drum to use a heavy duty 34 element sprag...since i have a newer model 400 (70's) i have the small one i guess and need an older on that will fit the bigger sprag...i found this on ebay..will it do?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WD1V
thanks matt

Jan 12, 2005 | 05:44 AM

jxaxsxoxn

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From: Arizona

The only thing you have to look out for is using a 4L80E sprag race on a th400 drum, it will go on if you force it but it won't last long.
The 4L80E race is only a few hundred thousandths wider.
I wouldn't say one is stronger than the other, they just need to go on the right drum.
I ran into the problem once (trying to put a 4L80E race on a th400 drum) traced it back to Borg Warner, they put a whole bunch of them in the wrong box. I called the supplier I got it from, they looked into it and found all their stock in three warehouses was boxed wrong.

Jan 12, 2005 | 08:40 AM

redbandit98

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From: Ft.Smith AR

im gonna go ahead and order it from them...the only question i have left is it says i must use their "XXXXX" sprag for it to work,,,is this true? shouldnt i be able to use any of the 34 elements sprags out there? i just dont want the one i "have" to use to be a pos thats all...:edit: i just checked out the part numbers of what they recommend and they are recommending precisely what you said not to do. they recommend 2 part numbers to go with that drum..the first # is the part number to a 34 element sprag that is labeled for a 4l80 but is still recommeneded for the 400 drum..the other part number is for the 400 drum but is jsut a 16 element..im gonna hold off to order this until i can clear this up..damn this is driving me crazy...

Last edited by redbandit98; Jan 12, 2005 at 08:51 AM.

Jan 12, 2005 | 06:23 PM

jxaxsxoxn

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From: Arizona

Thats a tough situation you're in there.
Can you find any transmission hard parts suppliers in your area?
Can you go to a junkyard and get a '71 or older th400 core for cheap?
They go for $20-$40 around here. Then you'd have a whole spare trans with the right drum.
You're building a th400 right?
I'm confused, theres someone else I think, asking me about a 4L80E swap.

Jan 12, 2005 | 09:30 PM

redbandit98

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From: Ft.Smith AR

yea i probably could find one but i but i know for a fact that around here they will want waaayy more than 40 bucks,,,they are some greedy junkyards around here...probaly want like 100 at least..i dont know im about to say the freaking hell with it and order me one already built and send them mine for a core.. it says on the website that i can use my outer race and snap ring off my old drum on the heavy duty one..would this work..as long as i use my 400 race on the new heavy duty drum and with a new 4l80 sprag? i just thought the sprags came with a race...
matt

oh yea,,where are if any are the numbers on this trans so i can make sure and see that i have the new style..if i find the numbers where can i got to check them to see exaclty what i have? hell i might have the right one after all but i doubt it..just to double check...im just going off what the guy i bought it off of told me,,he said it came out of a 70's car...might not have been the original ..neer know dont hurt to check..

Last edited by redbandit98; Jan 12, 2005 at 09:45 PM.

Jan 12, 2005 | 09:43 PM

jxaxsxoxn

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From: Arizona

Quote:

it says on the website that i can use my outer race and snap ring off my old drum on the heavy duty one..would this work..as long as i use my 400 race on the new heavy duty drum and with a new 4l80 sprag?

Yes, I did that once. I ordered two of the right ones that were boxed wrong from borg warner. I had to get the trans done so I just used the sprag and the old race.
That trans is in a truck that got tubbed, has 16" wide tires and a +502 cubic inch big block. It's holding up.