TH400 as adaily driver, advise?
#1
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SW Iowa
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TH400 as adaily driver, advise?
In the next week, I am installing a TH400 RMVB witha brake in my '98 Z. I though about just rebuilding the 4L60E, but I don't feel like shelling out $2500 for it. I can get a brand new TH400 from a friend of mine who runs a performance trans shop here locally for about $1100. I figure that even after I get all the required parts to swap it in, it will still be cheaper than the A4, and stronger. The only thing is that I am leery about using this as my daily. I am moving to only about 5 miles from work in the next month, where as I live about 30 miles away right now. But I will be on the road quite a bit this summer. I am considering running the stock rear until it blows, and I'm thinking the 3.23 will work fairly well. I do, however, plan to swap over to a 28" tire on the rear to help keep the revs down on the interstate. My future plans for this car include about 600+ HP, by way of a turbo iron block. of course, a 9" is already on order from another friend for when my 10 bolt blows. Am I missing anything? Can anybody recommend a 16" tire in a 28" diameter to fit on my stock rims for now? Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.
#2
11 Second Club
TH400 with RMVB on the street = PITA. I almost went with a turbo 400 instead of the built 4L60E i have going in. I'll probably end up going to a turbo 400 down the road when it's no longer a daily driver and is putting down more serious power.
I talked to FLP, larry at speed inc and brian (madman) before making my decision. Daily driver turbo 400 with RMVB just didn't sound very fun.
I talked to FLP, larry at speed inc and brian (madman) before making my decision. Daily driver turbo 400 with RMVB just didn't sound very fun.
#3
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Venice, Ca
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My buddy has a rmvb th400 and it sucks to drive on the street. His car is now just for the track so its not a problem. I would be a little hesitant about losing od and lock up with a 30 mile commute. May want to start pricing a gear vendors od.
#4
11 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
I drive 90 miles round trip to work and back home in my RMVB TH350. i have a non lock up 4600 8" stall and 4.10 spooled rear end. Its my daily and driving the RMVB is actually kinda fun. I never wanted an auto cause i liked shifting my M6. but this tranny is sort of like still having a standard. i already have 28" tires outr back on some 15x10 draglites but i am swithcing over to some 31" tires on a 15 x 8 draglite as soon as i have time to go to my local tire shop. with the 28's my rpms are about 3,000 -3,500 at about 60 - 65 mph.
#5
When going with a TH400, thats when you have to ask yourself "do I want a race car or a daily driver?" But with the right tire and gear combo, a TH400 can be fine for the street. If you are even thinking about GVOD, then TH400 is NOT for you. With 3.73's and nittos I see about 3Krpm @ around 55mph or so. I really only get up to 45mph top's though when I take her out.
TH400 is the best mod I have done to my car (next to the stroker)
It is NOT my daily driver and I take it pretty easy (don't beat on it, no street racing) RMVB rocks - can't wait to use my t-brake!
TH400 is the best mod I have done to my car (next to the stroker)
It is NOT my daily driver and I take it pretty easy (don't beat on it, no street racing) RMVB rocks - can't wait to use my t-brake!
#6
11 Second Club
I looked into gear vendors OD when I wanted a TH400. It's a good $2,000.
IF you can deal with the revs I'd suggest giving rossler a call. They have a street/strip TH400 with an automatic valve body, and Rossler builds bad *** trannies.
IF you can deal with the revs I'd suggest giving rossler a call. They have a street/strip TH400 with an automatic valve body, and Rossler builds bad *** trannies.
#7
Rossler also builds 4l60e's. Givem a call. Im using a 4l60e on my turbo car and love it. I got mine for 2600 built last year give him a call. He knows how to build them. But to be honest his prices might of gone up.
Trending Topics
#9
Race your car!
iTrader: (50)
I'm in the same boat myself... not sure what I wanna do... but I do know that an auto is going in teh car, and the M6 is coming out, imply because I have a car that's not a Daily car, never will be, get's about 3000 miles a year, never really goes on any long trips.. other then to the track, which is about 80 miles one way... and I don't think I'll ever drive the car the way it needs to be driven to get a timeslip that is a real representation of what the car is capable of. I'm either going to go to a TH350, or a TH200 r4, or a 4l60/80, not sure which yet, but one of the 4 is going in my car next winter... and the a/c is coming out, probably the power steering too. I'm curious though, has anyone actually gotten a 4l60 to take any abuse? I hear that hughes is coming out with one, and I knwo that they have a 4l80 too, but I am still on the fence as to the ability of those tranny's to take abuse and come back for more.
#11
Race your car!
iTrader: (50)
woah, 3.08?!? Not much of a drag gear there.... I was thinking 3.42's... with a 27 inch tire, any idea what that would be for RPM at around 65? I'm hoping to keep it at around 3000 or so.. I don't think that's killing the motor too bad.. Most people with cammed up cars probably drive at that rpm on teh street regardless what tranny gear they have, so they are in some power band all the time, or at least the start of it.
#13
Race your car!
iTrader: (50)
that's good to hear.. probably be about 3200 then with stock sized tires. I think that I can live with that. Sounds like Th350 or 400 is gonna be my next mod. Just spent $$ on a steel driveshaft to go to the M6 too , at least it will be useful if I ever decide to pull the auto and go back to the stick I guess. Defianately gonna hev to get a set of gears too... I don't think the 4.10's will work with what I have in mind.
#14
11 & 7 Second Clubs
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Motorhome, Freeways, Truckstops, Pits
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Buy the 400 if you don't mind shifting and losing power. Buy a 4L if want computer shifting and your power level is below, say, 600 rwhp, and you have the money.
Originally Posted by Sandmann120
In the next week, I am installing a TH400 RMVB witha brake in my '98 Z. I though about just rebuilding the 4L60E, but I don't feel like shelling out $2500 for it. I can get a brand new TH400 from a friend of mine who runs a performance trans shop here locally for about $1100. I figure that even after I get all the required parts to swap it in, it will still be cheaper than the A4, and stronger. The only thing is that I am leery about using this as my daily. I am moving to only about 5 miles from work in the next month, where as I live about 30 miles away right now. But I will be on the road quite a bit this summer. I am considering running the stock rear until it blows, and I'm thinking the 3.23 will work fairly well. I do, however, plan to swap over to a 28" tire on the rear to help keep the revs down on the interstate. My future plans for this car include about 600+ HP, by way of a turbo iron block. of course, a 9" is already on order from another friend for when my 10 bolt blows. Am I missing anything? Can anybody recommend a 16" tire in a 28" diameter to fit on my stock rims for now? Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.
#15
Race your car!
iTrader: (50)
I didn't think that a 4l60 would take 500 rwhp too well, never mind 600. Maybe they are getting better, and I just don't know it.
Hell, I'm only at 403 thru the M6, and I'm looking at a th400, but I like to do complete overkill on everything... better safe then sorry's the way I look at it. Not that I plan on keeping my car cam only and bolton's forever either.
Hell, I'm only at 403 thru the M6, and I'm looking at a th400, but I like to do complete overkill on everything... better safe then sorry's the way I look at it. Not that I plan on keeping my car cam only and bolton's forever either.
#16
how about all the big power turbo buicks that run built 200-4r's. i have read about how they can be built to take a bunch of abuse a few times over the past few years, just an idea.
#17
Race your car!
iTrader: (50)
A 200R4 was my original plan.. I may still go with it too, but the shop I deal with uses Hughes, and they aren't doing a 200R4 at this point. I wanna go with what they use, because I know that the support is gonna be there. I'm not doing anythign until next winter/spring, so I'll make the decision then, maybe i'll get lucky and hughes will start doign those trannys by then, they are supposed to start doing 4l60's.. maybe, maybe with some luck, they will prove to be good, and I can go with that, and not need a new driveshaft, gears, etc. but I'll have to wait and see I guess
#18
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SW Iowa
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, the 4L60 died a glorious death yesterday on the way to work, so the 400 is going in this week. I think I have most of the parts figured out, I'm just waitning to get them all lined up before I get rocking on the swap. So, I'm cruising the wagon, for now. Looks like I'll put a set of Draglites with some 28" tires on the rear to keep the revs down. That, in conjunction with the stock 3.23 grenade should work fairly well.