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

Th400 questions

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 15, 2007 | 05:10 PM
  #1  
SVT THIS's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 1
From: Owasso, Ok
Default Th400 questions

In lieu of losing my tranny, I am looking at all my options.
How bad is a TH400 in a daily driver? Most of her time is spend in town at 35-45mph or on an old country highway at about 60mph.
What RPMs could I expect to see at 30mph, 40mph, 50mph and 60mph? I will be running a stock sized tire, maybe an inch or two taller in the summer for racing season as well as 3.90 gears, possibly 3.73s, with the new 12bolt.

Is a TH400 equipped daily driver completely miserable? I was looking at the costs of the tranny and they weren't to bad. How much extra should I expect to spend on the parts for the swap and what would willing shops typically charge for the swap? Thanks
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2007 | 06:02 PM
  #2  
8a8mfh's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 0
Default

I don't know if you can drive your car or not or what trans you have in it now.
But since a 4L60E has a 1:1 ratio in drive (D) and the th400 has a 1:1 ratio in third, just drive for a few days with it in D. That should answer your RPM question.

Or 3177 RPM at 60 MPH with a th400, 3.73 rear, 25" tires.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2007 | 07:16 PM
  #3  
SVT THIS's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 1
From: Owasso, Ok
Default

That doesn't seem to bad. So a TH400 is more drivable than most people try to pass off? What about the cost figures?
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2007 | 07:26 PM
  #4  
J2Pharren1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Default

You could also look at it like this,

A built TH400 setup with a big stall is like $1500 (I could be wrong) and WONT break, where as a beefy 4l60e with a stall is like $2800. That's $1300 to pay for gas, so at $30 a tank and maybe an extra tank a month, it would take 3 and a half years to catch up.

Reply
Old Apr 16, 2007 | 11:27 AM
  #5  
bjamick's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 3
From: Birmingham AL.
Default

Originally Posted by Jperran
You could also look at it like this,

A built TH400 setup with a big stall is like $1500 (I could be wrong) and WONT break, where as a beefy 4l60e with a stall is like $2800. That's $1300 to pay for gas, so at $30 a tank and maybe an extra tank a month, it would take 3 and a half years to catch up.

LOL you can look at it that way i guess i dont think it would be bad at all.

But you could look at it this way after the first year of racing you break that poor lil 60E and have to spend another say $500 to rebuild it which brings the grand total to $3300 for the 60E. SO $3300 - $1500= 1800 ..... So you now have to divide $1800/$30 for gas which = 60 months HAHA

In other words you save money Go TH400 and never look back, and also cost less to rebuild
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2007 | 11:53 AM
  #6  
SVT THIS's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 1
From: Owasso, Ok
Default

What other parts are needed for a TH400 swap besides the transmission? Is there a site that sells an entire swap kit? I will be having a shop do the install, and the 4L60e was going to cost about $300 to install, any idea of a TH400 swap cost?
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2007 | 12:02 PM
  #7  
bjamick's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 3
From: Birmingham AL.
Default

Ok run down of prices for the install and parts.

Okay
TH400 tranny-----------------$1000-$1500
TH400 Torque converter-------$185-$300
TH400 crossmember-----------$170-$250
Shifter -----------------------$200-250
Dip stick----------------------$75-$85
Misc.-------------------------$50

Actually that is about all you need and you can install it yourself and its acutally pretty simple may take you 3hours for complete install. Also the TH400 will not break for a very long time.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2007 | 02:49 PM
  #8  
Zger's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 1
From: Quakertown PA 18951
Default

I know I paid $700 for my ATI Tree Master converter on one of my other cars and $2,000 for the built TH400. This guy has a pretty healthy engine combo and may need more than a $300 converter or $1,000 trans. I'm sure that many people can build a real cheap TH400 in their garage that will last a long time, but this guy will be having a shop do all the work. That alone leads me to think that he will not be building the trans himself.

My two cents on TH400s on the street... I won't run a 3spd in any of my street cars. Been there, done that. It gets old real fast out on the highway. I'm happy running a 4k plus stall converter as long as it's a lock up, but no overdrive and a direct trans just won't cut it for me. If I remember correctly, the origional poster does quite a bit of highway driving and the car is his daily driver. I think he'd be better off buying a built overdrive trans and a good lock up converter. If Big Mike can run in the mid 9s with a 4L60 in his street driven C5, I would think that SVT THIS would be just fine with a properly built 4L60.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:40 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE