73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: bigkat79 on March 29, 2009, 11:40:25 am
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hey guys, does anyone know the length of the tail shaft on a th350 in the 4x4 trucks? saw one on ebay but want to make sure before i bid. thanks.
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There is no extension housing for the 4x4 if that's what you're asking.
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what i should say is, i saw a th350 on ebay that has a 9" tail shaft and came out of a '76 caprice. will it fit with no problems?
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it will not fit
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okay, thanks. is it too long then?
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(http://www.novak-adapt.com/images/pics/transmissions/th350_transmission.jpg)
(http://jakesperformance.com/images/TH350.jpg)
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are the pics telling me i can just switch the tail shafts?
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You can but you will need to completely disassemble the transmissions to swap them.
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thanks for the info.
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No the pics are showing you that the top one which is a 4x4 version has no tailshaft and the bottom one which is a 2 wheel drive version has a tailshaft. The output shaft is around 9" longer on the 2 wheel which means since everything comes out through the converter end you would have to completely dissasemble the main body of the tranny to swap shafts.
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oh ok, that clears it up alot. thanks for the info guys. too bad i couldnt get away with pickin' up a drop in trans for $10 though
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For $10 I'd pick it up anyhow and the sell it for $50 and make a quick buck. Of course if you know for sure it is good with no issues you could get more than that for it too.
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If the case is good it's worth buying. You can have a tranny shop break it down and change the output shafts.
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Buy it
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If the case is good it's worth buying. You can have a tranny shop break it down and change the output shafts.
How much do you think that is going to cost? I'm willing to bet it would be cheaper to buy a good used 4x4 350. I could do the swap myself but highly doubt I would for myself but for enough $$$ I would do it for someone else. Besides a little known fact the case of a 4x4 tranny is stronger than a 2wd, well actually I think it is just the bellhousing area has more material but none the less stronger.
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If the case is good it's worth buying. You can have a tranny shop break it down and change the output shafts.
How much do you think that is going to cost? I'm willing to bet it would be cheaper to buy a good used 4x4 350. I could do the swap myself but highly doubt I would for myself but for enough $$$ I would do it for someone else. Besides a little known fact the case of a 4x4 tranny is stronger than a 2wd, well actually I think it is just the bellhousing area has more material but none the less stronger.
I'm no tranny expert but I just watched my friend swap the output shaft on my turbo 350 and it took about an hour. He didn't even have to drop the pan.
As far as buying a used trans I believe GM stopped using the Turbo 350 around 1982. I myself would not buy a 27 year old trans and just bolt it in. I would have a qualified tranny tech go through it first.
As far as the 4x4 case being stronger I thought (and I might be wrong) that they just had a thicker flange where the flex plate dust shield bolt's on. There are aftermarket braces that have solved this problem.
Although I would by no means consider a turbo 350 trans "rare" it's been a while since I have seen one in a junkyard. I see them for sale used on craigslist often in the $200-$400 range with who knows how many miles on them.
My thinking was that for $10 it would be a wise purchase. If It didn't need any hard parts I would guess you could find a tranny tech to rebuild it for around $500 cash.
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Fitz - I didn't mean to come off as attacking you. I was just commenting that it wasn't going to be cheap to swap the part out. A tranny shop is going to find things wrong while they are in there and won't do it without fixing those problems because in most states they have to warranty their work. They can still be had very cheap but yes the 4x4 ones will run around $200 or so which is pretty cheap even so. They are simple to refresh and inexpensive if you do it yourself. Can be done for under $100 easy and that includes the cost of the book that tells you how and gives you pics to follow. Same goes for the th400. I say for $10 grab it and use it for hard parts at the very least.
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I'm no tranny expert but I just watched my friend swap the output shaft on my turbo 350 and it took about an hour. He didn't even have to drop the pan.
Is he a magician?
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[Is he a magician?
Russ130, no offense taken, I think we both agree we would grab every $10 turbo 350 we could find.
Vile, Your right. I meant to say he didn't drop the valve body, my bad. I probably should have mentioned that I had the tranny out and set up on an engine stand waiting for him. He rebuilt the trans less than 500 miles ago if that makes any difference. The shaft had to be changed because I changed transfer cases. I should have the truck on the road this weekend. Hopefully it works out well.
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Just an FYI as I have been researching Trannys for these trucks: TH350's were phased out in 1984 and the TH350-C in 1986 in pickups/vans. The only 3 speed manual in 1987 was the TH400, which is why you see them behind 4.3L and 5.0L that year.
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does anyone know of a place to find a 4x4 output shaft to swap in? ive looked around e-bay and nobody has them for a 350
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You could go to a tranny parts supplier.