Author Topic: 4 speed or turbo 400  (Read 5916 times)

Offline dylan.hodges.92

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4 speed or turbo 400
« on: December 24, 2014, 11:30:59 am »
I have a 1985 chevy k10 I'm going to be putting a new transmission in it shortly. I can't decide what I want. It will be getting a 3/4 ton suspension, I will be hauling/pulling often and I do a lot of level b mud roads, we also get a lot of heavy snow in the winter. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.


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Offline zieg85

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2014, 12:18:00 pm »
The 700R4 can be built HD but a TH400 is near bullet proof.  Sounds like with your intended use the overdrive may not be needed.  If it were me I would go with the TH400
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
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Offline dylan.hodges.92

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2014, 12:32:27 pm »
Thanks. It has a 700r4 now, but like you said, I don't use the overdrive that much it's mostly around town driving.


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Offline zieg85

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2014, 01:10:13 pm »
3/4T running gear "should" have lower gear set so take off power needs to be looked at.  For instance a 700R4 (1st gear 3.06) with a 3.42 rear end gear is 3.06x3.42=10.47.  A TH400 (1st gear 2.48) so the closest gear set to nearly come out equal would be a 4.10 and that is if you stay with the same height tires going to 8 lug 16 inch.  Just wanting to throw my $.02 for an informed choice cause if your engine is under powered going to a TH400 without changing anything else you may be disappointed.
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
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Offline dylan.hodges.92

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2014, 06:00:09 pm »
I highly doubt the motor I'm putting in it will be under powered but thanks for all your help I really appreciate it.


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Offline csdineley

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2014, 08:17:22 pm »
I swapped from a th400 to the sm465.

Th400 was nicer driving around town in slow stop and go traffic. Also easier for others to drive. Since nobody seems to know how to drive a stick anymore. 

The 4 speed (sm465) is much nicer pulling things from a stop. In 1st (Granny gear) with 4.10 gears. That thing feels like it'd pull a house down. Example: pulling stumps out of my land. Th400 give me a headache because of the number of pulls it took to get one stump out. Then I give up. After the 4 speed swap. I got the other 4 stumps pulled in the time it took me to do the first one. Another plus for the 4 speed. No one wants to borrow my truck any more. (See above : nobody knows how to drive a stick now).

I guess the bottom line is: If you like shifting gears go 4 speed. Other wise go th400. Just my 0.02 cents.
1987 V20 Custom Deluxe, Vortec Headed 350, SM465,Np205 14Bff 4.10

Offline roundhouse

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2014, 10:36:56 pm »

The NV 4500 would be the ticket
Even if the axle gears aren't low enough to use the OD



Although that would help your TH 700 too

So if the 700 is in good condition axle gears may help more than  Swapping the trans


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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2014, 11:32:32 pm »
if it was me, i have a 4l80e in my 91 crew, have a 700r4 in my 84, have a sm465 in my 79 and drove a 95 6.5 with nv4500. lets start off with this the 700r4 is blown up.

love the stick in my 79 the sm465 its my mud toy plus i can tow things and not be too worried about it.

the 4l80e is nice cause you dont have to worry about shifting but i didnt mind that but the part i like is the extra space i got from not having to shift and my 2 month old can sit up front.
the nv4500 i loved that thing with its gearing it would make any engine feel like it had power and it has od.

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Offline dylan.hodges.92

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Re: 4 speed or turbo 400
« Reply #8 on: December 25, 2014, 08:22:09 am »
I'm thinking 4 speed, shifting doesn't bother me a bit ( I drive a 6 speed cummins) plus if you can't drive stick you don't deserve to drive my truck. Lol thanks for everyone's help.


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