th350

[fitz]

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.

[Russ130]

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.

[VileZambonie]

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?

[fitz]

[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.   

[Captkaos]

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.

[bigkat79]

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

[Russ130]

You could go to a tranny parts supplier.