78 K5 Blazer 4x4, TH350 question

[78K5Blaza]

I recently purchased a blazer about a month ago. Now I have no reverse. Rather than rebuild it, I've found another TH350 locally that is apparently has a long tail. First question, I have 4WD. Does this mean that I currently have a short tail? If so what does it take to convert the long tail to my short tail?
Thanks for any assistance.
-Tim

[VileZambonie]

That's the output shaft length. If it's a 4x4 you can't use it... Better to rebuild yours

[78K5Blaza]

Thats not what I wanted to hear 
It's so much more cost efficient to buy a used tranny.
I got a line on one that's been rebuilt and sat without being used for a year.
all the holes are still plugged and the TC is still strapped it.
do TH400's have the same short/long tail designs? I also found a th400
for sale here locally.

[VileZambonie]

Basically the 4X4 is designed to couple to the transfer case. A long shaft is for 2wd versions and have a tailshaft housing. Where do you live? TH-350's are so easy to rebuild there's gotta be someone who can rebuild yours for a $200 bucks and a case of beer. An overhaul kit will cost you around $100 bucks and if it didn't puke metal you can have your converter flushed...

[78K5Blaza]

I called every shop in Knoxville and the cheapest I got was 300 if I pull it. I am capable, but live in an apartment complex and doubt the landlord would appreciate me dropping the tranny in the parking lot.
Rebuilding on the other hand, I would surely feel much more comfortable if a 'professional' did that.

How tough is it to swap the tailshafts? I've read that all the internals must be removed first of all. But, doesn't most everything come out as an assembly anyways?

[VileZambonie]

If you're going that far into two transmissions to swap parts it only makes sense to rebuild your existing unit.

[Stewart G Griffin]

i've been doing some reading on th-350's and there are some points i would like to discuss.  Please feel free to correct if i'm wrong.

1)The blazer/jimmy(and i think the other 4x4 trucks--i.e., "K" pickups) have their very own output shaft length.  i think it is 9 1/4" or something.  So again, as Mr. Vile pointed out, the "short shaft" trans isn't going to work for your application.

2) There are actually 3 different "tails"/output shaft lengths: 
(Actually, If you count the blazer/jimmy/4x4 one, then there are 4)

The short one--used in many/most cars.
The medium one---which is actually the one installed in most of these trucks and in larger cars.  i personally thought i/we had the long one, but no.
The long one---installed in LWB vehicles such as crewcabs?

3)Shock of Shocks, i read that the blazer/jimmys actually use a transfer case (new process?) made by chrysler?   i knew that alot of fords came with quadrajets and allison transmissions.  That's ok, because     ford isn't as good as GM.  But this isn't right;  It's almost sacrilegious.

4) i believe the output shaft has to come out the front of the trans.  This is after you've taken the thing half apart.  So again, it would only make sense to rebuild it at that point.

My suggestion first is to determine why you're not getting reverse;  Fluid level right?  Is the selector engaging correctly? Etc.

If reverse really is trashed, then i would look for another 350 from a 4x4.

Actually, personally, i would just try to park so that i wouldn't need to reverse, but that's just me.

[Blazin]

Your 78 has either a 203 or a 205 t case, so not sure how this would work out for you. I have a short tail shaft 2 wheel drive TH 350 in my 81 Blazer with a 208 t case. I removed the tail shaft housing and cut approx. 1" give or take a 1/4" ( it was 10 years ago ) off the tail shaft.
 As far as swapping the tail shafts I will put it this way. When you take one out its the last part to come out, and the first to go in when you are rebuilding it.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Actually, if you can wait one more week, they are going to do and show exactly what you want to do on the Spike TV show Xtreme 4x4----they are going to convert a "regular" shorttail 350 into one that can be used in a blazer/4x4 truck.  i think the episode will be next week/sunday.  i believe there is a kit available to do the conversion.  i am not exactly sure how they are going to do it---i.e., cut the shaft and respline etc. because they did not spend too much time discussing it.

By the way, i have virtually no interest in 4x4, i was just flipping channels today.  Also the woman on the show broke her back working in the shop.

http://www.powerblocktv.com/sites/xtreme/

And for everyone else, they are doing a complete teardown on a 87 K-20.

So, you may want to try to park where you don't need reverse for one more week.

[Captkaos]

The Kit you are refering to is the correct shaft for a 4x4 and the correct adapter plate = what comes on 4x4's anyway....

[Blazin]

I didn't respline mine, just cut off the needed amount, bolted it in, then bolted the t case with the original adapter to it, put the shafts in and presto changeo done. Short shaft 2 wheel trans now a 4x4 trans.

[Stewart G Griffin]

So......is the "new process" case a chrysler product?

[HAULIN IT]

Stewart, I guess I'll say most of us will never know who really owns what. Some of what is going on in the vehicle manufacturing in particular, is scary. New Process, to my knowledge is an independent company who made transfer cases. GM, Ford, Dodge & others outsourced this company to make them a product that fit their needs. It would be similar to Dana, many people think that is part of Dodge (& maybe it was) but GM, Ford, Jeep, International & others used their differentials. So to say for a fact, NO New Process was not owned by Dodge/Chrysler, I can't do that, but I believe it to be an non-partial outside source. Lorne