TCC switch:

[Stewart G Griffin]

Is there anyway to prevent the torque converter from locking up?

The trans is a TH-350C.

[VileZambonie]

Yes. Why?

[Lt.Del]

sure, cut the wire on the left side of the body.  Or just unplug it.  I like my lockup conversion on my 79 big 10. 

[eventhorizon66]

This would go against your quest for maximum mpg.  Is it locking up too soon?

[Stewart G Griffin]

1) i was hoping (implying) that the question was more of an open-ended one.


2) It does seem to go against my previous thinking(s).  But, right now, i'm just trying to simplify things as much as possible----a "C-10 simplex," if you will.  The purpose of this is to make things as simple as possible and as such will make maintenance, diagnoisis, and repair as easy and efficient as possible.

My latest problem(see other post) has spanned almost a month, with 4 pages and still not solved.  My new strategy would hope to prevent this.  i do not have enough bread to buy a newer car outright right now.  i have, of course, another car.  So i'm covered there.  But that one could go at any time as well as it is a 90.  Then, i wouldn't have any transportation.  And, EFI and coilpack ignitions are just as complex if not more complex than non-computerized carbs and HEI distributors.  ( i will discuss why i feel this way and how i reached this conclusion in another thread)

i can ride my bike to one job as it's only 9 miles away, but the other one is 27 miles away and that would be out of the question.  The bus doesn't go out that far.


So, what i need is maximum simplicity.

This is what i've come up with so far:
i'm thinking along the lines of:
74-83ish camaro or nova, chevelle, etc.  Or convert the truck over into a "C-10 simplex"
No thermosat---just use a restriction washer
No emmissions equipment----pcv and vacuum advance to distributor so only 2 vacuum hoses.
HEI---pretty dependable if purchased new or at least is 100% GM
As far as carbs, a 2GC is probably simplier than a quadrajet, but i'm learning and becoming more familiarized with quadrajets, so they are simple enough to fit the criteria.  With a carbed fuel system, we have a tank, the line, the pump and the carb and that's it----no relays, high pressure pumps, sensors, or other mysterious bullcrap.
Trans should be a TH-350 with only 2 cooling lines to the radiator and a vaccum modulator line to the intake manifold.  There is, of course, a kickdown cable, but that usually never fails and even if it does, you can switch down gears manually.

[Lt.Del]

The th350 or th350c are pretty dang simple.  If the lock up part intimidates you (for whatever reason) as I stated earlier, just unplug it. There is only one electrical plug on the driver's side of the tranny body, it either has 4 wires, or 2 wires going to it.  If you remove the plulg, I'd tape up the area so as not to get dirt/debris in it and tape the plug too.

For a stock lock up feature to work correctly, you do have a type of distributor switch, a vacuum switch (i think) and a brake switch.  So that if any of these processes are being utilized ie: stomping on the gas (distr) or braking, the lock up feature is automatically bypassed.

[eventhorizon66]

I can understand the desire to remove all the emissions equipment and the miles of vacuum lines, but as for everthing else, I'd leave it alone unless it's definitely broken.  Focus on solving the problem you have, rather than going on a "witchhunt" for anything that has more than one moving part.  Buying another older vehicle will likely just give you a new project with new problems and a 2nd gen F-body wouldn't be my first choice for DD.  Believe me I know how frustrating it can be diagnosing problems, but keep trying.

[VileZambonie]

Stewart, why don't you just pimp out a lawn mower and put a canopy on it?

[Lt.Del]

why don't you just pimp out a lawn mower and put a canopy on it?

I don't know about that.  It may have a lock up converter on it too!  Or, it is the devil trying to find the distributor on a Briggs and Stratton.  The coil pack can be tricky on those puppies. 

[Stewart G Griffin]

You all can keep joking, but i believe my way is the wave of the future----we must pursue simplicity!

There are at least 3 things that are bringing stress to people's lives.  They are:

1) The economy situation.

2) cars/transportation;  If you choose to do the popular route of buying a new car every 5-10 years and getting it serviced by the dealer, then you are, perhaps very much so, needlessly spending thousands and thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands) of dollars.   If you would like to keep driving what you have and/or buy used and try to fix it yourself, but can't, then this can bring lots of stress and worry to your life---my strategy of simplicity can solve this.

3) Fixation on weight/ weight loss.  Fortunately, i don't have to worry about this (yet?).  Too much unhappiness exists because of perceptions of weight.

[Lt.Del]

There are at least 3 things that are bringing stress to people's lives.  They are:

Didn't mean to crack on ya, but, sometimes, OK, all the times, I see the humor in things.

The three things you mention;

1. the economy.  Solution: get a job in law enforcement.  The tougher the times get, the more job security for us.

2. cars and transportation.  I think we on this site pretty well have this topic licked.  We drive 30 yr old trucks that are easier to work on than trying to bake banana nut bread.  I tried this once, and forgot the bananas and nuts. 

3.  Fixation on weight... you mention "  Too much unhappiness exists because of perceptions of weight." I think you are a little off base there.  It's not unhappiness due to perceptions of weight.  It is unhappiness due to one thinking perceptions of weight matters. 
Solution:  Eat what you want and be jolly, especially after you marry, because face it, the bar scene just don't matter any more.   Where's my beer?

[Stewart G Griffin]

PT.2

i know it's real easy to get a decent rebuilt/remanufactured regular TH-350 trans if yours goes out---TCI, ATI, jeg's, summit etc for about $600.

But what if you have a TH-350C?  Where are good sources for decent Th-350C's?

[Captkaos]

If the TH350C goes out. eliminate it and get the TH350.

[zieg85]

The simplest vehicle I ever owned was a 65 Chevy C-10.  1 fan belt, no power anything, straight 6 with a 1 bbl carb, 3 on the tree.  I put a later model HEI and I couldn't have gotten any simpler and it got about 15 mpg...

[dumbucket1]

no matter what you do these trucks simply will not get great gas mileage