my build

[shawnwatson2424]

So here's my delima I have a 79 c10 bonanza I think it has 158,000 original miles. I want it all original it has the baby 305 and the 700r4. I haven't ruled out 350 but I want it numbers matching so basically I have ruled it out. Im gonna use it as everyday driver so I'm thinking I'm gonna pull the 305 drop a 350 in it while I rebuild the 305? I can't really tell if there's anything wrong with the motor cause there's like 4 hole the muffler and it's carbureted so it's loud. So I guess I'm wanting the power of a 350 in a 305. Cause I may pull a camper and whatnot

[shawnwatson2424]

Any thoughts questions concerns? I have a 350 motor but I want the truck running so I can drive it I just love driving that thing. But I have a surgery coming up and I'll be outta work for a month and a half at least.

[bake74]

     If you want it a numbers matching truck, then you will have to go with the 305.  Even if you pump up the 305 it is not going to give you want you want to tow a camper with.

[BADAZ chevy guy]

To be all original, you'd have to replace the 700R4 with a TH350 or Th400 depending which came with the truck. Either one could have been in a 79.

[VileZambonie]

Why do you need it number matching when it sounds like you need it to do work? Yank the "boat anchor" out and put it aside so you always have your matching number. The 305 is going to suffer trying to use the truck to tow. If it's numbers matching then how does it have a 700R4? They weren't in 79 pickup's

[VileZambonie]

Beat me to it..

[shawnwatson2424]

I believe it's a th700r4 that's what I was thinking and yea I kinda thought about pulling the 305 and rebuilding the 350 I have a tbi and a vortec block any thoughts? 

[DnStClr]

It's easy enough to tell if you have a 700R4 tranny- it's a 4 speed overdrive, compared to the TH350 and TH400, which are 3 speed trannies. This pic of the transmission indicator shows that it is a 3 speed

[bake74]

It's easy enough to tell if you have a 700R4 tranny- it's a 4 speed overdrive, compared to the TH350 and TH400, which are 3 speed trannies. This pic of the transmission indicator shows that it is a 3 speed

     Some of the 700R4 will have a circle or square around the D, indicating it has overdrive.

[shawnwatson2424]

Yea I need to look at the pan again it has to be th350 or th400 it still has the original blue paint on everything I didn't know you could paint intakes too? And I put new plugs in it and imma drive it around town till I get the 350 built. I can't tell if it's knocking or ticking cause there's like 5 holes in the muffler so it's loud

[blazing816]

I wouldn't just go by gauge indicator. I had a overdrive indicator in my truck (and RPO codes stated 700r4), but someone changed it to a TH350 and the guy I bought it off of did not even know.

[bake74]

I wouldn't just go by gauge indicator. I had a overdrive indicator in my truck (and RPO codes stated 700r4), but someone changed it to a TH350 and the guy I bought it off of did not even know.

     That statement is correct more times than anyone would like to admit.

[bd]

Transmission Identification