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Oct 15, 2013 | 05:36 PM

81 vette vent

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2013

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From: Georgia

81 transmissions

Did GM put turbo400s in some of the 81 vettes? I'm looking at a vette with a blower motor but the guys says it has the stock trans and rearend in it. He said it's mildly built and he has only took it to car shows for the last 15 years. I just don't know if any of the 81s were stronge enough to handle 450~500 hp. He says it has a 400 trans in it but I think he doesn't really know and I know the weak overdrive trans can not handle this type of power. I know they put stronger rearends in the ones with 4 speeds. Other than that I'm not sure.

Thanks for any info.

Oct 15, 2013 | 05:42 PM

540 vette

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2002

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From: No Where USA

Crawl under it and look at the pan. That will tell you what trans is in it.

Oct 15, 2013 | 06:06 PM

chopperb

Heel & Toe

Joined: Sep 2013

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From: Chicago IL

I believe the th350 was the only auto available in the vette back in 81.

Oct 15, 2013 | 06:22 PM

SIXFOOTER

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Boca Raton Florida

TH350C is the only auto that went into the 81's, only 1 motor choice too.

Oct 16, 2013 | 08:24 AM

81 vette vent

Thread Starter

Instructor

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From: Georgia

I was afraid of this. Do you guys think the drive tran can handle the power? I was told the overdrive will burn out with too much power. I could disconnect the overdrive if that would help.

Oct 16, 2013 | 08:34 AM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by 81 vette vent

...Did GM put turbo400s in some of the 81 vettes?...

No. GM did not. A PO might have made the swap.

Oct 16, 2013 | 08:34 AM

Una4dbl55

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2013

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From: Kenosha Wi

the TH350c does not have an overdrive

however, it does have a lock up converter

Oct 16, 2013 | 08:44 AM

81 vette vent

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 108

Likes: 1

From: Georgia

If he put a stronger converter in, would that hold up? Maybe a stall-converter. I can tell when I get there, I just wish a 400 was put in there back when it the motor was built.

It just doesn't make sence on the phone. He said 400 and then he said shifts 4 times. Could it be a 700R? And are they stronge enough?