I am going to be swapping the auto back into my car. I know, I know, but if you sat in the same traffic I do every day you'd understand.
I am going to rebuild the trans myself. The question I have is regarding rebuild kits. There are several to choose from. Does anybody have any advice to offer in this area?
The car has a pretty mild 350 and I don't intend to do much, if any, drag racing. So I don't want to build a raw boned manual shifting demon. It has to be liveable in daily driving with an occasional manual shifting blast through the gears. The trans is the same one I removed 17 years ago and it already has a B&M shift kit installed in it.
So I would appreciate any ideas anyone can offer.
Thanks in advance,
SharkPilot

 

you are satisfy by your B&M transkit!?
so go with an other B&M transkit!!!!
B&M transkit are good for daily drive!! go with a harder shifting kit will be probably less good for daily drive

 

You will need some special tools, if you don't have them you might as well take the trans to a pro and git er done.

 

Was the transmission working fine when it was removed? If so, then there shouldn't be much needed. I would think a basic seal kit.

I installed a B&M shift kit in my 350 and love the way it shifts.

 

My brother and I have the tools that we need. This won't be our first automatic rebuild. I am just interested in any opinions or preferences for kits that anyone might have. Our other rebuilds have been for very stock, low horsepower, vehicles so we just used generic rebuild kits.
I am leaning toward B&M since it already has their shift kit installed. The trans is is good shape. It just needs new seals and gaskets since it has sat for so many years. While in there I might as well do clutches too. Start it out fresh and ready for a bunch of miles.

 

I've actually had great luck with basic rebuild kit parts even in very high hp nitroused stuff. For sure the B&M kit would be good too though. Look around locally..there are trans supply houses in most big towns that have every thing you could need.

I'd also opt for the better 2nd gear sprag. Replace the 17 element one with the 34 one. You can get them at any trans shop.

Years ago, I sat down with a GM fluid flowchart and all the actual valve body specs and springs etc and figured out what it would take to make it shift. What you will find is that just about everything in a T-400 is to calm down the shifts. As I progressively defeated each item,I ended up with a trans that barked tires in 3rd gear on light throttle shifts. I had to go back in and calm it down!

If you study it some, you will find that 3rd and reverse work off same clutch pack, just that the piston has two o-rings dividing it into two small area pistons. If you eliminate the center Oring you end up with full pressure application to the whole piston and there is no way it will ever slip in high gear. It doesn't hit violent if you leave the accumualtors alone. Only downside is it engages reverse pretty hard too..but if idle speed is decent, you don't notice it.

There is also one plug that needs to be installed in case to finish if up right by the reaction carrier bolt through case.

If the B&M kit didn't plug off the port in valve body above manual shift bore, I would plug it. This will prevent trans from shifting out of low at 5500 rpm or so regardless of shifter position.

Also make sure you get good filter. I found that the best ones are the type that you can't see the filter media through the opening. I've had them 'suck up" and restrict flow.

Good luck!


JIM