Transmission questions, need advice
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
Transmission questions, need advice
I am doing some research for an upcoming project and I have some tranny possibilities.....my goal is to build a 500hp 500lbtq street car. first questions.
Will a 700r4 live behind this motor? I want the tq to peak about 4k,
what is the difference between a lock up and a non lock up converter and are they interchangable?
Is the 700r4 the same length as a TH400? I have heard yes and no.
is there a difference between the light truck 700r4 and the passenger car 700r4?
Anyone that has a BB bolted to a 700r4 what rear gears are you running and what cam?
Is the 700r4 heavier than a TH400?
Are there any special considerations I might not know about for this application?
Thanks in advance for responses.
Will a 700r4 live behind this motor? I want the tq to peak about 4k,
what is the difference between a lock up and a non lock up converter and are they interchangable?
Is the 700r4 the same length as a TH400? I have heard yes and no.
is there a difference between the light truck 700r4 and the passenger car 700r4?
Anyone that has a BB bolted to a 700r4 what rear gears are you running and what cam?
Is the 700r4 heavier than a TH400?
Are there any special considerations I might not know about for this application?
Thanks in advance for responses.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Florence NJ
I have a worked 700r4 straped to a digital tpi 383 stroker with a 3200 non locking stall converter. 696hp to the rear wheels dyno tested by ida automotive. The tranny holds up great, but it is wroked over from stock. The TH400 IMHO is much heavery duty stock then the 700r4 is stock. For a 500hp motor you will need to do a little work to either tranny imo.
As far as the length goes, I am pretty sure there are different length tail stocks you can get on a 700r4. I have never convertered a th400 motor to a 700r4 so I am not 100% sure about all the ins and outs but I know for a fact you can do it. Other members here have for sure.
The tail shafts are different lengths in the light truck and passenger from what I have been told in the past. Some light trucks will have 4x4 setups on tail shaft, which will have to be swapped out for a 2 wheel drive tail shaft.
As far as the length goes, I am pretty sure there are different length tail stocks you can get on a 700r4. I have never convertered a th400 motor to a 700r4 so I am not 100% sure about all the ins and outs but I know for a fact you can do it. Other members here have for sure.
The tail shafts are different lengths in the light truck and passenger from what I have been told in the past. Some light trucks will have 4x4 setups on tail shaft, which will have to be swapped out for a 2 wheel drive tail shaft.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Is that all the hp you want? 500 is kind of wimpy!
I have an Art Carr racing 700R4 sitting on the floor. It's the 800 hp model and I was very impressed with it from day one. I bought two govenors for it a 5000 and a 6800 rpm. It worked like a clock at WOT with perfect auto shifts every time. The 5000 shift was good for the street. I would just place the shifter in 2nd and then floor it. It would do a 1-2 shift so fast that you would never hear or feel an rpm change. Out the rear view mirror all you could see is smoke and two big black marks on the street
I also have their 3 lockup clutch 9.5 inch 3500 stall convertor. They sell them for about $1100.
I blew a variety of other vendors "High HP 700R4's" models with small block 355 ci motors. My advice is to just spend the money now and not have to worry about it when you have fat sticky slicks on later.
the high end convertors are very efficient and when combined with a manual lockup switch for 4th gear only they make for really nice freeway driving. I have 4.11 rear gears. Optimal would be 3.90 or 3.73.
I first installed the 700, 18 years ago or so in my 79 vette.
I have an Art Carr racing 700R4 sitting on the floor. It's the 800 hp model and I was very impressed with it from day one. I bought two govenors for it a 5000 and a 6800 rpm. It worked like a clock at WOT with perfect auto shifts every time. The 5000 shift was good for the street. I would just place the shifter in 2nd and then floor it. It would do a 1-2 shift so fast that you would never hear or feel an rpm change. Out the rear view mirror all you could see is smoke and two big black marks on the street
I also have their 3 lockup clutch 9.5 inch 3500 stall convertor. They sell them for about $1100.
I blew a variety of other vendors "High HP 700R4's" models with small block 355 ci motors. My advice is to just spend the money now and not have to worry about it when you have fat sticky slicks on later.
the high end convertors are very efficient and when combined with a manual lockup switch for 4th gear only they make for really nice freeway driving. I have 4.11 rear gears. Optimal would be 3.90 or 3.73.
I first installed the 700, 18 years ago or so in my 79 vette.
