Remove or not -TH400
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 433
Likes: 14
From: GA
Remove or not -TH400
I have finally reached the point where I can start to put this '71 back together! I removed the engine and rebuilt it, the front suspension is out and rebuilt, the radiator and suport is out. the entire rear suspension and driveshaft is out. I left the TH400 in. Why? There was nothing wrong with it so I left it Now I decided to change the seals and filter etc. Would it be much trouble to remove the TH400 now and reinstall with the engine? The car is on stands but nor a 'lot' of ground clearance, raised it enough to remove tires maybe a little more. Will I have enough room to lower it on a floor jack? What to I need to watch out for?
Thanks
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
If the engine is out, you can disconnect the trans, secure it to a floor jack so it's balanced and roll it forward into the engine bay, where you can lift it out with a hoist. No need to raise or lower the car anymore if the engine is out.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
No, more towards the front of the pan. On a TH700R4 it's almost tot he front edge of the pan. Put a 1'x1' board between the jack and the pan, and maybe use a small ratchet strap to secure it. I've had them balance just fine...you never know until you're under there.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Yes so long as there are no fluids or accessories. If it's a steel manifold it will hold more weight, but an aluminum manifold has weaker stud bores and with too much weight you risk dropping the motor and stripping the stud bores.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 433
Likes: 14
From: GA
It's the cast iron stock intake and the engine is assembled with manifolds, starter, P/S pump. Probably what I should do is install the original "lift tab" at the intake on the right front and get another for the left rear. And the load leveler will work better too. The heads don't have acc. holes to use.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
Jim you can install the 350 and TH400 as one. I did it with my 72 coupe last summer. I have a hoist with a 5' boom and a tilter. You need both to do this. I would change the TC & pump seal, filter, ATF,rear seal on it. I went through mine and rebuilt it with a B&M transkit. I located a 69 TH400 drum and used the HD 32 element sprag. This really wasn't needed with my 350-325 hp engine but I wanted to beef up the already strong tranny.
You can make a tranny fixture out of black pipe to fit an engine stand as well.
You can make a tranny fixture out of black pipe to fit an engine stand as well.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Made for a bench mount, but it can also be used on an engine stand with a bushing adapter. A must have.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
I made it from black pipe and angle iron I had here. I had to turn a pin for the piece that goes into the hole in the tranny otherwise it was a bolt and weld job. The bog angle iron that bolts to the stand was an old piece of a machine I found in the scrap bin. If you have a steel supply house near you or fabricator you can probably dig up material. Home Depot will have angle iron and rod too,along with black pipe.
I painted it that ugly gold only because it was left over from a job.
Here is a nice little stand I made to push it around on. I made it from an old desk.
I painted it that ugly gold only because it was left over from a job.
Here is a nice little stand I made to push it around on. I made it from an old desk.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 433
Likes: 14
From: GA
Gtr1999
GTR1999, thanks for your responses.
One thing that worries me is that if I remove the TH400 and attach to the engine, I won't be able to get it back in. I say this because I can't use my hoist from the front and if I could it wont reach. I had to remove the engine from the side. I have a "tilter", so can I install engine and trans together from the side? Anyone done it this way?
Thanks
One thing that worries me is that if I remove the TH400 and attach to the engine, I won't be able to get it back in. I say this because I can't use my hoist from the front and if I could it wont reach. I had to remove the engine from the side. I have a "tilter", so can I install engine and trans together from the side? Anyone done it this way?
Thanks