New to this forum. My first project car and I want it to be sweet. I just purchased a 79 L82 350 speed all original for $4800. Its running but just leaking everywhere. Pulled everything apart and its in great shape. Clearly they used quality oil. I just sent the 350 motor to a machine shop to get the 383 stroker kit done for $3400. Should have about 450 hp. Now my questions are should I just get the 350 tranny 3 speed beefed up with stall converter and keep matching numbers or should I upgrade to the 400 or even the 700r tranny. should I get overdrive? How important is it to keep original tranny in it vs keeping on the shelf. also, I ordered yukon positraction kit and new shocks and control arm bushings and 1.25 swaybar. What steering, header and exhaust upgrades should I put on for reasonable price and any other recommendations would be helpful. Also, I will be replacing the upholstery and seats and converting the AC eventually and possibly add fuel injection. thanks Troy

 

With all the other mods you are doing to the car, there's no use keeping the original tranny. Sell the TH350 and install the 700R4 if you want to keep an automatic in it.

I would install a 5 speed manual though

 

congrats on your 79 recent purchase!

I second an overdrive stick - coverted my 79 from 350TH tranny to T-56 and its a blast to shift.

 

With gas approaching $4 per gallon, absolutely install an overdrive transmission, if it fits inside your budget.. It's a crime Chevrolet didn't do it back in the day.

 

love the drive ability of my 700r4.order the stall converter after you pick a cam and intake.

 

I would recommend a 5 speed from Keisler Engineering. I am going with the SS700 in my 77. They have a number of different options such as the RS500 or TKO600 as well. All good transmissions if you are looking to swap to a manual. Headers would be a good option as well, I have long tubes on my car. If it is your budget then true dual exhaust all the way to the back would also be beneficial

 

here are some of my mods to my 79

working on the list... here is what i got together so far:

Engine: 383 SBC gen 1 (original block)

Custom Cold Air Intake with ram air design by D&C designs
with moroso intake and K&N filter
Barry Grant Mighty Annular Demon 750 Carbarator
Edelbrock RPM intake manafold
Dynomax tuned ceramic headers
Custom 2 ¾” duel exhaust with X-pipe by D&C designs
Borla mufflers
Fluid damper harmonic balancer
Forged bottom end skat crank
10.5:1 hyper pistons
chromoly rings
Edelbrock signature series RPM roller cam
Comp-Cams hydraulic roller lifters
Comp-Cams 1.52 magnum roller rockers
Comp-cams Beehive springs
Comp-Cams push rods
World Products Sportsman II heads
Heads and intake manifold were sent to Valley heads in So-Cal for race porting, polishing, and port-matching
HEI MSD ignition
March under drive aluminum pulleys
Canton Racing oil pan

Dewitts 3” HD radiator
2 Spall fans
Spal PWM

Richmond Ring and Pinion
Eaton Carrier With Carbon Fiber clutches

TKO 600 Transmission
Centerforce duel friction clutch
21 lb light weight steel billet flywheel
all drive and half shafts balanced

Custom made true 2 piece 18X10 18X8 Centerline Wheels
Rack and pinion steering
Hawk racing pads
Drilled and slotted rotors
Stainless steel sleeved calipers (soon to be a big brake kit by Wilwood)
Wilwood Master cylinder
Hydroboost
SS flex lines
360lb rear composite rear spring
550lb front springs cut ½ coil
1 1/4” front sway bar
¾” rear sway bar
Poly everything except engine and transmission mounts
Bilstin Sport shocks