th400 to t10 swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 361
Likes: 9
From: Dresser WI
th400 to t10 swap
Hello,
Wondering if someone can give me an answer? I have a seventy three with a turbo 400 and i would like to swap in a four speed. There is a t10 from a seventy four in the classifieds i was wondering if it would be a good fit. I have a 3;55 rear gears. I'm also curious if the power loss from the th400 to the t10 would be less. Thank you.
Wondering if someone can give me an answer? I have a seventy three with a turbo 400 and i would like to swap in a four speed. There is a t10 from a seventy four in the classifieds i was wondering if it would be a good fit. I have a 3;55 rear gears. I'm also curious if the power loss from the th400 to the t10 would be less. Thank you.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Somewhat less. Are you looking for et in the quarter mile? Obviously not, wrong gears. So it is a powerful fun driver. Rowing thru the gears is part-maybe a lot-of the fun. Small block? Do any distance? Might wanna consider T5 or stronger so you have 5th gear. Start shopping for pedals...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 361
Likes: 9
From: Dresser WI
Thank you for the reply. Its a small block car.
I'm looking to make it more fun to drive. I drive it a couple hundred miles per trip.
I'm looking to make it more fun to drive. I drive it a couple hundred miles per trip.
Somewhat less. Are you looking for et in the quarter mile? Obviously not, wrong gears. So it is a powerful fun driver. Rowing thru the gears is part-maybe a lot-of the fun. Small block? Do any distance? Might wanna consider T5 or stronger so you have 5th gear. Start shopping for pedals...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I have had both t10 and th400. The t10 was in a 80 Formula with a 305...it was fun.
The Vette has a th400 with a full manual reverse valve body, which would be a far easier conversion for you. I put in a B&M Mega shifter and honestly the shifts are waaaay faster than I could ever do with the old t10,....plus the trans is pretty much bullet proof.
I'd keep the 3.55 gears and run the th400 if it were my call.
The Vette has a th400 with a full manual reverse valve body, which would be a far easier conversion for you. I put in a B&M Mega shifter and honestly the shifts are waaaay faster than I could ever do with the old t10,....plus the trans is pretty much bullet proof.
I'd keep the 3.55 gears and run the th400 if it were my call.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 361
Likes: 9
From: Dresser WI
I have had both t10 and th400. The t10 was in a 80 Formula with a 305...it was fun.
The Vette has a th400 with a full manual reverse valve body, which would be a far easier conversion for you. I put in a B&M Mega shifter and honestly the shifts are waaaay faster than I could ever do with the old t10,....plus the trans is pretty much bullet proof.
I'd keep the 3.55 gears and run the th400 if it were my call.
The Vette has a th400 with a full manual reverse valve body, which would be a far easier conversion for you. I put in a B&M Mega shifter and honestly the shifts are waaaay faster than I could ever do with the old t10,....plus the trans is pretty much bullet proof.
I'd keep the 3.55 gears and run the th400 if it were my call.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,428
Likes: 8,231
From: Napa Valley California
I'm swapping my TH-400 for a TKO-600 close ratio (.82) 5 speed in my 73 big block with 3.36 rear gears. My rpm's will drop from 3070 down to 2100 at 70 mph.
With a wide ratio (.64) 5 speed my rpm's would drop to 1700 at 70 mph.
If you drive the open roads, go with the overdrive.
Just my opinion.
With a wide ratio (.64) 5 speed my rpm's would drop to 1700 at 70 mph.
If you drive the open roads, go with the overdrive.
Just my opinion.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Frankly the only reason to switch to the T10 is because you like shifting gears. I made the switch a few years back and I don't think the car is any faster, in fact its probably not as fast, although that's mostly me. Mileage is the same since I switched for a 700R4 to a TKO 600. But it's way more fun to drive.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,960
Likes: 4,518
From: Virginia
Manuals are WAY more fun to drive. I have one of each behind an L48. The 80 4-speed feels much quicker and more engaged (it might help that I just switched to manual steering). It's notchy and somewhat unpleasant, though, so you never forget that you are driving a 37 year old car.
If my wife wanted to put a manual in her 79, I probably wouldn't swap in an original T-10 even if I got it for free. I'd consider either a new production supercase M-22 wide ratio, or a TKO-600.
I can't advise you on the swap, but buying a second Corvette just for a manual was completely worth it.
If my wife wanted to put a manual in her 79, I probably wouldn't swap in an original T-10 even if I got it for free. I'd consider either a new production supercase M-22 wide ratio, or a TKO-600.
I can't advise you on the swap, but buying a second Corvette just for a manual was completely worth it.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,258
Likes: 1,678
From: Long Island
For the best experience and if you are driving many miles per week I would recommend a 5 speed conversion.
It gives a lower 1st gear ratio and 5th is an overdrive to save the motor and make the drive more pleasurable.
I did a conversion with a friend on his 70 from an automatic to the 5 speed using a SST kit. ( they supply everything including the drive shaft.)
Indexing the bell housing is super important.
The clutch peddle is the biggest PIA but can is doable. (pull the seat, put milk crates outside the door with a blanket on them)
We used a Z bar and drilled / tapped the frame and bolted the stanchion into the frame ..
Started Saturday morning and finished Sunday night. We did not rush.
It gives a lower 1st gear ratio and 5th is an overdrive to save the motor and make the drive more pleasurable.
I did a conversion with a friend on his 70 from an automatic to the 5 speed using a SST kit. ( they supply everything including the drive shaft.)
Indexing the bell housing is super important.
The clutch peddle is the biggest PIA but can is doable. (pull the seat, put milk crates outside the door with a blanket on them)
We used a Z bar and drilled / tapped the frame and bolted the stanchion into the frame ..
Started Saturday morning and finished Sunday night. We did not rush.
Last edited by BLUE1972; Mar 9, 2018 at 10:59 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 173
From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Do it. I did with my '75. 400 to t10. Took 6 hrs start to finish. Had 3 people doing it. 2 on the tranny 1 on the pedals. Welded the Z bar to frame and the trans brace to the crossmember.
If you can get a t10 that was in a vette that would be much easier.
If you can get a t10 that was in a vette that would be much easier.