‘79 upgrades
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 5
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‘79 upgrades
I am replacing the engine and transmission. I would like 400hp. 1st question, To keep enough idle for my a/c to function would a 350 or a 383 be preferred? 2nd question, will a 700r4 from an ‘82 fit easily?
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
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From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
If you can find a good 200R4 anymore
You only want a 700R4 from 86 up due to the upgrades that GM installed.
Engine size for AC ?? - a 634 BBC will happily run an AC, don't know why any SBC wouldn't. I think you are confusing engine size with cam specs. It's real easy to get a cam that will work in a 400hp engine, but yet be friendly for around town & AC usage.
You only want a 700R4 from 86 up due to the upgrades that GM installed.
Engine size for AC ?? - a 634 BBC will happily run an AC, don't know why any SBC wouldn't. I think you are confusing engine size with cam specs. It's real easy to get a cam that will work in a 400hp engine, but yet be friendly for around town & AC usage.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
IIRC the 700R4 in the ‘82 had a short tail shaft housing. Short answer (pun intended) is yes the trans will fit. More important though is the bracket that goes between the trans and the crossmember. If you have that, it’s a bolt in swap. Otherwise you will have to buy or build a crossmember or adapter. Also, as noted above, have the trans rebuilt to modern specs. The early ones had problems. I doubt if anyone would actually rebuild one to the early specs nowadays.
