TH400-should I get one, where to buy?

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my combo for next year and wanted to seek out some opinions. My car is heavy, fast, and will be going faster. It is a street/strip car. The race weight is >4,000lbs and the current 733rwhp will be increased by 150-200. I am running a T56 and was planning on upgrading with the Viper output shaft. But with some planned tire and suspension changes I am hopeful that the car will hook better. The current 60' times are in the high 1.5 range. I am concerned that with more hp and the hoped for low 1.4 60' times that even the upgraded T56 will not be enough.

An additional problem with the T56 is that a custom bellhousing will be neded. I have looked into this and it looks like at least one kilobuck for an SFI approved housing. My clutch also could stand a rebuild and I may need a flywheel again. So I figure that keeping the T56 will cost at least $3K, and it may well break anyway.

I am therefore considering a TH400. Keeping in mind that I will still drive the car on the street I figure I will need the GV overdrive. An option there would be to go to a 2.73 rear and use only two gears at the track, but I think that I will need 3 gears even with a TC and ~900rwhp, due to heavy car. I figure that without the GV unit I will be able to do this for ~$3K, with another $2K for the GV. I could probably get back $1-2K for my tranmission and clutch, so the overall cost would be about the same.

Any thoughts will be sincerely appreciated. General comments about this plan, what to look for in a TH400, where to buy, and what convertor to get would be especially welcome.

Thanks for reading this. This board is a great clearing house for information!

Rich Krause

I would do a 2004R with a brake before I did a 400/GV.

You would save weight, and from what I've heard, they can build some hella strong 200's now.

I haven't heard of the 200 or 700 bieng able to handle a high hp + heavy car combo.

Rich Krause

Originally posted by rskrause
I haven't heard of the 200 or 700 bieng able to handle a high hp + heavy car combo.

Rich Krause


Rich, the Buick GN uses the 200R4. I've seen some pretty wicked GN's still running the 200 and they are pretty heavy cars...

I'm considering switching to an auto with the combo i'm building and the TH400, TH350 and 200R4 are the three trannies I was considering. If you come across any good 200R4 info, please let me know.

Marty

Rich,

Personally I'd just do a tried and ture TH400. Especially at your raceweight.

I'm not real up to date on the 200 trans, but no matter how you look at it, the guys running the big numbers in the GNs weigh ALOT less then you do, making the same or probably less HP.

Look at it as though a Nice TH400 will be Under $1500 and should give you trouble free service. Add the GV, and yes you're getting up there, but what the 200 gonna cost ya? My guess would be ~$2500, and then be questionable as far as service life.

I'm just not real big on trying to get by with the minimum. Its not fun going to a big race that is really important to you, only to go out there and break parts.

I understand the 200 may weigh a few pounds less and maybe free up some hp in the drivetrain, but its not worth an even questionable reliability to me.

As far as TH400s there are plenty of choices, and TH400s don't need a ton of expenive and fancy parts to withstand some serious abuse. Carl Rossler is known to put together some solid TH400s: http://www.rosslertrans.com/

I'm sure you could find soemone else local though that could do a standup job. :)

JM $.03

Good luck!

Don't doubt the t200's ability to handle big hp and extra wt. Not only are many of the faster stock class racers using them, there are many very fast super stock racers using them. There are a number of guys that can build you a very strong piece.
Billy Lynn is one, I believe he is located in Maryland? Also, McClay out of California is another excellent builder of these. There are others, perhaps Gump (Darren) could refer a couple others.

Rich , I have the GV/th400 combo ! It's not bad on the street/highway depending on what rear gear and tc you run . A well built th400 will handle 1000 hp easy the gv can handle 1200 hp. I bought it from TPI performance transmissions as a combo (sale) not sure if they still have it $3700+ s/h ect..rev. man. TH400/GV, cooler/fan , blower convertor, and install JW bellhousing . If you want more info give me an e-mail maybe I can help .

Guys: thanks for the responses so far. Rossler is actually pretty close by and has an excellent reputation. That deal from TPI sounds great, I may get a hold of them (do you have a number?) as well as Rossler to see what they have. It does seem that the TH400 is the way to go. Durability is more important than a few pounds or hp!

Rich Krause

Hello Rich,

I am looking at a Vasco TH 400 from Mikes transmission. Mike said that they have had this tranny in cars making 1600 hp at 3200 lbs with no breakage.

www.mikestransmission.com

I did not ask about the GV.

Has anyone used Mikes? Any good or bad things to say?

I gave dad my 502 for the 66 Vette. Right now I am in the process of building a 540, dart big m, oliver etc. Plan on turning up the boost, its time to see what the D-3 can do.;)

Chad

Rich, I have been MILDLY contemplating a A4 to M6 conversion so I MAY be in the market for you tranny if you go with the TH400.

No promises on my college budget though.:D

Chad,

I've Heard NOTHING but good things about Mikes. Well except one thing.... Enough people know about them that when we were in the Market for a built Glide it was gonna be a fair wait. :( Transmission Specialties shipped one out to us just a couple days after our order instead. We ignited 3 locally built glides before ordering this one. I guess 706ci BBCs have that effect on things sometimes. :o

Good luck on the 540 Chad!

Kurtis

Rich , I sent you mail !

There about a 30# difference in the 700R/4L60E tranny vs. the TH350/400/2004R tranny. The 700s are just flat out pigs. I believe they weigh around 145, whereas the 3-spds & the 2004R are about 115.

A friend of mine is going to put a 2004R in his '98 TA. IIRC, it was built by www.200r4performance.com. They're all over the t-type boards. :)

I spoke with Carl Rossler, he was very helpful. If I go the automatic route I will most likely get a TH400 + GV from Rossler.

Thanks for the advice!

Rich Krause

A friend of mine is going to go with a TH400 for his Supra, anyone have a link for the GV overdrive for the 400?

Thanks!

I had a TH400 rebuilt by a knowledgable friend using all coan parts and a pro tree brake. They use good parts in their transmissions.

Just another option incase rossler does not work out for you.

good luck. :)

PS, one other option, ever thought about a 4L80E??

The 4L80 would require some sort of standalone software like TCI's T-Com to run it since it's an "E" transmission.

Plus either the case or just the bellhousing is bigger, thus requiring some "massaging" of the tranny tunnel.

Also, have you seen the going rate for 4L80's lately?? I could have two all-out TH400s built for the price of one 4L80E. :(

Hey Todd, who's putting the Turbo 4 in their Supra? I can't think of anyone fast enough to require one. :p

Ken, he's gonna go single turbo down the road. I'm trying to push him toward the bottle though. :D