Found out a buddy has a buddy that builds transmisions and has a fresh race preped TH-400 in his garage. Strong valve body, best clutches money can buy ect ect. Stock converter. Said he has $600 in parts in it and was going to put it in his 800 horse truck but is selling it instead because he sold the truck.
He wants my front seats and said he would trade me his and give me the nice seat covers and knock the price down (going race seats soon anywase).
My stock A4 only hase like 12k miles on a factory rebuild. Figured if I went with this tranny I could sell the converter on the 400, sell my current tranny and converter, trade seats and not have to pay much in the end.

If everything goes to plan I am going to be in the 600hp range this coming season.
He told me he does a lot of OD trannies and did his in his 94Z and could build mine up also.

What gets me is that $600 in parts does not seem like a lot for a 800hp Tranny.... correct me if I am wrong.

 

It depends on what was installed to make this unit to hold up to 800 HP. With the TH400 it is quite easily done if you get the right parts. You need to know what as installed. I would stick with the 4L60E, if you want to retain the OD & gas mileage. The 4L60E can be made to hold 600-700 HP, with the right parts & torque converter. If you have any questions on this, let me know?

 

I meant to ask you guys about building my tranny up last year but forgot the company name and got busy.

The car is not a daily driver just a race car more or less that gets taken out on Saturdays. In bolt on form and a tune it gets 18mpg with 3.42's. Mostly because of my style of driving but with that car MPG is not that big of an issue.
He said he went threw the valve body and put in the best clutches you can buy.

He never said anything about shafts or if its was an aftermarket valve body.
I am going over on Saturday to look at it and ask more questions.
What needs to be in it to handle that much? How much would it cost to get mine to handle that much?
I MAY be stuck with a 10 bolt for now but I don't plan on launching super hard on it or spraying off the line.

 

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but I have a related question...

A friend of mine is planning on using a built TH-400 or 700 in his LS1 f-body. What is he going to need to do with the PCM, as far as using a non-electronically controlled trans?

Or would he be better off building-up the stock 4L60E to sit between the 500HP stroker and 12-bolt.

 

As far as I know you just have your tunner tune it for the tranny. I think you need a mail order tune so you can drive it to the dyno or get a tow since the computer will be trying to shift it and the tranny will be shifting sooner or later.....

 

stuff for the th400 is pretty cheap. as long as it was put together well i think it sounds like a realistic tranny from a price to performance persepctive

 

$600 seems like a fair price if it has the guts inside like he stated, but it's all too easy to get burnt....we found out the hard way from a "reputable shop" that was an hr south of us. convertor took a shiit after a few passes and sent metal through tranny making a total rebuilt necessary. Found new local guy and upon gutting it he showed us all the stock rebuild pieces that were installed and not one real racing upgrae had taken place...nice $1100 stock tranny.

I purchsed this back up TH400 from a racer and paid $1100 for the tranny but it also had the tbrake, manual reverse valve body, deep cast pan, etc...there are cheaper ouot there, but once the bells and whistles get tacked on price goes up. http://www.bteracing.com/OnlineCatal...atID=473777723

When it comes to going faster or race type cars, you need to get onto the new mentality of general prices. Younger kid prices were $20 for this and $20 for that, then we got older and in turned into a $100 for this or that, and now, literally, anything your going to do to that car is a minimum $1000. Tranny-$1000, Convertor, $1000, rear end $2500, it never ends and never gets cheaper.

 

Would it be a good idea for me to have him open it up and show me all the parts? Whats weird is that it has a stock converter on it.... I mean maybe he was going to use that 400 and when he sold the truck he had not bought a stall yet and just put a stocker on it to try and sell it?????

I know you don't spend that much on a 800hp motor and tranny and use a stock converter......

Yeah I realize how expensive this hobby is starting to become....
Tranny... 9 inch..... heads.... ect ect
What do you guys think about people who build their own?
I know I could get a blown TH-400 fairly cheap and could put it together. I am two clases away from being an aircraft mechanic so I HOPE I could do it but I could be wrong...

Special tools required?

Wonder how much a new driveshaft for it would cost hmmm?

Found this on pro builts site
Complete description of parts in the rebuild kit.

"Front Pump"
Late design front seal


"Clutches, Steels, Pressure Plates
5 Borg Warner forward clutches .080
4 Forward steels .077
1 Forward waved steel .060
6 Borg Warner Hi-Energy direct clutches .080
6 Direct steels .060
4 Borg Warner Hi-Energy intermediate clutches .072
4 Intermediate steels .076

"Other"
Borg Warner Hi-Energy extra wide intermediate band
Borg Warner 34 element HD intermediate sprag
Rear band
Complete set of bushings
Set of sealing rings (Teflon stator & cast iron accumulator)
Set of thrust washers
Hi-flow screen filter
Complete paper & rubber kit (gasket kit)
Trans-Go 400-2 Performance Shift kit
Adjustable modulator
New HD bearings (all)
2 center support seal to case plugs (eliminates leaks, case to support)
New rear seal

Details
Price: $ 364.37


If I had my way I would do everything myself on that car to begin with LOL. Its not that I don't trust some of these shops I just take more joy and satisfaction out of doing it myself!

 

Obviously your mechanically inclined and have tools, so I guess it's your choice if you'd like to rebuild it yourself...plenty of books out there to help you.

Personally I like having seasoned guys do my stuff becasue they have the expereince to know what to look for and I dont. Example, my buddy was going to have a TH400 rebuilt for his BBC chevelle...we went through 4 cases until we found one that did'nt have as much internal wear and possible future problems that the other cases had...a newbie would learn from experience when he ws tearing it back out of the car and wondering wtf happened. But it's tough relying on somebody else, guess the best advise is if you have a racetrack, get on the track website and ask who's a good local builder and you'll be set for life My guy only charges $150 plus hard parts...cant ask for much better than that and all one needs to do is visit his website and see the sucess he has with his stuff. I suspect the same should be true in your area.

Stock convertor on buller proff tranny, does sound odd. He might have updated the drum and sprag and maybe used some middle of the road steels and clutches, but without seeing them in person it's a crap shoot and hope your buddy's buddy is a man of his word.

 

Well if I can build one I will build it and not take his, what special tools do you need if any? I might go and pick up some manuals in the morning....

 

You will need the above parts that are listed in the kit. Now if you want it to hold more than 750HP, then you might want to install the steel forward hub from TCS. If more than 900HP, then add the HD input drum from TCS. Now it should hold up to 1200HP+, with the right torque converter.

 

For now I don't see more then 750 at the crank. When I build my motor I will go back threw it and throw in a brake and all. I might get the hub just to be on the safe side.

How much should expect to pay for a 400 case or a blown 400? (local)

I was told a while while while back that the 400 came in a iron case and in an aluminum. That true?

 

yeah, i ahve an aluminum th400 case sitting in my closet right now. i just have to get around to finding a local builder, or get crazy and try it myself, i already ahve all the hard parts, just no clutches

 

the cars will run fine without the tuning for the transmission removed from the ecm. I have a th350, never tuned for it, no check engine light.