Well the repaired Transmission I just got in, what a week or two ago, is Junk Yard fodder now! I hate having problems! :evil:

Cruising on the freeway went to pass a truck, bigger truck, gave it a little too much gas or something I mean I broke the transmission in half, no kidding! Its got to be the sorriest excuse for a transmission that I have ever had the pleasure to run.

The whole back of my Elky is covered in a film of transmission fluid but then so was anything that was behind me on the freeway Friday Night. "Good Friday! - Sure!"

Well I was wanting and needing an overdrive anyway. Now I just have to figure out where I am getting the cash for it. My lovely wife is telling everyone that she told me to replace the transmission when I put in the new engine, that was two years ago! Man they don't forget anything. :D

Its just a bad casing I would think cheap metal something. But this time it is trash.. .

This was the last two weeks, get the transmission in. Cooling line ruptures, the flare end snaps off, transmission fluid all over the place. Get that fixed get the truck inspected, the transmission lower cooling line starts to leak. Fix that, get it all tuned great running perfect, decide to go on a cruise to check it out. Drive around for an hour or two end up way away from the house decide to finally get on the freeway to go back to the house.

Windows down stereo up just enjoying the drive, come up on a big rig running too slow and decide to go around and give it some good gas and hear a big clunk type sound. I could feel it in my feet, I look back and see nothing but smoke. How embarrassing! :(

I have a 700R4 lined up, hopefully I can get it in before the Super Chevy Show in Dallas coming up. What a waist! I hate 350 THM. Piece of junk.

Hey Pete sorry to hear about your problems.

But if it makes you feel any better things like that happen to me ALL the time.

And my wife NEVER forgets!

Why didn't you replace the tranny when you did the engine? LOL

You know its not the fact that it tore up that transmission that really stinks. I was cruisin! That is what stinks. It was looking good I had spent all day long Friday getting it all polished, took all the wheels off and hand rubbed the wheels down, the body had just been cleaned and hand glazed. It was show ready buddy.

I added new insulation under the hood and was finally where I could listen to the tunes while driving at speed, it was looking fine! It was running great, better in fact than it ever has. Then smoke started pouring out. I hate cars that smoke even a little! I hate 350 THM tramsmissions too! Pieces of junk.

I'm sure everyone on the highway was thinking "What a piece of junk!" That bothers me! I don't know why but it does, more than needing a new transmission.

Stupid is it not!?! :? :stupid:

I'm rebuilding my 80'. My engine will put out 450 or better. I was afraid of the very same thing happening, so I started to look through the swap sheets.
Found a th400 for $450. GET THIS with trans break, reverse manual shift valve body, perf clutches and heavy duty sprag.
Guy took it to a trans shop paid for parts, never came back for it. I picked it up for what he owed, plus a little more I'm sure. Hell for that price I couldn't pass it up.

Well Elkypete I hate to hear that.

Let me guess it wasn't a 400 was it?

~But seriously what type was it?

Yeah, Rob. Just had my 400 redone and it cost 700 so the 450 might be a good deal if it is in very good shape. If you can swing it the 700-r4's are about as strong and have OD and 4 speeds.

Pete I think you need a mid-engine mount on that Elky. I have a friend with a blown small block Chevy in a '39 Ford. He had two 350THM break into pieces just like what happened to you. After the second trans bit the dust I helped him install a mid engine mount plate and he hasn't broken the third 350THM yet. A big drawback is all of the added vibration but he hasn't had to stop and sweep up pieces of 350THM.
Of course I'm kidding, a mid mount plate is not a practical solution, but I would advise that you check the engine trans alignment and consider firmer engine and trans mounts.

I have been thinking hard on the alignment issue. I've never busted a trans with any other ride.

I can almost blame myself on the last one. We pulled out the broken one and re-welded it. I should have re-cased it to another case or something.

It was a 350 THM. I had it about 2 maybe three years and had about 1500 miles on it at best. It had a mild shift kit. After putting in the NEW MSD ignition and the 3.73:1 rear end it was really running well and I mean really well. But this didn't brake on a takeoff. I was traveling too fast for it to kick down a gear also so that wasn't the problem either.

I have been thinking that I could have a broken mount somewhere. I've checked and re-checked the Motor Mounts and they're good. As far as alignment it seems good. When we were putting it back in it slid in place like it was suppose to no fighting no fuss.

I was told the reason it broke the first time was because of torque feedback. Supposedly the torque buildup was due to the 2.73:1 gear in the rear and the amount of torque the 383 is producing and the weak link was that transmission.

I am thinking a solid mount for the New one. I'll be installing a New (fresh) 700R4 in its place. I wanted an overdrive for this but not this way. So I have a 700R4 with performance mods through out. I can't afford to brake this one. A 350 THM is around 400 to 500 with a competition shift kit the 700R4s are in the 1100 range for one that is built up well.

I can't be producing that much torque. I don't have a really big cam. I figure that, at best, I am making about 400 Horses and around 400 to 425 Lb./ft. of torque MAX. It is probably more like 380 ponies just feels like more. My cam is in-between the Comp Xtreme Energy 268 and 274. I have the 268 with 1.6:1 rockers and about a 10.5 compression. So its not that much and up to getting the ignition issues fixed it was a real dog the old HEI wasn't firing all 8 well or even all 8. #1 was always fouling out with gas. So most of the time spark wasn't even getting there.

I don't know, like I said, maybe I expected too much from the patch job on the bell housing. If I tear up the 700R4 I'll just quit! NOT!

I am going to see if the G-Force Crossmember is the same for the 73-77 years. I am going to dry fit the one I have for the 80 in place to see if it will work. If it does then I'll get one for the 76. It looks like it will, right now I have the factory Crossmember I can relocate it pretty easy the bolt holes are already there (400 THM Mounts I think) so I don't have to re-drill and the only other thing I have to deal with is possibly changing the pad/mount on the Crossmember to compensate for the differences in tail shaft heights. I'll also add a cooler with the 700 is a Non-Lockup type so I'll have a little more heat.

Well see what happens.