I have searched but the answer to my question evades me. I'm restoring (putting together might be closer) a '79 Caballero. Got it with no engine or tranny. The engine I'm installing is a 1970 Chevy 250 HP 350 with a Q-Jet. The Tranny I have on hand is a THM 350 with lock up converter from an '84 Elky. Question: can I just install the '84 tranny and run it for a couple of years with the converter unpluged? What problems can I run into if I do that other than changing the tranny in the future and spending a little more for gas? I need to spend my budget on other things like paint, upholstery,trim--well, you know. I had an '85 Citation, yeah, I know, a different animal, but the converter on that thing started the annoying habit of not unlocking at intersections at very inopportune times. I was given the choice of spending $1000 on a $500 car or just pulling a plug. We pulled the plug and I drove it another two years with no problems. Will using the '84 tranny give me the same service or are there other computer related functions in the '84 tranny that I'm not aware of? :???:

If you dont have the lockup wired in, thus you have no lockup. You're going to run into two things, excessive heat from the converter not locking up, and a shortened transmission life. If you live and drive in a cold area the transmission is likely to last less time, same if you drive a lot of highway miles. for the 350 you should be able to get a manual lock up switch wired in and you just flip the toggle switch and presto lockup. from what I've seen/heard at the shop you could make it years and never have a problem with it or weeks. I'm pretty new in transmissions so take what i say with that in mind but it's what I have heard from the guys I work with. best of luck.

consuela83'ss---Just read about your trans/engine problem. Sorry that trip ended so poorly. Your idea of a manual lock up for mine is a possibility. If there are no other computer functions to worry about I'll do it. For now I just need a drive train to make trips of 20 miles or less until I get all the bugs out of all systems and break in the engine. Then I'll worry about a permanent tranny. Thanks:smileyb:

when i had my overdrive tranny done the shop that did my unit said with the lockup disconnected i would notice a little higher cruising rpm maybe 200 max but i could drive it forever they built performance trans and recomended that i not hook it up because if the lockup solenoid hung up it could hurt the trans ran it 3 years no problems a friend of min is still using it in his SCCA car for the last 3 still no probs

Even if there is a concern about heat, a trans cooler is always a good idea, and not too expensive.

when i had my overdrive tranny done the shop that did my unit said with the lockup disconnected i would notice a little higher cruising rpm maybe 200 max but i could drive it forever they built performance trans and recomended that i not hook it up because if the lockup solenoid hung up it could hurt the trans ran it 3 years no problems a friend of min is still using it in his SCCA car for the last 3 still no probs
Just had a THM 350C installed without hooking the lockup up and they said other than a slight more rpm on highway it wouldn't hurt a thing also. They did say that if driving with the lockup and it stuck engaged thats what will kill a tranny. Not gonna hook mine up Jim:texas:

You might want to consider having the solenoid bench tested if the tranny is still out of the car. They only cost about 30 bucks if yours is bad. Mine is wired thru the brake light switch plus I have a toggle switch to overide it if I want to. My tranny guy said the converter will overheat if I don't turn it on once I get crusing like 50mph and i'm
going to stay in that zone for a while. I flip the switch, the RPM's drop no big difference is noticed and I know it wont overheat and I'm saving fuel.

B&M makes a kit to dial the lockup when you want it,Summit Racing carries it.

Thanks for all the info folks, it helps bunches. By the way, the THM350 I have is out of my '84 Caballero doner, not an Elky. Makes no difference I know but I like to be accurate.:beer::beer: