James, can you tell me what lock up means? I found this site that has the different trans info. http://www.maliburacing.com/auto_tranny_id.htm
If I'm reading this correct, I have a Stock C=low torque, heavy car and it could be Modified to B=Heavy torque, light car?
The "lock up" refers to the torque converter. Converters have some slip to them all the time, not just when you are stopped. A lock up converter has a part that locks the sections of the converter together under certain conditions. When locked there is no slip, which is good for gas mileage and reducing heat in the trans.
James, can you tell me what lock up means? I found this site that has the different trans info. http://www.maliburacing.com/auto_tranny_id.htm
If I'm reading this correct, I have a Stock C=low torque, heavy car and it could be Modified to B=Heavy torque, light car?
We are installing a 350 SB, I was wondering if the TH350C was ok for that size engine. Considering there was a 229 installed prior. Sounds like we should be fine with the TH350C and 350 SB.
The lockup TH350C has some plastic washers inside and isn't quite as strong as the old, original TH350. But it'll handle a fairly-stock 350 especially in a lighter car. It was usually provided in Malibu wagons. Other cars got the TH200C which has even more plastic parts. Like the TH350C, the nomenclature TH200C also means it has a locking torque converter. Other locking torque converter trannies include the TH200-4R and TH700R4, neither of which have the letter C in their nomenclature.
With all of these trannies, the later they were produced, the more reliable they became; early TH200Cs and TH200-4Rs, for example, earned a bad reputation for wearing out before 100K miles. I haven't heard such complaints about the 350C, however. By the mid '80s, all of these trannies were fairly reliable and many have lasted well into the 200+K mile range without a problem.
There used to be a cupla sites with more-detailed info but it looks like they've gone kaput :-( One thing I was looking for was a listing of trannies showing their design torque ratings.
Unfortunately, it doesn't include the TH350 or 350C :evil:
EDIT: I just noticed statements I made concerning the 4L60 and 4L80 were greatly in error, and deleted them
Frankly, if you HAVE to use a 3-speed automatic, I'd go with the 350C (unless you need the brute power-handling capability of the TH400). They're nowhere near as common as the other trannies, however; so if you eventually want to get rid of it, don't just junk it.
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