I'd avoid the 700R4 because it's a Chevy bolt pattern. The prices you quote are reasonable assuming the transmissions are rebuilt properly with high quality aftermarket parts. Will your local tranny shop quote a 200-4R?
Thanks guys. I think the cost of a manual conversion is going to be prohibitive, so it'll probably be a TH350 or 200R4. I'm trying to track down a 200R4 around here. There are only 2 decent rebuild shops on the island. Thanks for your replies, David
Just one more question about the TH350- if I decide to go with another TH350, I remember reading that there were some TH350's that were weaker than others (the case, I think). How would you identify these weaker transmissions (if there is such a thing)??? The cost of converting to a manual or going with a 200R4 setup is probably going to lead me right back to a TH350... so I am coming full circle now.
You are absolutely correct, however, I am planning to bring the car back with me to the mainland in 18 months- Whatever I decide to buy now, I am going to be stuck with for quite a while...
You can get a BOP Turbo 350 from Summit for about $900 plus shipping (using your existing torque converter). That'll get you by until to return to the mainland. If you decide to convert to a 200-4R you should have no problem selling the Turbo 350 to offset some of the conversion cost.
Will a switch pitch torque converter work on a TH350? Even so, I am not sure I would stick an old high mile torque converter full of dirty old fluid in a brand new transmission that I just paid a grand for.
A switch pitch converter (1965-67) will NOT fit a THM350 trans. There are 12" (2 speed trans) and 13" (3 speed trans) switch pitch converters; the 12" will also fit the 3 speed THM400. Nice cheap & rugged way to get a little more from a 3 speed, and no need to change axle ratio to optimize 4 gears. Bruce Roe
He's got a Turbo 350 in the car now, not an ST300. Using the existing converter may not be the ideal way to go if the new tranny is a keeper, but if it's in good shape it'll save a few hundred bucks until he upgrades to a 200-4R.
I think it's my fault for hijacking this thread- The OP is someone other than me. I have a TH350 in my car. I think the OP has an ST300. Last time I hijack a thread...ou:
That might be a good idea, Bill. Get this- it would be WAY cheaper for me to buy a Summit Trans and then ship it Fed Ex next Day Air to Hawaii, than to buy a rebuilt one from the trans business down the street- it's crazy living here, sometimes... I'm looking a freight rates now to get a better shipping quote. I am definitely getting a new converter with the trans- I think the converter that is in the car right now is below 1000 rpm since it slams into gear and loads the engine up horribly at a stop (idle set at 650 in gear). I really want to get away from that- and be able to idle without having the car pulling so hard against the brakes. Do you think a 1200 converter would make a noticeable difference? Most of the roads here are 45-50 mph, and I have highway gears in the rear, so I need a converter that's not going to be slipping at 1500-1800 rpm....
It sounds like your switch pitch 300 trans is not going into high stall mode. I would try to get that workign right before anything else.