th 400 questions

[Redog]

OK I'm looking to do a tranny rebuild soon, and I came across 2 types of flexplate shileds.

One is just a strip of steel that goes around the flexplate with a blow out rating of 30, the other is a shield that goes over the flexplate and down overtop of the transmission. This has a guard rating of 30 for the flexplate and 4 for the transmission drums

This motor will not have tranny breaking power now, but in the future, plus I wanna play it safe. I've seen too many fires and injuries to flying flywheels.

Should I get just the flexplate, or to entire shield? The shield is over $300 but the flexplate one is only $87. I rather pay $300+ if it's going to keep me safe.

[Redog]

Right now I'm planing on a 2000 or a 2500 stall converter, I'm leaning towards 2000.

[Jim's rare 80]

First, if the tranny's built right, a TH400 is pretty hard to break. If you are concerned, spend the $300.00, and rest easy. That's my $0.02.

[Olds64]

I just bought a TH 400 book for a rebuild that I am going to do soon and I couldn't see anything in it about aftermarket flywheel covers. I would suggest spending the money someplace else. You would have to build the engine pretty strong to break a TH 400 or the flywheel. Plus there are other modifications you can do to the transmission to improve the durability of it. The $300 you would spend on an aftermarket flywheel cover would be better spent on a deep transmission pan and an external transmission fluid cooler. Those are always good things to have, even if you aren't racing the vehicle.

[Redog]

Is the "intrea" flywheel on Mondello worth the $400?

[J-(Chicago)]

Originally Posted by Redog

Is the "intrea" flywheel on Mondello worth the $400?

If you ask me, I'd say don't give them a dime.
I'd rather give $400 to a crackhead to wash my car at a stoplight.

I am childish and stubborn though at times, and this may just be one of those moments.

[88 coupe]

Originally Posted by Redog

Is the "intrea" flywheel on Mondello worth the $400?

Not at your power level.

Norm

[Redog]

OK That saves me $319

WOOT

[Redog]

So here's what I'm looking at:

http://www.transmissioncenter.com

Heavy Duty TH 400 Tranny
Monster Converter (1800 to 2200 stall)
Extended 1 year warranty
Stock Flywheel
Dipstick kit
Tranny Mount


I already have a tranny cooler still in the box in my shed, bought for this project, and I'm thinking of getting a Tranny gauge, and since I'm not putting in that speical flywheel or getting the Flexplate sheild right now, I'll buy a deep tranny pan, probably from Summit

[Olds64]

Before you buy a TH 400 you should ask what internal modifications they do. If all they do is install a shift kit then you might as well do that yourself. If the "heavy duty" TH 400 you are going to buy has modifications like an aftermarket indermediate sprag clutch, metal thrust washers, and extra steel and friction clutches in the clutch stacks.

[Redog]

Here is the list of internals

√ PRECISION MASTER OVERHAUL KIT
• New Gaskets, Seals, O-rings, Teflon rings
• New Governor Filter
• New Rubber Seals for Drums & Pistons
• New High Performance Friction Clutches
• New Steel Friction Plates
• New Steel Check Balls
• New Double Lip Seals (Front & Rear)
• New Alto Red Eagle Race Clutches
• New Brass Washer Kit "NO PLASTIC HERE"
• New Bushings & Torrington Bearings
√ SUPERIOR HIGH PERFORMANCE REPROGRAMMING SHIFT KIT
√ SUPER PUMP
• New Pump Bushing
• New Stator bushings & sealing rings
• Modified Boost Valve Assembly
• New Boost Valve Spring
√ DIRECT/REVERSE INPUT DRUM
• Machined surface for Maximum Band Performance
• Spun balanced & checked
• New 34 element roller sprag
• New smooth cam drum assembly
√ FORWARD CLUTCH HOUSING
• Thoroughly checked & inspected Spline, Drum casting
√ UPDATED/MODIFIED ACCUMULATORS
√ RAYBESTOS PRO SERIES KEVLAR BAND
• High-Temp. Tolerant
• Improved holding power
• Added strength at Strut Support
√ UPDATED & MODIFIED GOVERNOR w/SPRING KIT & NYLON GEAR
√ RECALIBRATED VALVEBODY
√ RECALIBRATED VALVE PLATE FOR SHIFT FIRMNESS
√ NEW HIGH FLOW FILTER
√ NEW LOW/REVERSE HEAVY DUTY SPRAG
√ NEW HEAVY DUTY ACCUMULATOR SPRING
√ NEW MODULATOR

[Olds64]

Sounds pretty cool. If the price is right then it would definitely be easier to buy it as opposed to building it yourself. I don't know anything about the company though. You might want to price around.

[J-(Chicago)]

Originally Posted by Redog

I'll buy a deep tranny pan, probably from Summit

Haha, I put one of these on a female friends Chrysler 5th Avenue. The old pan was bent,scraped, and leaking. Once the new pan was on I found out what had happened to the old one the very next day.
She drove over one of those ribbed center medians to turn into work everyday, and ruined another.

Yet another time in history where an upgrade becomes a toilet flushing.

[Redog]

Originally Posted by Olds64

Sounds pretty cool. If the price is right then it would definitely be easier to buy it as opposed to building it yourself. I don't know anything about the company though. You might want to price around.

Yeah I've been shopping around and this company is one of the few that lays everythng out and gives a decent warranty. Plus I bought some stuff from them before and they are very helpful

[Olds64]

I would say go for it then.