My Cutlass has always had a whine in FIRST GEAR ONLY, like if it were a muncie rock crusher. Shifts well, no other noise coming from the transmission.
Just wondering if it is normal for the THs to make the gear whine noise in first.

Also I should add that the pitch corresponds to the RPM, and if i drive it in Low gear and let off the gas the pitch goes down like the muncies do (and there's a bad-a** exhaust popping too)

 

I don't mind a little whine in those gears. I consider that normal, with out other symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it.

Popping in the exhaust, leads to other problems. That could indicate incorrect timing or tune up issues.

 

IS the bad add exhaust pop when you let off after winding up first gear? Leads me to think the car is pig rich and the unburnt gas is "exploding".

 

Yes I drop it in first and wind it up to about 2000 RPMs and let off

 

The whine is normal, I use to get it through the original radio. Running it up to 2k shouldn't be an issue at all once you let off. As Don mentioned, its sounds like you need a tune up with timing put into it.

Eric

 

Whine is just noise from the planetary gears. Usually first and reverse do it in TH350s. They did it in mine until the gears themselves actually broke after two "freshen up" type rebuilds when it had close to 500000 miles on it. The replacement makes the same noise. Even the TH400 in my old Pontiac makes a little bit of the same whine. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Have some cheese with the whine..., if its not ungodly loud its normal. The popping can be an exhaust leak also.

 

IIRC one major part of the TH350 spins at twice input shaft speed when in first, and that gets noisy. Intermediate drum? I'm trying to think back 15 years here....
I've had 6 or so TH350's, they all did it.