Which tranny is more reliable, stronger, etc. I am VERY new to this chevy stuff and am just trying to figure out the diff between the two. I searched and couldn't find much of a comparison between the two. Also which comes stock with what? Just trying to get my info down. Thanx guys

A 400 is one stong auto trannie and a 465 is one strong standard.
It all depends on what you want and what you are going to do. My opinion is if mud and sand= Auto
rocks= standard
But this is a long standing debate on which works best if you hang around long enough.
The 465 same in everything from 1/2 ton to at least 1 ton and have a first gear ratio of like 6.65:1
The 400 came in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks, I dont know if they ever put them in 1/2 tons, not sure on the first gear ratio on those I have never owned one.

Visit the Pirate 4x4 Bible for all the gear ratio's of those trannies. Automatics are nice sometimes (as in is this your DD?), but you'll like the freedom of the manual for offroad situations, so long as you don't mind burning your clutch a little bit. :)

T400 is a strong tranny though. I believe all of them came behind 454's??? (At least I've never found one behind a 350 around here)

SM465... Cheap, strong- almost to the point of bulletproof, and there are a ton of them around for parts.

If it were me... Go SM465 with a nice centerforce clutch and don't look back. If its my road/trail rig... get the auto.

I have the sm465 I just had it rebuilt and the guy at the shop said it had never been apart since 79 thats 21 years of service, gotta love that, don't know much about the auto I like banging gears myself.

I would go SM465. Excellent for rock crawling. You can't get the ultra low gearing with an auto.
But if you do a lot of street driving you might want to opt for the auto, unless you like shifting gears in traffic.:skull:

last i looked the "bible" had the wrong ratios for the 465.
I emailed them the correct info but they never changed it
2.48 or so is the 1st in the 400
6.56 first for the 465 (1.7 or 1.58 is the 465 gear confusion it IS 1.7)

both are strong transmissions. driver preference is usually the deciding factor in this debate. I personally hate automatics, they don't work worth a damm full of water and they are a pain to get all the fluid out of. at least the stick you can drive it home and then change the oil.

Originally posted by SethHaines
I believe all of them came behind 454's??? (At least I've never found one behind a 350 around here)



oh yes commen for a 350

bros vandura 350 with the 400 auto
a budys mom has a 2500 HD 4x4 Subburban with 350 and the TH 400

the things NEVER given us any problems

How do you get water in the auto? Dipstick tube? Seems like there would be an easy solution.