I am in the middle of building a crawler and am just about to start looking for an engine and tranny. I want to go with a 350 but I don't know what to look for.

I am used to building cars, not 4x4 trucks... I have heard that there are differences between car and truck transmissions but what is it? Is it just the transfer case? Do I need to get a transmission that came from a 4x4 or can I get any transmission and bolt a tcase to it or?

Another question, what engine-transmission combo would you suggest if going with a chev 350?

I want old school... no computer controlled stuff. (Would be fine with MSD ignition but no more computer.)

Thank you!

well, I can say you will want a TH400 tranny, to start. You will most likely want a 205 tcase. Th400 is a strong trans and the 205 is an all gear driven case. Those are in a number of 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. If you get a 2wd trans, you will need to swap output shafts or run a divorced case. Otherwise you will want a 4wd trans and a case that came with that trans or there will be more swapping. Search th400 and you will get alot of infor on what you are looking for and also NP205. Grumpy did a good thread on that subject. Look around and all of your answers will be answered.

click on search and start reading, there are tons of threads on th400 trannys. What are you building? If its just your average chevy on 35s like mine there is nothing wrong with a thm350 tranny 203 Xcase combo. Obviously in the world of 4x4 bigger is better but more expensive. SERCH!!

I didn't know what to search for but now thanks to glenns89 I know what to start looking for. :mr-t:

This is going to be for a machine that can do some crawlin, general 4x4in in mud, snow, rocks, logs and steep hills etc... So I need power to launch the truck when needed, and crawlin power to slowly get over everything I come across.

How about a 6.2L diesel? or should I stick with gas?

Mud is about the only thing that a mild 350 won't like too much. You need torque and wheel speed for mud. Big blocks work better there. I would stay away from the 6.2. There are writeups on that too. Maybe build up the 350 a little or even stroke it with a 400 crank and give it some more grunt and RPM capabilities. The 203 is a good case in moderation. The 241 is a good strong case if you want the lower gear in a stock case.

Fuck an automatic trans. Get a 4 speed, a SM465 with an attached NP205 tcase.

I hate automatics.:evil:

Fuck an automatic trans. Get a 4 speed, a SM465 with an attached NP205 tcase.

I hate automatics.:evil:

I have to agree that i also hate autos. I have 2 465/205 combos and 1-350turbo/205. Guess which is broke

If i went auto i'd definately go 400/205 if possible. I have no luck finding those here but you may fair better. The slpline count must be the same on the output of the tranny andmate to to the input of the transfer though unless you wanna swap tail shafts

Depending on what you're doing with it any carbureted 350 will work also.

WTFiG

*where the fuck is grumpy?

If there's any chance of getting water in the engine you don't want a flat tappet cam. REtrofit roller cams cost the world so try to find a donor with the factory roller cam block; after 1987 (IIRC). a tubo 400 / 205 is a great combination for ultimate beef and low cost. my trans mechanic told me to stay with the TH350 because it is so cheap to fix. manuals are great until you have to go though the gears in a mud pit.

WTFiG

*where the fuck is grumpy?
:lmao:
Best line of the day man.:D

I almost replied to this post at work, just didnt have time...

do people really not know what to build?

sure lets build a 10k rpm motor to idle around on the fawkin rocks..

im willing to bet *(still) that a properly geared 11 hp briggs and stratton could power most rock crawlers.

you need torque.

thats all.

if youre building something to haul 6000 lbs of shit around, you 5% of that weight in torque. thats 300 ftlbs. that'll get the job done. you wont break a lot of axles either.

Gear it right, it'll get you there. Tire size has everything to do with gearing for the available torque.

4.10's and 33s
4.56's and 36s
4.88's and 38s
5.13's and 40s

for a small block, that'll get you there.

if you didnt have an idea before, then you should now.

next thing youre gonna say is "I have 500 ft/lbs of torque with my 350 that has a set of stock heads and a hydraulic flat tappet cam running a single plane... I know so, because i added all the mods together to come up with that number"...

Lets not go there.

The only thing I was saying about the stroker for RPM is so when he is in the mud he could stay in a higher gear longer to keep up the wheelspeed and not bog it out. The other key to that is to have the proper gearing. I have almost no mods on my 96-99 Vortec 350 and it goes everywhere. I have 37" tires and 4:56 gears.

The only thing I was saying about the stroker for RPM is so when he is in the mud he could stay in a higher gear longer to keep up the wheelspeed and not bog it out. The other key to that is to have the proper gearing. I have almost no mods on my 96-99 Vortec 350 and it goes everywhere. I have 37" tires and 4:56 gears.

as it should.