th350/700r4 swap

[Paul]

hello everyone, I am considering swaping out my th350 for a 700r4 tranny, which is mated to a 3spd case. Could someone tell me how much longer this set-up will be and if flipping my back springs will make up the difference for the driveshaft length. I have 4" skyjacker springs. Thanks in advance. paul. p.s. since nobody knows me on here this is a picture of my rig and my friends rig, mine is the red one.
<IMG width=293 height=216 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/jrsr.jpg">

[arndog]

wont you have to get a different adapter and I think the difference in length is a couple of inches. Flipping your rear springs will more then likely take care of this problem

arndog

[Blucruz]

I'll assume that you want the 700 because of the 4th gear OD? why not just look into a Ranger OD. Will be cheaper than an adapter/tranny and new drivelines. Wont ahve to rotate your springs and you wont have to build a new crossmember for the tranny.
Just something to think about <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

[arndog]

I think he already has a 350 and wants the 700 so the ranger would be pointless. this is of course speculation.

arndog

[Blucruz]

I think he already has a 350 and wants the 700 so the ranger would be pointless

If he has a 350 then the ranger would do the same thing for him that the 700 would. He would get the OD without switching the tranny and the adapter. The only gearing advantage that the 700 gives over the 350 is a slightly lower first gear.

[Paul]

actually the reason for the 700 swap is for BOTH the lower first gear and the overdrive, but mostly the lower first gear as i want to run 37" ssr's in the future without a gear swap. thx

[coyote]

Actually the 350 can have the 700 gears installed minus the od...and once you install th3 700 you will have to push back the mounts unless you just swap the internals of the 350 and the earlies of the 700.....

[Sixgun]

Originally posted by Paul:
<STRONG>actually the reason for the 700 swap is for BOTH the lower first gear and the overdrive, but mostly the lower first gear as i want to run 37" ssr's in the future without a gear swap. thx</STRONG>

Paul, first of all welcome to this board, nice rig man. Some things you will need to consider also are front driveshaft clearance (tranny oil pan) and even if you swap the springs and find the right length for your rear drive shaft you will still have to deal with the angles if you are not running a a double cardan cv joint. Cruiser driveshafts are not very tolerant to angles above 18 degrees, no matter how you shim the perches. What gears are you currently running? I know folks that are running 38's on stock 4.11's and are happy with on and off road performance.

[Paul]

yes my gears are 4.11 and I have more than enough power, but even now when I am just cawling through trails etc, I would like to have a slower speed without having to use 4lo. The terrain up here keeps you going up and down in speed alot (ie 40 mph one minute and slow cawl the next) so switching into low range would be impractical.
I am very interested about the internal gear swap for the th350 with 700r4 guts. could you give me more information on this process sounds like the best way to me. thx

[wheelinjp]

I was just talking to someone about the same thing and I found the th700 is 4in. longer and you do need a new adapter$$$$ For the price of a new adapter you could prob. go 488s and some told me the 700r4 is a weaker tranny. Hope this helps and Welcome to the board.

[Nanuk]

I used to hang around dirt tracks in a prior life and a lot of the street stock guys would put a low gear set in their T350's.
Keep in mind if you get bigger tires, that will give you somewhat of a taller gear.
Also while you may not have drive line problems now or even when you flip the springs, if you ever decide to go taller it might be nice to have a longer rear d-shaft. (ie shorter overall drive train)
I think Summit, Jegs and places like Speedway carry the low gear sets. Check um out and it might work for ya.
I have 35's with a 465 (1:1 4th gear) and have never felt a need for more top end.
Plus it would be a LOT easier to just keep what you have and regear it than swap trannies, buy new adapter, get a new drivshaft, etc, etc.

[Paul]

originally posted by Coyote

Actually the 350 can have the 700 gears installed minus the od

Is there any more information out there on how to do this, do you need a "kit" of some sort, or can you just swap out the gears and planetarys? p.s. I really enjoy this board there seems to be alot of knowledgable people on here, I get alot of my questions answered just going through the archives. thanks again

[coyote]

If I was a tranny guy I could fill in the blanks but all I can tell you is that a racing tranny guy can do it, more then likely...he explained it like I said, the 350 and 700 are very similiar and likewise the 400 and 4L60 are close as well...you might try Summit or Jegs? I will talk to the guy tomorow and see what else he can elaborate on as far as parts go but this is his lively hood so sometimes he only tells so much...like yes I can do it or no it can't be done, never says that he hasn't seen something but builds trannys all day long....