I paid about 220 for my TH-400 rebuild, but the case went bad in 3 months so i had to pay another 100 for a new case. I guess you get what you pay for, and in my case I got crap.

 

thats what i paid(at cost)

 

You can rebuild the trans yourself and save big $$$.

Pick up one of the rebuilding videos (just look on the web) and a TH-400 manual and you can easily do the job. You may need to have a machine shop do some minor work if any press fitting needs to be done but it should be minimal.

Make sure you have a TV with the video on your workbench when disassembling and reassembling the trans - trust me it makes all the difference. Also when you disassemble the trans bag each part and label the bag with what's in it. There are a lot of parts inside that thing and you don't want to mix them up.

I had never been inside an automatic before last winter and I spent about three weekends rebuilding a TH-350 for my truck project using the method stated above. Worked very well and was pretty easy. The video is the real key. Some of the techniques shown there save you hours of trying to figure out how the thing comes apart and goes back together.

My rebuild cost me about $160 including a quality shift kit, rebuild kit, and the purchase of a couple "rebuildable" valve bodies I used for parts. I also replaced a couple internal parts with heavy duty versions.


Good luck

Centerline
http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com

 

akm, you paid $650 at cost? or $850, which will be my cost before the converter and driveshaft? One of the things that seems sweet about this deal, is that the rebuilder will pick up and drop off the tranny for me.
Thanks for the confidence Centerline, I'll check the video first to see if I am willing to dive into it.

 

Are you sure about the tailshaft? My 77 Suburban had the same length T400 as a Chevelle should have (4" tail-shaft housing).

 

I don't know what the modifications are that you have planned for the tail shaft. It is either the right length, or it isn't. It isn't something that you can easilly modify and expect to work. There isn't anything special about one out of a suburban.

 

There are somethings to keep in mind when working on transmissions.

1. Dirt is NOT your friend.
2. Watch what you take apart, and the order.
3. Look for parts that appear to have wear on them,(inside of the drums, bushings and pump) and replace them if they do.
4. becareful when installing the pistons with seals on them. If possible, (air available) check to make sure that the clutches apply with air before puting the drums in, and before installing the valve body. Easier than taking the trans back out because you cut a seal puting it together.
5. Don't force anything together.

This advise comes from many years of correcting the work of people that thought they could work on anything because they had tools.
Good Luck.

 

mark2002

yep $650. i know the guy and he ran the shop.
i don't know jack$hit about trannys except how to install them.but he said he built it for 400hp, took out some kind of spring that allows it to shift really hard, and a shift kit.
haven't tried it yet--still sitting in the garage.

 

I have never heard of rigging a tailshaft on a tranny. I have heard of cutting the driveshaft to fit!ain: