Building a TH350

01tj

01tj

#notoffroadsc
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Location
Greenwood Sc
This weekend my the TH350 in my TJ started slipping pretty bad. I'd like to build it so its pretty bullet proof for my set up with out spending unnecessary money. My TJ has 5.3 TH350 3.0 Atlas. Tons with 5.38s and 39 Krawlers. Anyone have some advice on what to do or what not to do?
 
It's a crap shoot. If you or who ever doesn't get it right it doesn't matter how much money you throw at it. I have a friend that once spent a few grand on one and it lasted a couple rides behind an LS1. We have another guy that had an OLD man build his stock and it has been wheeled HARD(think neutral drops) behind a healthy LT1 and a variety of large tires. That was 12yrs ago and that trans is still going strong.

I ran them for a few yrs and used multiple builders. I'm sorry I can't give a good recomondation on a shop.
 
I've been thinking how nice it would be to have a TH350 behind my 350 if I ever get around to it. Now this thread makes me second guess that idea. I hate wasting time and money
 
frankenyoter said:
I've been thinking how nice it would be to have a TH350 behind my 350 if I ever get around to it. Now this thread makes me second guess that idea. I hate wasting time and money
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Autos on the trail are just like ARBs on the trail. When PROPERLY built, they will give years of trouble free service.
 
I used hardened sprag races, full circle clips(instead of c-clips) hardened input shaft with a welded forward drum, the 4L60 low reverse roller and case support, a full manual valvebody, a deep pan and also a few other odds and ends but that is mostly it. I just built mine and it wasn't that bad. Ron Sessions has a book that will walk you through it step by step. Mine is between healthy LS and a 205 and turning 43s, I hope it lives for awhile, my last one was stock and lasted about a year then it grenaded.
 
I wouldn't even attempt to wheel how I do without an auto :lol:
 
Infamous1 said:
I used hardened sprag races, full circle clips(instead of c-clips) hardened input shaft with a welded forward drum, the 4L60 low reverse roller and case support, a full manual valvebody, a deep pan and also a few other odds and ends but that is mostly it. I just built mine and it wasn't that bad. Ron Sessions has a book that will walk you through it step by step. Mine is between healthy LS and a 205 and turning 43s, I hope it lives for awhile, my last one was stock and lasted about a year then it grenaded.
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About how much in parts did you have in that one? This one was a stock used trans that I put in mine. It lasted about a year with at least 2 ride a month on it.
 
Ended up around a thousand but already had my converter. I used alto red frictions and kolene steels and a welded kevlar ban in it also. I tried to beef it up as much as my broke ass could afford. I also have a fan cooled derale dual pass cooler on it. I used the derale deep pan with the cooling tubes, it runs 180 all day unless I'm crawling and I have seen 220.
 
While on topic of trans, what is an ideal running temp for say a th350/400 vs 4l60/80 or the like?
@transman731
 
transman731 said:
the best rule of thumb is never more than engine temp. i have seen 350's hit the 300 mark before though, especially in strip cars running air cooled converters.
i would say around the 220 range and you should think about cooling it down.
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What temp is the lower threshold for abuse? With big coolers and fans, I'm sure there is a reasonable minimum temp for abuse?

What are the necessary upgrades to make that you mentioned earlier?
 
I've had good luck with the 350. Another thing to consider is the cost of rebuild when it does go bad and I don't need overdrive on the trails.
 
01tj said:
Got the trans out this weekend, ready to be rebuilt. A few people I wheel with run these coolers, think its worth the extra money over a standard cooler?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-13700/overview/
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That's a nice piece. I was cruising around with Richard and Joseph yesterday in the blazing heat and noticed my trans lines were getting kinda hot. Been thinking about adding something similar to mine. Probably gonna take a cheaper alternative with a similar size cooler and add a small junkyard sourced fan to the back and wire in a negative relay trip semding unit somewhere inline set on 185 or so.
 
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