How much hp do you think this turbo 400 will handle

[434 nova]

I just bought this trans here are the specs how much hp do you think it will handle . thankyou

Chevy 400 transmission
Reverse manual valve body
Dual high gear feed
Alto red performance clutches
15 clutches total
roller output rear bearing
Heavy duty high gear drum with 34 element sprag

[Bob West]

How heavy is the car?

[434 nova]

at most 3400 pounds 69 nova glass hood with other weight reduction mods setup with sbc built 10 bolt aluminum heads etc.

[John_Heard]

It shouldn't have any problems, you need to do your burnouts properly to avoid problems with the sprag. I've been told on my 400 to get it into high right away or start in high during burnouts to avoid rolling the sprag in it.

[427belair]

Ive heard that you should never do a low gear brn out with all gm tranny's . Any truth to that? Hughes told me to start in high gear with my glide I bought from them.

[dadnova]

Now someone tells me, That might explain why we went through three transmissions last year. My son drives the car alot and every burn out was like a burnout contest, as Dad is buying the tires and the crowd loved it, I just stood and watched(but they weren't paying for the transmissions). The clip ring was breaking the cases between the gears .

Live and learn or read and learn.

[pro70z28]

I was told the same thing from Rossler. Shift to high right away or start out in high.

[ARAM]

I was told by Mikes Trans. With a 400 trans you shouls start your burn out in 2nd and move to 3rd fairly quick , With a 350 you should start in 1st and grab 2nd quickly . Never use high gear for a burn out , its real hard on clutches ,
Olso if you feel the tires starting to grab you should end your burn out . Hope this helps .

[wikd69]

Now someone tells me, That might explain why we went through three transmissions last year. My son drives the car alot and every burn out was like a burnout contest, as Dad is buying the tires and the crowd loved it, I just stood and watched(but they weren't paying for the transmissions). The clip ring was breaking the cases between the gears .

Live and learn or read and learn.

I know I'm coming in late to the party here, but I found out the hard way that doing 1st to 2nd gear burnouts are a quick way to kill TH400's. I bought and installed a new TCI TH400 and wasted it 4 days later doing burnouts in a parking lot. d-uh....

After that last smoke session 2nd gear was gone and the trans would lock up in 3rd. Not good. Got it home, dropped the trans pan and found these laying in the bottom. These are case lock lugs wiped out of the transmission case itself.

[BILTIT]

So what about all the guys that don't use a manual valvebody? No real way to avoid 1st gear when doing a burnout. I can understand getting into second as quick as possible. Maybe it has something to do with some of us not having the amount of power as some of you other guys?

[sverbus]

And with a 'glide, some guys might have a hard time getting the tires moving and ya only got 2 gears to work with from the beginning. I always do my burnout to where I just start to get the tires spinning and soon as I feel the car break the tires lose I hit 2nd real quick and then get the tires moving real fast and then pull out of the box.

That normally gets the tires in great shape and nice and sticky!

Scott

[hsutton]

I think i'd start a moderate burnout at way less than full throttle in second and then go to high to get the wheel speed up and definately lift before the tires grab real hard. With a 'glide low is almost a must to get the burnout started. I'd use low gear to high gear in the 'glide.

[427belair]

Not to steal the thread but, with a glide is there any reason not to start in high gear if the car doesnt have any problems spinning them? My dad wants me to change my burnout procedure and start in low gear.

[nuthernova]

Now this post topic has really got my attention.

I have been through 3 350's in two months with only 1 and 1/2 passes at the track. I have replaced the stock drum with and aftermarket TCI assessmbly that was supposed to be bullet proof. It blew instantly. Then after some consultation with a major transmission builder, it was decided to go with a different combo. Now, after about 20 miles of street driving, maybe two highway passes on the trans., it now is acting funny and leaking fluid. The first two failures were after a nice burnout, 1st. 2nd gear burnout. Then BAM during the 1-2 shift...

of course, new clutches and a full flush with the cooler and converter during reassembly.

I'll try not to make this sound stupid, but other than switch to a glide or 400 combo, what else can a guy do? Keep in mind, this is a little 358 maybe 500HP, 12 bolt 488 gear. 4400 8 inch conv. Car weighs 3390 with me in it. This trans. has every good piece you can put in a 350 other than maybe an aluminum drum.

Suggestion?, Insults? I can take it.. I'm married.. You know.

[hugger73hatch]

Now this post topic has really got my attention.

I have been through 3 350's in two months with only 1 and 1/2 passes at the track. I have replaced the stock drum with and aftermarket TCI assessmbly that was supposed to be bullet proof. It blew instantly. Then after some consultation with a major transmission builder, it was decided to go with a different combo. Now, after about 20 miles of street driving, maybe two highway passes on the trans., it now is acting funny and leaking fluid. The first two failures were after a nice burnout, 1st. 2nd gear burnout. Then BAM during the 1-2 shift...

of course, new clutches and a full flush with the cooler and converter during reassembly.

I'll try not to make this sound stupid, but other than switch to a glide or 400 combo, what else can a guy do? Keep in mind, this is a little 358 maybe 500HP, 12 bolt 488 gear. 4400 8 inch conv. Car weighs 3390 with me in it. This trans. has every good piece you can put in a 350 other than maybe an aluminum drum.


Suggestion?, Insults? I can take it.. I'm married.. You know.

Damn that sucks. I have had the same TH350 in my car for about 10 years and it still works great. I probably should go through it pretty soon, but I haven't had any problems with it, other than a cracked bellhousing, which I replaced with an ultra bell.