SBF - Th400

Nokooler

Forum Member
SBF w/TH350/TH400.. This sounds soo stupid, I know. It'll cost some cash to build my t-5.. I did find a cheap Liberty built T-5.. But within a couple years, I'm hoping to have a 5.3L truck motor ;). Anybody else do anything like this?? Just looking for simple info. How did the crossmember work out? Perform better than a C4/aod?
Keep in mind, I was running [email protected] with Slicks, 1.82 60'. I was thinking just a high stall, then spray it down.
 
At that kind of power I think a c4 or aod is fine and much cheaper. Most people go to a Th400 or power glide when they start making a ton of HP and get sick of breaking c4's. If it's mostly a street car I'd just throw a decent AOD in it. With a good converter and some nitrous they work good. At your mph now with a 150 shot and an aod it would probably run 11's on spray. And even with a 4.10 gear be able to drive it to the track. Least I did with my 91 vert.


Just for the Bellhousing to bolt up a th-400 to a smallblock ford your looking at $300+ and it won't really be bolting upto a chevy motor again unless you change it again or get a new case. You can see what I had to do to my trans mount to make my Th-400 fit but my motor is as far back as it will go.
 
Last edited:
Have you talked to Rich @ Detroit Gearbox? I am willing to bet he can set up your ford trans to handle the abuse, and I would suspect the price wouldn't be a nut kicker.
 
and im pretty sure you can also get a t5 to bolt up to a 5.3l if you wanna go that route
i saw it somewhere on ls1tech and it was pretty easy
 
At that kind of power I think a c4 or aod is fine and much cheaper. Most people go to a Th400 or power glide when they start making a ton of HP and get sick of breaking c4's. If it's mostly a street car I'd just throw a decent AOD in it. With a good converter and some nitrous they work good. At your mph now with a 150 shot and an aod it would probably run 11's on spray. And even with a 4.10 gear be able to drive it to the track. Least I did with my 91 vert.


Just for the Bellhousing to bolt up a th-400 to a smallblock ford your looking at $300+ and it won't really be bolting upto a chevy motor again unless you change it again or get a new case. You can see what I had to do to my trans mount to make my Th-400 fit but my motor is as far back as it will go.

For some reason I was thinking it would be a bit easier to go auto in the long run.. I thought about the AOD, but I heard they are a bit more money to build than the c4.. thus making the 5.3L not as cheap as I thought.
 
Have you talked to Rich @ Detroit Gearbox? I am willing to bet he can set up your ford trans to handle the abuse, and I would suspect the price wouldn't be a nut kicker.
No I haven't, I was expecting around the area of $700-$1000 to make it last.. My trans really needs to be gone through x.x.
and im pretty sure you can also get a t5 to bolt up to a 5.3l if you wanna go that route
i saw it somewhere on ls1tech and it was pretty easy
I looked into that as well.. That was my original plan, but I was thinking I would mess up my T-5 again .. x.x.
I'll call Detriot Gearbox after Christmas.
 
I agree with the C4 deal. Your not making enough HP or going fast enough to worry about it. A C4 will handle an 11 second car for at least few summers with abuse before needing anything.

I also just picked up my C4 from rich today actually. Not a terrible price, and we upgraded some hard parts too. I'd definitely give the man a call when you think your ready.
 
Last edited:
I've been 10 teens at over 140 with a C-4. I will be seeing Rich for a trans upgrade this Winter though. I'm gonna be pushing the limits with my C4 with the new combo :)
 
Thanks guys. My car was originally an auto car, its kind of cut up by the shifter. Not sure if that affects me using a C4. I'll probably call Rich and look into getting my T-5 rebuild/beefed. If I go c4, it'll have to be a 3.08-2.73? geared car, with a turbo. I'll be a SBF for a few more years now ;).
 
Back
Top