Okay i have been trying to find a manual trans that I can use in my car because I HATE automatics. but theres nothing thats jsut bolt in because of the mother f*cking external balance. I either have to pay an *** load of money for a custom flywheel or use a balancer plate which moves the flywheel back 3/16" and I dont think the starter would mesh worth a sh*t with the flywheel then. I think I have no choice but to put another *** damned 700r4 in there and i swear if it breaks again im throwing this 400 in the trash and getting a 350.

 

No need to get angry. I went through all that about 3 weeks ago. Had to get a GM flywheel recut to work with my 400. Now I'm taking out the 5 speed and putting a 700R4 back in it. Why ? Because after 3 weeks or relatively normal driving the 5 speed couldnt take it anymore and gave up.

Now if I had a 350 I could have just bolted up my old 350 flexplate and put in the 700R4 TONIGHT! But noooooooo.... no can do with a 400! I had to take it to the machine shop so they can rape me for another 100 dollars to balance this flywheel for my 400. Sometimes I wish I went with a 350... bragging rights dont justify it enough and it's not much faster then my old 350. lol

 

Get the 700 built right and don't worry about it. I'm throwing 470 lbs or tq at mine and it's holding. And it's in my pickup which weighs over 4000 lbs!

 

just build the 700r4 right and it shouldn't have a problem. use a 4L60 if you can get it though. the newer the model, up to 93 will have more updated parts and usually stronger. i recomend using parts from www.tpiperformance.com . i've had nothing but good luck with their stuff as well as good prices. there are many 11 and 12 second cars with this trans. so if yours is failing so often there is another reason. you could also opt for a 2004R built well as they handle lots of turbo torque. i do agree though, 400's can be a pain in the ***.

 

Are you nuts??? Look @ Pace Performance Parts.. They've got the factory SFI flywheel you need for a DEAL!!!! Is your 400 already built?? If not, Eagle, CAT, Scat, and several others I'm sure offer affordable cast STEEL replacement cranks that are much stronger than stock and have enough meat added to the counter weights that, unless you are using some HEAVY pistons and rods, will internaly balance with little effort!!! As for bragging rights, My pump gas 421 stroker not makes over 630 HP on the dyno, and we're not done!!! We've still got a few tricks up our sleeves!! No I'm not worried about inspection or visual because I'm registering it as an ANTIQUE.. I've got to wait another 8 months and it will turn 20 yrs old.. In the state of Tx, that's all it takes!!!

 

GM part number 3986394 is a flywheel for externally balanced 400s and a 11inch clutch.

 

Hey Blackened, do you want to sell that 400 flywheel? I could really use that if I do use a saginaw 4 speed. Email me if you want to sell it, it would help me alot.

 

Well I have quite a bit of money invested in it for all the work that had to be done to it. Plus I'm keeping it around just in case I ever go back to a 5 speed. For the right price though I'll let it go to help you out. Shoot me an email with an offer

 

BTW, Blackened, how did you get it balanced for the 400? did the machine shop have to have your crankshaft to do it? I emailed competition machine of plano, and they said they cant balance it without the crank its going to go on, even if I bring them the 400 flexplate.

 

Hmm... well I had it balanced with the crank initially. BUT, now I needed a flexplate balanced and all the machine shop did was balanced the flexplate like the flywheel was. I had to take both to them though. I think my 400 flywheel would be pretty close to perfect as far as running it on another 400. But they shoudlnt need YOUR crank to do it. I'd say get a 400 crank.... or they should have one... and balance it to that. BUT if you already have a flexplate that's been balanced to your crank, I dont see WHY they couldnt balance the flywheel exactly like the flexplate was. I'd say they don't know what they're talking about