Im putting a 396 in one of my Camaros......Will the 350 trans pose a problem or will I have to change the transmission also? If so whats a good automatic transmission to use? Ive heard of alot of set ups at our track but none are in f-bods . Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

If the trans you are referring to is a th350, then if it is in fair shape to start with you should have no durability concerns.Just be sure to get a long tailshaft so the driveshaft length will be correct.

Or are you asking about issues installing a th350 in your car? If so then a th350 is a fairly basic swap, the only issue is the tourqe arm, and the easiest way to solve it is to buy an aftermarket trans. crossmember with a tourqe arm mount built in it, or I have heard of some people using the 700r4 tailshaft housing on the th350, but I can not vouch for this.

 

Im taking the 350 out and dropping a 396 in. Thanks for the input.....thats something I would have over looked and found out the hard way. Ive done a buncha 305 to 350 swaps but never a 396. Thanks for the help. I greatly appreciate it. I want the job to go as smooth as possible since I'll be doing it all by myself with no strong men to do all the heavy work. Thanks again.

 

If the trans that was attached to the 350 engine is a 700R-4, odds are it won't live very long. There are a few builders who can make a 700R-4 hold a big block, but that'll run you more than $1500. For budget strength, get the Hurst kit and do a TH400. For the best automatic period, get a CPT-built 200-4R. However, most any transmission swap will require driveshaft work also.

 

That is what I was wondering, by 350 trans, does he mean a turbo 350, or the trans that came from behind his 350, which would be a 700r4, if it is a 700, I reccomend a good longshaft turbo 350, which will not need driveshaft mods, and should hold up to a street 396.

 

Well a 700-r4 wont like the 396 very much. I dont even think the th-350 will like the 396 very much eather. Better than the 700-r4 no doubt but usually in big block applications people (as well as GM) opt for the stronger th-400.

 

I've lunched 3 perfectly good TH350s behind 305s. Not racing either, just driving. They can be built strong, but they start out no better than anything else.

 

I have never understood why a 396 would need a turbo 400, I know it is a big block, but it is only 396 cubic inch, would a 400 small block need a turbo 400?I would not think so, I could understand a th400 behind a 454, but that is an additional 50 cubic inch.

 

I have been running a stock rebuild th350 for 5 years, I have went from low 12s to mid 11s with absoultely no issues. A GOOD th350 is plenty stout, and way better than a 700r4. The only reason I would step up to the extra weight of a turbo 400 was if I was going to use a transbrake, and even then it would not be necesary.

 

A properly prepped TH350 will hold up fine to a 396. Just take it to a reputable builder, tell them what you plan to do with it (and be realistic about how much street and track duty) and how much power, and they should be able to build something for you.

 

Yea a well modified th-350 will hold up to a reasonable 396 but a factory th-400 in good shape will hold up to a 396 as well. A well moded th-400 will be even stronger than the modded th-350 which will lead to greater reliability hands down in any case. Reliabilty of a factory th-400 vs built th-350 is arguable eather way i think the 400 would still have the edge but its debatable. The th-400 does weigh more and ive heard the losses are greater as well but it is tough. All of this is concidering a mild 396 though a built 396 vs even a built th-350 in raceing or enthusiastic driving conditions = bad day very quickly.