I just bought a 87 IROC 350 TPI that is 500 miles away. The guy said it will drive anywhere but when the trans is shifting it skips second gear. He did say that 4 gear works fine. Do you think it will make the long trip?? Is there a special lube that i can put in it to help it make a 500 mile trip. Most of the trip is on the highway so i will probably stay in 4th gear most of the time.

i have a second question also... When i do get the car home i am going to switch it over to a t-5 ..( i know i should not match up a 350 and t-5 but i do plan in the future to get a t56). Will i have to get a new chip for it because of the switch or will that not matter? I do remember reading a tech article about prog. proms and it said something selecting an auto or manual in the bin file.

Any info or opinions will help.. thanks matt

 

Usually if 2nd gear goes, 4th gear goes too. Are you sure the trans has 1st gear and 4th gear not 1st gear and 3rd gear? If the trans has 1st and 3rd then you should be able to make it home, and if you have 4th it should make it. 500 miles is far away so at least make sure the trans is filled to specs. I'd say its kind of risky but worse case cenario you tow it home and it costs you alot of money. If you get a 5 speed, you don't need to switch the chip right away although there are some differences. Obviously there's no tc lockup and I hear that the timing tables are set a little more agressivley, but you can just advance your timing and you'll be fine. Otherwise I don't think there are any differences between a manual and auto chip.

 

yeah .. the guy did say that 1st 3rd and 4rth all are working good.. but like you said it is a risk .. is there any special lube that i can put in it to help it a last a little longer?

 

My dad's pickup has a 700r4 and it has not had 2nd or 4th gear for almost a year and it is still going, so I think you will be fine. Just try and go easy on it and baby all the way home. As long as there is not a lot of start/stop along the way, i think your chances of a troublefree trip are good.

Tim