th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

[gt67sy]

Im at a crossroad and dont really know what to do at the moment and i need some of the experienced guys info to make an informed desiscion. little info on the truck

Fully built motor ( possible bowtie if a deal comes through) 4bolted with billet eagle crank
Pontiac Heads
Brodix/Pontiac Intake
Sheet metal upper Intake
Innovative t88 daul bb
Custom headers
Custom DP
FAST XFI
so on and so on everything to make it work and make a little bit of hp

and the truck currently has a brand new fully built best of everything 700r4 that has 22 miles on it and that i know will not survive. So its pointless to beat up a trans that you know wont live. So its going to be forsale. So im trying to figure out what to do. I have seen Autoaddictions truck in action as i am a fellow NJ guy, Franks truck is very impressive with the 4l80e in it. From talking to Harry Anderson who will be tuning my truck cost wise the th400 just make so much more sense. But i guess i wonder how the truck will be driving on the big roads turnpikes and stuff like that compared to the 700r4. I guess the overdrive is what really makes me want the 4l80e but the price is what drives me away i guess buy the time u are done doing a 4l80e swap its not unheard of to sink $4-5 grand into the swap. Everyone knows even a bullet proof th400 would be half as much. So any info from u guys would be great. TH400 guys what is your truck like driving around?

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

how much driving do you do on the road and how long will it take you to recoup the expense by having the TH400?

Your built trans will get you prob $2500 max right now, maybe less. So you're only out 3k for the 4L80e, maybe less if you look aroun.

Can the FAST setup control the trans or is that just BS 3? Might save around 700 there.

Sounds like the TH400 is cheap and easy but you might regret it in the long run....

 

[qbnkiller]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

I have the TH400 and for strength, I love it. If you are planning on lots of highway time, get the 4L80. If not, do the 400 and dont look back!

 

[Foot Performance]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

From what I have dug around a 4wd th400 cores are hard to come buy. plus if that is what you want to do if need to get signed up for a t-case input shaft.

You just need to figure out if OD is worth the exta 1000 for the controller to me it is becuase it makes the truck so much more highway freindly.

As far as strength goes they area alot alike internally and alot of parts interchange. but if you beef them up the same I think the rebuild would be within 500 bucks

Another down fall to the 400 is they havent been done alot so there I dont know if crossmebers are out there alonge with fron driveshaft I also dont know what people are doing for a speedo

 

[Andreas]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

I wanted the overdrive to since I drive my truck somehow as a semi daily driver since I love driving my truck as much as I can in the short sommer up here. I drove my truck for weeks in D mode with the th700r4 to see what it would be like if I put a th400 in the truck (I locked my TC manually).
Those weeks made up my mind that I really need/like OD. So I bought a 4L80E.

I feel that choosing the 4L80E it makes my truck turn into two great trucks...both killing ricers and actully taking longer trips than from stoplight to stoplight.
For sure it takes a big chunk out of the wallet to go 4L80E but in my opinion worth it.

 

[DanenGraham]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

. I drove my truck for weeks in D mode with the th700r4 to see what it would be like if I put a th400 in the truck.

I thought the gear ratios of the T400 are different than 700r4..

T400, and put 3.08 gears in the front/rear diffs, I bet 0-60 times decrease as well as 3rd gear highway RPM's

 

['JustDreamin']

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

I thought the gear ratios of the T400 are different than 700r4..

T400, and put 3.08 gears in the front/rear diffs, I bet 0-60 times decrease as well as 3rd gear highway RPM's

The gear ratios are different (between the 700 and the T400/80E), EXCEPT 3rd gear (direct drive), which are both 1:1. 1st gear in the 700R4 is 3.06:1, the T400 / 80E is 2.48 (unless you go to the aftermarket gear ratios = more $$).

By driving around in D (not OD) you see what it's like to not have overdrive, simulating a T350 or T400. You get to learn whether you'd miss OD or not.


You're going to need to really think about what you want to do. You have plenty of choices. T400, 4L80E, 6L80E or 90E, even the T350 is doable. You can even make the 80E function as a 6 speed.

Shift sequence is basically be : 1st, 1st w/overdrive (new gear), 2nd, 2nd w/overdrive (new gear), 3rd, 3rd w/overdrive = Stock 4th gear. I think its TCI that has a trans out to do just that. It's $$$ though, although might not be all that bad compared to a fully built 80E.

Just a few things to think about. Ultimately, it's your truck, you're the one who has to use it and foot the bill.

'JustDreamin'

 

[Andreas]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

I thought the gear ratios of the T400 are different than 700r4. T400, and put 3.08 gears in the front/rear diffs, I bet 0-60 times decrease as well as 3rd gear highway RPM's

First and second are diffrent from the 700. TH400 have same gears as 80E, first gear 2.48 and second gear 1.48. TH700 ratio in first gear 3.06 and second 1.62.
But 3rd gear are the same 1.00 in all three of the transmissions (and the th350)

I have a vague memory about that I read somewhere that the 3.08 gear change in the diffs made a 300rpm drop out on the highway.

 

['JustDreamin']

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

First and second are diffrent from the 700. TH400 have same gears as 80E, first gear 2.48 and second gear 1.48. TH700 ratio in first gear 3.06 and second 1.62.
But 3rd gear are the same 1.00 in all three of the transmissions (and the th350)

And those are just the stock T400 / 80E 1st and 2nd gear ratios. There are aftermarket gearsets available with different ratios, such as a 2.75: 1st / 1.57 2nd gearset, or a 2.10 1st / 1.40 2nd gearset, both available from TCI. I expect there are a few other gearsets available.

'JustDreamin'

 

[sy#2716]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

Or you can go with a full manaul 4l80 and just shift it and not have buy the controller then you got the over drive you want.

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

I know you know ed hess, why not give him a call and ask him about it and what all needs to be done crossmember wise to run the th400 because you know he's been running one for a while now.

I don't think your planning on daily driving the truck so the th400 would get my vote

 

[gt67sy]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

The truck def isn't going to be a daily drive. The truck is more of a weekend warrior and show truck. With occasional track tine also. The th400 def will handle any power u throw at it. Ed I'm pretty sure has a rossler th400. I'm sure the 400 is perfect for drag racing but it's street manners are less tame

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

If your planning on driving the truck on the highway any distance, I would want OD as well.

Personally I would rather have the 4L80E, you will have a lock up torque converter and the ability to adjust your shifts easier.

However, I can see why someone with a race truck would opt for a 400.

 

[qbnkiller]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

I have the same TH400 Ed has (Rossler TH400 'race-prep - auto valve body). Street manners are just fine. There is an adjustable vacuum pot on the side to adjust part-throttle shift firmness. If you are pussyfooting around, it shifts nice. If you hit it, it will shift hard. I had to do very little to my crossmember (there is a thread Ed did years ago) and my speedo works just fine. Front propshaft was shortened (and strengthened - thats another thread) for around $300. Tranny cost me $1700 to my door w/ TCI billet converter.

As for the xfer case...mine hasnt given me any isues yet. There is some chain slop in there - thats a winter project.

Good luck, and tell Ed I say 'hi'.

 

[gt67sy]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

Qbnkiller can u tell me some more info about ur rossler th400. I'm interested in finding all the info about that also? And tell me about the billet coverter. Did u buy direct from rossler? When ur riding at about 50 or 55 what rpm are u at? Do u have stock gears ratio in the diffs.

 

[JSM]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

Put your truck in D and drive around with it, just normal cruising, freeway, etc. See if its ok with you.

That is really the difference functionally. If you ok with RPM in D, save you some money. If you want OD then 4l80e is the most common alternative for a bullet proof combo.

 

[gt67sy]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

I would love to do that but like most sy and Ty owners the truck is up on jackstands. Waiting for the fabricator to weld bungs in the brodix/ pontiac intake. The 700r4 is better to sell before it gets hurt with the new combo. Any idea about what rpm the trucks ride at with a th400 in them ride at about 50-55 mph

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

My math put it at ~2550rpm at 55 mph and ~3000@65mph. It would be a couple hundred rpm high without a lockup tc.

 

[ranger]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

Hey,

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I am in the market for a built 700R4/4L60 and am in no real hurry. Perhaps you could e-mail me details about the buiild, who built it, warranty, etc., if and when you are ready to sell it. I would come and pick it up, so you don't have to worry about shipping.

Thanks.

"Ranger"
Craig Stangohr
Aiken, SC

 

[gt67sy]

Re: th400 vs 4l80e Give me some info

ranger I will def pm u some info about the 700r4. It's getting ready to come within the next 3 weeks. Trucks just sitting on jackstands. It has a big converter in it bc the old turbo was a gt74q so the converter is like 3200. But the 700r4 only has 22 miles on it and was built to go. And has all the good parts I jut know it won't survie 600 or 700 hp and make a 10sec passes