hoofhearted

iTrader: (26)

Starting with an S4 GXL, how much would it cost to put a small block chevy with a TH350 tranny and B&M shifter into it?

I'm looking for ball park estimates. Both with labor farmed out and with labor done by me.

How much would one be worth after it is completed?

I'm not going to go nuts on rebuilding the engine, just find a good running 305 or 350 to start with.

jimlab

That depends to a great extent on what kind of deals you can find, and how much of the work (including fabrication) you can do yourself (as you'd expect).

www.torquecentral.com is probably a better place to find figures from completed FC conversions, but a lot of those people post here also. I can't help you with an FC, unfortunately, except to tell you that it's cheaper than converting an FD.

Again, that depends greatly on what components you use, and whether you can find a buyer who wants a V8 RX-7 as much as you did. A conversion doesn't really devalue the car, but don't expect to get all your money back either.

In that case, you may want to rethink your choice of transmission and use a TH-700R4 with overdrive. A TH-350 combined with the stock ring and pinion (3.90:1 or 4.10:1, most likely) will mean that you'll be turning a lot of rpm going down the highway, and the engines you're considering likely have a ~5,500 rpm ceiling.

digitalsolo

iTrader: (2)

Definitely go for the overdrive transmission, I've got a warmed over 700r4 sitting in my garage... right next to a spare 355 w/ cam and intake... they're for sale...

On the same note, I'd avoid the 305, you'll find in a hurry that you'll want "more" from your setup, and you're going to be very limited with one of those slugs. Not to mention they have iron heads. If you look around, a 350 (even with AL heads) can be found for cheap, and have a lot more power potential. I've got less then 1500 in my 355/700r4 with EVERYTHING, ~10K on the engine, and 0 miles on the tranny. Just take your time and shop smart.

If you do your own labor, the swap can be done for ~1000 dollars in parts. If you want to get fancy (braided lines, AN fittings, etc.) expect twice that + a little.

Farming it out, probably 3500-4000 dollars at a shop around here (done with braided, AN, etc.), but that varies greatly by location.

A Carb'ed SBC is a very simple swap to do. I would expect with the parts in front of me, I could have one in and running in a weekend pretty easily. Fuel injected might take 30-40 hours to get in and buttoned up. I have done a few of these swaps though.

hoofhearted

iTrader: (26)

What (if any) is the difference between a TH350 tranny and a 350 tranny? What does the Turbo Hydro (TH) signify?

jimlab

A TH-350 and a "Turbo 350" automatic are the same transmission.

"TH" stands for Turbo-Hydramatic, which was GM's branding for that model of transmission, much like "Posi-Traction" was Ford's brand name for one type of differential. "Posi" is now used freely (by those that don't know any better) to refer to any clutch-type torque-transfering differential design, but that's another story.

There are four Turbo-Hydramatic transmissions...
TH-350 (3 speed; 2.52:1, 1.52:1, 1.00:1)
TH-400 (3 speed; 2.48:1, 1.48:1, 1.00:1)
TH-2004R (4 speed; 2.74:1, 1.57:1, 1.00:1, 0.67:1)
TH-700R4 (4 speed; 3.06:1, 1.62:1, 1.00:1, 0.70:1)

FYI, the late-model GM 4L60 4-speed automatic is identical to the TH-700R4 and the 4L60E is the electronically controlled version. You can get stand-alone modules to control the 4L60E now so that it can be used without a GM PCM if necessary (with a carbureted SBC, for example).

More information on transmission swaps...
http://www.race-track.com/news.asp?TOPIC_ID=532

hoofhearted

iTrader: (26)

Is there a non TH350 tranny know as just the 350 tranny? Is there an easy way to visually identify the difference (if there is one)?

dregg100

iTrader: (34)

what about a t-56 on an older carbed 350? i know about weir but where can you buy it. how about computer controllers?

jimlab

No.

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...82&postcount=3

A T56? Many places. Wrecking yards. Ebay. GM. D&D Performance...

I went to www.google.com and typed "GM 4L60E controller" into the search field...

http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/perfpart...460&section=pp
GM part #12497316

That's the last free search you get.

dregg100

iTrader: (34)

i didnt mean where can you find a T-56, there is a company called Weir that makes those custom bellhousings and i was wondering where to buy one of them? but thanks for the free search!!