joshh44

alright i just bought a TH350.
im looking into getting a Transbrake for the track.
i found a TCI reverse shift pattern Transbrake kit for $454.99
my question is, is it a full manual shifts? i would like to get a full manual valve body but i dont know if i have to get the full manual valve body and then get the transbrake? or is it already built in the transbrake?

im still shopping around for a tranbrake. is that a fairly good deal for a transbrake? i found other but they want over $700. from seeing afew that are $700. the one that is $454 seems cheap.

greezemonkey

iTrader: (14)

I think all transbrake valve bodies are manual for one, I believe you can get them in forward or reverse patterns too. You won`t need to buy a manual body if you buy the trans brake kit, it will come with it and a few other things. A complete tear down is needed to do a full on trans brake and the TH350 needs an upgraded sprag to handle the t brake.

joshh44

yeah i wasnt sure. im new to the autos.
iv been reading up alot about the weak points in the TH350s
im going to upgrade afew things anyways since im going torebuild it anyways.
well do much of if as i can with the tools i have and take it to a shop so they can do all the more complicated stuff.

AlkyIROC

The TH350 can be beefed up but it's not the transmission of choice for a transbrake. You can build a transbrake TH400 cheaper than a TH350 and a powerglide for even cheaper.

TH400 and TH350 transbrake valve bodies are always reverse pattern. I don't know why. All transbrake valve bodies are full manual. If you start off in 3rd (D), it will start in third gear (and probably burn out the clutches). Non transbrake manual valve bodies can be forward or reverse pattern. Forward pattern models usually still have auto shifting if the selector is lift in D.

I run a TCI transbrake in my PG transmission and have never had a problem with it.

Installing a transbrake in a tranny means an entire tear down for internal modifications. As mentioned above, you'll also need a new direct hub with a better sprag. That'll cost you another $320

joshh44

yeah i was thinking about getting a glide tranny but isnt it a 2 speed? i would like to drive it on the street but with only 2 speeds. im not to sure.
since the TH350 is a 3 speed.

with a 2 speed. is it like having 2nd and 3rd gear just with out a 1st gear?
the guy i bought the TH350 tranny said he has a powerglide tranny for $200. but i decied to go with the 350 because of the 3 speed and i heard good things about them. i havnt heard anything about a glide tranny so thats why i turned it down. my knowledge about transmissions are fairly low right now.

i guess i should have studied about trans before i bought.

i figured it would cost me about $1000 or so to beef up the TH350 real good. i was going to get new input shaft, clutch disks, hardened sprang and direct hub. pretty much beef up the weak points in the tanny. it should hold up to a transbreak.

does anyone know what the max hp a th350 tranny can handle thats really beefed up?
or should i see if i can trade it in for the powerglide transmission?

greezemonkey

iTrader: (14)

the glide is good for high hp cars and yes it`s like only using 2nd/3rd it requires a bit more stall to use them I think...but it settles down the starting line antics..and is more consistant and less parasitic on driveline losses.
I`m using a th 350 with roughly 700 hp and it`s working, not flawless have you..I`m on my 3rd case in 3 yrs now, all broke but for different reasons and in different places. I have a guy that is pushing 1500 hp thru one..why? only he knows but it is more stable than mine so I can`t knock it. for anything less than a BBC I would use it.

AlkyIROC

Buying a used glide is like buying SBC heads. There are a lot of differences in them and not all are good.

Glides were used mainly being inline 6 engines and had a smaller, weaker, 1.82 gear set. The V8 version is more popular with the stronger 1.76 gear set. There are a lot of other differences in glides over the years. My glide is a mix and match of about 4-5 different year models. If you're going to buy a glide and have no knowledge about transmissions, buy one that's already been build, race ready.

My low gear is like launching in second with a 3 speed. The torque multiplication isn't as great so it's compensated with deep gears in the diff, 4.86, and a very high stall converter. I still don't get as much torque to the wheels as other cars, but I won't overpower the wheels and spin off the line either.

joshh44

well i did some more reading up on the TH350. they acturally dont seem all that bad. lots of people seem to be running them with high output engines and not having to much problems with them.
is there a way to beef up the Transmission Case?
im thinking about putting probably $1000 - $1500 worth of upgrade parts for the TH350. that should make the tranny fairly strong.

i did some more transbrake shopping as well.
is there a differences in types of trans brakes? or are they all the same?
there are some that are $200 and others that are $500 and some even more.
im woundering what is a good brand. TCI stuff seems to be fairly popular.

AlkyIROC

They're all basically the same. When in first gear and the transbrake is engage, reverse is activated. When the button is released, the reverse circuit dumps and the car launches forward.

You can have a plain manual valve body or a transbrake valve body. As I already mentioned, I don't think they make a transbrake version in the forward shift pattern but there may be some out there. Some are modified factory valve bodies, others are custom made. Some are made of steel, others of aluminum. With the transbrake versions, you can get a full tree or a pro tree version. The pro tree version has some other modifications to dump the reverse circuit fluid quicker for a split second faster launch.

They all require internal modifications to the transmission. I don't know if there are any case modification to make it stronger. There may be aftermarket cases available. You can get a better bellhousing by using a JW Ultra Bell.

It's not uncommon to have a $3000-$5000 transmission built to take a lot of abuse.

TCI is very popular but there are many others. Hipster made by Hughes, JW, Cheetah made by Turbo Action but they mainly deal with Chrysler transmissions. Even B&M and ATI make transbrakes along with many others. Pick up a copy of National Dragster and look through the advertiser listings.

You're probably going to need a good converter also. Look at TCS in Langley for a custom built converter. http://www.tcsproducts.com/ They can probably supply you with everything you need if you're not already buy your stuff from Mopac.

joshh44

thanks for the info. ill check out the bellhousing and the website you provided.
i saw the full tree transbrakes. i think i might get that if the price is right.
im not to sure what Tq converter ill need. ill have to figure out how much power the engine is going to make 1st before i get a converter. i dont want to get a to low converter or a to high one as well.
ill check the website tho.