Swapping out a TH350 for a 700R4

[John Eplen]

Yes, for the truck air cleaner I used the Dupli-Color Chevrolet Orange DE 1620 Engine Enamel Ceramic which I baked for an hour or so at 200o's. I also did the same w/the other orange parts on the engine. I also used a similar product made by VHT on my truck exhaust manifolds. I'll try to enclose a pic of them. It's: VHT (Very High Temperature) FLAME PROOF (Header Paint Silica*Ceramic Coating). You bake it at 250oF for 30 minutes-cool it for 30 minutes; then bake at 400oF for 30 minutes-cool for 30 minutes: and last bake at 600oF for 30 minutes-cool for 30 minutes. There are instructions for curing the paint w/the headers on the engine using the engine temp also. I think they have other colors for the header paint available. John

[frank_a]

Gee John, maybe I'm better off with this rattle can paint then trying to get set up for powder coating. Dupli-Color Engine Enamel Ceramic is not tough to get around here, I say that because I'm sure I have some at home I've used on the hot rod headers and for stuff on the old merc on my old speedboat. I'll take a look around for the VHT you mention, that's sounds interesting too. And another thing - Dupli Color does have white in the Ceramic Engine Enamel. At least they show it online. Not sure if I'm going to do the jag IRS in white again though. Gotta give this stuff some thought...

Thanks again!

Frank

[John Eplen]

I tried to post this reply a few minutes ago & it didn't take so I'll try again.

Yes, I used the Dupli-Color Chevrolet Orange DE1620 ENGINE ENAMEL Ceramic for the air cleaner and all the other orange parts on the engine. I always bake them at 200o's for an hour or so. I'll also mention another similar product that I used on my exhaust manifolds which I will try to show a pic of after I baked them in the oven. It's a VHT (Very High Temperature) FLAME PROOF (Header Paint -Silica*Ceramic Coating). You bake it at 250oF for 30 min. & cool it for 30 min.; then bake it again at 400oF for 30 min. & cool it for 30 min.: and last you bake it at 600oF for 30 min. If you coat the headers and put them on the engine there are instructions for using the engine exhaust heat to cure them on the car. Here's a pic (I hope this time) of my truck cast iron manifolds. John

[frank_a]

Looks like my shop oven is finally gonna come in handy John. That has been sitting out in the portable garage with the 23t, and both of them are moving into the house garage real soon! I wired a plug for the oven years ago in the garage and never used it, though I don't know if it goes to 600 degrees.

My '09 Canyon is gonna replace the hot rod in the portable garage. I like keeping it under cover. Someday a few years down the road I'm gonna get a small one car garage and put it on site just for the hot rod and get rid of the portable garage.

Thanks for the help John. I'll keep y'all posted on my exploits.

Frank

[frank_a]

I've learned some more about what I'm looking for. I need a 700R4 from an '89 - '93 2wd GM rwd vehicle of any kind. 4wd are heavy duty and would be nice, but I'd have to use a 2WD output shaft, and add the aluminum tailshaft housing from a 2WD case, so I can't see that. I think just a 2wd will work fine. From what I understand, these '89 - '93 versions should have some kind of rainbow-like casting on the passenger side of the case.

I'm in used tranny search mode...

Frank

[frank_a]

Got an '88 700R4 today for $250. Coming out of an '88 Caprice with 87,000 miles and was hooked to a 305. Been sitting 10 years, but it will at least work for bracket positioning and could be a core for a store bought performance tranny. We'll see how it goes.

T bucket moved out of the portable garage into my shop today. My shop is under my raised ranch, mostly in the basement, but extending into the two car garage. The hot rod gets a single space garage. Gonna clean it up some and start a few things, but want to just make sure the motor still runs before I lift it out. If it doesn't, gonna have to plan something else. Either rebuild or replace?

Will be a while before I have to worry about the torque converter, lock up or not, stuff like that, but got time to study up too!

Frank

[Bob Lemke]

Frank,

Your going to like the improved hole shot the 700R4's 3.06 1st gear gives you over the th-350's 2.52 1st gear, not to mention the 0.70 top gear over drive.

[frank_a]

I got the tranny Lee, bu it will be a while before it hits the road. I certainly agree with ya though, makes all kinds of sense to do this when you're rebuilding. I bought my TH350 for bracket positioning, and got a kick out of it coming with a 45 day warranty. Two years later she took her first spin. That has been a great tranny too, make somebody a good deal someday, especially with the 2800 or 3000 stall converter it has.

Frank

[Big Bill]

Frank Are you sure it is a 700R4 most Caprice models had the 200 4 R metric IF it has the word metric on the pan it is a 200. both will work well in your bucket and both available in performance version from after market but will not interchange.

[frank_a]

Good question Bill. I won't know till I get the tranny. Guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about, but I understand those cars came with both the TH200-4R and the 700R4. Whichever it is, it will be great as far as I'm concerned!

Thanks!

Frank