dukemushroom1

ok, i've read a few posts on the subject but not really any guides on it. i've been debating getting an aftermarket t5 to go w/my 383, then my brother told me about the th350 and 400...it seems much smarter, cheaper too. i had my 700 rebuilt and it broke a year later. so, how does one go about swapping in the th350 into a 91 RS...could a tranny shop do this if i just brought in the tranny?
BTW, i'd probably be getting the th350 from jeg's or summit so i could get the long tailshaft version(heard that requires no mods to the driveshaft)

ede

long tail shaft th350 w/b&m adapter 30029 should be direct bolt in. not sure if you have eletric speedo or not, that would take a little extra effort. it's a very simple swap.

ljnowell

There are some other options too. IF you look on this board there is a thread regarding th350 installation. I posted some pictures there of my transmission. What I did was buy a kit that allows you to install a 700r4 output shaft into a th350. Then the kit also comes with a block spacer that adapts the 700r4 tailshaft onto the th350. This eliminates the need for a driveshaft to be made, for the speedo problems and it also eliminates the torque arm problem. As for cost effective, the kit cost around the same amount as the torque arm relocation brackets, maybe a little more, but it does everything. I will find the thread and post it here for you.

ljnowell

Heres the link to the other thread::
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=234966

dukemushroom1

ok, i got the tranny and i just ordered the install kit, now assuming i do have the electric speedo how do i go about hooking all that up?

ljnowell

Which kit are you talking about? The brackets to reposition the torque arm, or the kit that allows the 700 tailshaft to be installed on the 350?? IF you mean the bracket kit, the units should interchange I think. Cant promise that though, havent done it. If you are using the adapter kit, you dont need to worry about that, you are using the 700 tailshaft, and it is already installed.

88IROC350TPI

Who sells that tailshaft adapter and how hard is it to install?

ljnowell

I had mine installed by a guy who builds race trans, so i dont know where to get it offhand. I got one though, if youd like to see pics of how it works. Anywho, you install a 700 tailshaft and output shaft and everything hooks up and works perfect

dukemushroom1

the kit i got was the hurst bracket adapter for the torque arm...so since i already have a 700 can i just swap the tailshafts or will the electric speedo fit into my 350 or what?

ljnowell

As far as I know if you use the bracket kit, you have to witch the speedo unit in the tailshaft itself, but you cant swith the tailshaft (thats what the brackets are for). If the 350 already has an electronic unit, you are in good shape, just swap yours. IF it doesnt, I believe they are different sized. You will either need a new tailsaft for the 350 that fits it, or a new speedo that is mechanical.

dukemushroom1

ok cool, so how would i go about swapping to a mechanical speedo

ljnowell

I've never had an electric speedo, so I would guess that you would be looking at a speedometer and cable.

dukemushroom1

well i've got the bracket install kit...it shows that i need another tranny kickdown cable and lists a part number...what exactly will this cable do, it says that it has to go inside the tranny so we'll have to pull the oil cover off...just wondering what this cable will do and where it goes exactly.

ljnowell

That cable is what is truly known as a kickdown cable. On a 700r4 you have a TV cable, that does more than just kick it down a gear when you accelerate. That is precisely what a kickdown calbe does on a th350

THEGENERAL

if your talking about the transmission kickdown cable you wont have to pull the transmission pan to install it all you do is hook it up on the passenger side of the transmission next to the dipstick tube there is a little hole there with a wire end sticking out of the transmisison and you just slide the cable end that has a small little bracket like end on it with a hole in it over the hard wire sticking out of the transmission then put the cable down in the hole itself and bolt the end of it down to the hold down and then hook the top part of the cable thru the kickdown linkage bracket on the engine then on to the carb

ljnowell

Its as easy as that.

THEGENERAL

exactly ....lol

dukemushroom1

cool, i got the kickdown cable today...i got one for an 82 camaro 305 with carb and the th350...the end just fit right into place...on thing that concerns me is the cable going to be long enough, it looks awfully short right now.

THEGENERAL

is it an adjustable cable if so there should be a coupler onthe end that hooks to the carb and all you do is unscrew it and it lengthens alot ....

THEGENERAL

the actual cable its self willnot but the outer sheathing will and it makes it lookshort with out it lengthened

dukemushroom1

ok, the holes in the brackets i got from hurst don't line up with any of my torque arm mounts...so what does it take to swap the tailshaft housings? my bro and i were just playin around and the 700 housing fits on the 350 there is just about an inch diff. 700is shorter. we were thinking maybe an extended yoke on the driveshaft could help out...everything else lines up it seems...torque arm mounts and speedo too.

ljnowell

IF you want to do that, you need to get the proper kit with the spacer for it to work. Its in the thread that i posted the link to above.

Brandon84

For everyone wanting to know about the tailshaft switch kit I found a place that sells it in one of my old catalogs. The place is called National Automotive Lines and back in 2000, the year the catalog is from, for 2wd apps it's $185.00 plus shipping. I may call them tomorrow and see what the price is now and if I can just get the adapter plate itself, the kit comes with an output shaft, adapter plate, filler tube, and a dust cover acording to the description.

Anyone find one cheaper? I'm starting to think buying this 84 camaro was a bad idea, adapters and a driveshaft is gonna cost me more then the car's worth

THEGENERAL

if you swap the 700r4tail shaft on the 350 with the adapter plate then you dont have to have a driveshaft made for it because then the original driveshaft for a 700r4 fits right in with out any modifications...

Brandon84

Right, but with that kit I also have to find a tailshaft from a f-body 700r4 which is more money. So at the price depending on what I can find a used driveshaft for it may be cheaper to buy the B&M kit and a used driveshaft. I'm going to do some calling around tomorrow and go from there, hopefully the price has went down.

Anyone see any reason the spacer in the tailshaft kit couldn't be made by a decent machine shop? Doesn't seem like it'd be that hard to make to me.

Brandon

THEGENERAL

i dont see why you couldnt make one if you had the proper tools but you will need to get the exact deminsions on it which shouldnt be too hard either i could get em to ya ....my brother has that on his car right now i believe if you call around you can get a tail shaft for around 10-15 dollars at any pull your own parts yard or even a salvage yard for that matter anywhere around here so if you cant find one cheap enough i could get ya one and ship it to ya man to make it a little easier on ya

ljnowell

you're gonna need the 700 output shaft too, if you dotn already have one.

88IROC350TPI

Thats a very common problem with Hurst's kit ...Which is why I didn't buy it. Do a search and you'll be able to find a solution (maybe). Or throw it away and get a B&M kit.

6" Tailshaft TH350 needs driveshaft from 82-83 car

9" Tailshaft TH350 needs driveshaft from 700R4 car.

Brandon84

Ya if you could get me the exact thickness of the spacer that would be great. Then I can either draw it up and have it made or make it myself. As many junk yards as we have around here finding the output shaft and tailshaft shouldn't be any problem, thanks for the offer tho.

Brandon

dukemushroom1

well i sent back the hurst bracket today and ordered the B&M...now the only problem is the speedo, my 700 is electrical and the 350 is mechanical. i'm just going to buy a cable driven speedo cable and speedometer and be done with it.