The kickdown is a simple hookup but it is not required and often omitted on many off road vehicles for simplicity sake and better driver control. A kickdown cable attached to the engines carburetor or throttle body and lets the transmission automatically “gear down” when the motor is floored. The TH350C version had an electrical connector to actuate the lockup torque converter and gain some extra mileage. The only “required” connections are a vacuum source to determine engine load and a gear selector. Know what version you have as there are a few critical parts in the TH350 and TH350C that are not interchangeable.Įxternal connections, or lack thereof, is another reason the TH350 is a great swap candidate as it is almost entirely controlled internally. And for a few years during the end of its productions run, there was a version with a “lock up” style torque converter known as the TH350C. Bellhousing bolt patterns consisted of a Chevrolet version, a BOP (or “Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac”) and in some rare cases, a dual pattern. You would expect that with a 15-year production run, there would be a multitude of variants of the TH350 but there are only a few Obviously a 2WD version and a 4WD version are out there, but this is only a difference of a few parts. KT&AR is one of a select few where we can confidently drop parts and vehicles off and KNOW it’s done right, and the only one for transmission work. The best advice if you are searching for a shop is do your research and ask questions. We just don’t have what it takes and are happy to shell out the clams required to do this kind of work. Typically, we’re not afraid to tackle just about any automotive job we have at home, but automatic transmissions require a “feel” and very strict attention to detail that you only get after decades of hands on work. He caved and let us hang out at his “healing bench” while he dissected and determined the cause of death of the old transmission and swapped the required parts to convert the new Summit TH350 to a 4WD unit. Luckily, we have one of the best transmission rebuilders not far from us to help make the changeover to 4WD.Īfter expressing our gratitude and muttered something about “owing favours”, Ivar Hoiland of Kelowna Transmission & Auto Repair (KT&AR) finally broke down. The only fly in the ointment was that Summit only sells their house brand TH350 transmissions in 2WD form. In order to keep costs in check and get him back into the fluffy stuff, Summit Racing was tapped for a rebuilt replacement unit (PN SUM-700310 $1199.99 USD) and a torque converter that matches the weight, gearing and planned usage (PN SUM-G2699 $129.99). As is normal for Derek’s luck, the TH350 died AFTER a deep snow wheeling trip only a mere metre from his house. That was a few years ago and Derek’s luck with the 3-speed automatic finally ran out. Found in anything from 2 Wheel Drive grocery getter midsize cars to 4WD trucks, our buddy Derek scored a sweet deal on a TH350 to land firmly under the hood of his TJ based snow wheeler. They are plentiful, strong, compact, easily adapted and a GREAT choice in an off-road vehicle for all these reasons. General Motors had a 15-year production run starting in 1969, the with the Turbo Hydromatic 350, or TH350 automatic 3-speed transmission. Every time we go to find a component for a 4x4 in our stables, we strive to select parts that don’t carry monikers like “rare” or “obscure”.
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