2ndOwner78
Veteran Member
Okay I need to make a decision on the first item I want to tackle in getting my car back on the road. Right now it is running a moderately built 360 running through the original 1978 TH 350 automatic and open axle with 2.32 gears. It is probably a 300-325HP engine (not at the wheels) with a single plenum intake, so it doesn't really breath until close to 3000 RPM. Horrible match between the mid-high rpm engine and high gearing. It's a dog to say the least and doing "one wheel wonder" burnouts is a quick way to get my man card repossessed. 
So I am looking at three things, what do you think I should do? (these are listed in no particular order)
1 - I have a good 3.73 ring and pinion sitting in a box, so I'd like to install a TruTrac unit and these gears to quicken it up substantially. (how quick will I burn up the stock TH350?)
2 - Rebuild the TH350 to make it more street bullet proof for my shenanigans. There are no current issues with the trans but I've always felt it was a weak point. (2.5 or maybe do a overdrive TH700R4 build/swap to prepare for future lower rear end gears and posi?)
3 - Do an auto to manual conversion. Replace the old auto with a TKO 500 or 600 for a lot more driving fun. But obviously the most expensive option, BUT highly desirable to me.
I realize that ideally I'd want to match the engine, rear and tranny and do it all at one time. But I'm not going to be able to do that as I won't have the funds to pull it off like that. I'll have to plan for what I eventually want then start with the biggest benefit first. Realizing I won't get my total upgrade benefit until it is all done down the road. Do I build the rear end first and wait for the TH350 to blow up, then move on to the tranny? Or the other way around? I'm going to stick with the SBC for now, LS swap may be a future item but not any time soon.
What would you do?
(btw, these pictures are just illustrations of what I see in my head, not my actual parts.... )
So I am looking at three things, what do you think I should do? (these are listed in no particular order)
1 - I have a good 3.73 ring and pinion sitting in a box, so I'd like to install a TruTrac unit and these gears to quicken it up substantially. (how quick will I burn up the stock TH350?)
2 - Rebuild the TH350 to make it more street bullet proof for my shenanigans. There are no current issues with the trans but I've always felt it was a weak point. (2.5 or maybe do a overdrive TH700R4 build/swap to prepare for future lower rear end gears and posi?)
3 - Do an auto to manual conversion. Replace the old auto with a TKO 500 or 600 for a lot more driving fun. But obviously the most expensive option, BUT highly desirable to me.
I realize that ideally I'd want to match the engine, rear and tranny and do it all at one time. But I'm not going to be able to do that as I won't have the funds to pull it off like that. I'll have to plan for what I eventually want then start with the biggest benefit first. Realizing I won't get my total upgrade benefit until it is all done down the road. Do I build the rear end first and wait for the TH350 to blow up, then move on to the tranny? Or the other way around? I'm going to stick with the SBC for now, LS swap may be a future item but not any time soon.
What would you do?
(btw, these pictures are just illustrations of what I see in my head, not my actual parts....
)
