I agree, I think....with as magic as automatic transmissions are to me, I don't think a lockup converter really affects engine braking. The bigger difference is whether your valve body makes engine braking happen, or not.
Its Time... Manual -> Auto Swap
- Thread starter TJustin
- Start date
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I have a manual valve body in my T400 in my Buick. No significant engine braking but I assume I have a 3000-3400 stall converter in there also. I'm not sure if that's a factor.
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
I had a TH350 built for my old TJ with a LS 5.3 many years ago. I added a manual valve body with engine braking and it worked well in that aspect. Loved the engine braking on steep hills and drops.
www.rme4x4.com
I will say, I wish I'd had used a 4l60E for a deeper first gear and the overdrive. Mine wasn't a street rig either, but having OD sure has been nice in my current TJ.
My old TJ felt like it lacked gearing in low range, during certain situations. I had a 4.3 ratio Atlas and when I needed instant wheel speed and RPM, it didn't have it. A higher stall convertor would have helped too. I had a 2000 RPM stall, should have done 2500 RPM IMO.
Building a TH350 automatic for rockcrawling
I just thought I'd document my build of a TH350 that's going to be used for wheelin. I'm going to be running a 2003 GM 5.3l V8, TH350 and a 4.3 Atlas in a TJ Wrangler. I have never had good luck with auto trannys from the muscle car days and have been reluctant to wheel anything with an auto...
www.rme4x4.com
I will say, I wish I'd had used a 4l60E for a deeper first gear and the overdrive. Mine wasn't a street rig either, but having OD sure has been nice in my current TJ.
My old TJ felt like it lacked gearing in low range, during certain situations. I had a 4.3 ratio Atlas and when I needed instant wheel speed and RPM, it didn't have it. A higher stall convertor would have helped too. I had a 2000 RPM stall, should have done 2500 RPM IMO.
kmboren
Recovering XJ owner anonymous
- Location
- Southern Utah
You can order valve bodies with or without engine breaking. My current valve body in my buggy/Th350 has engine breaking in 1st and 2nd. I love it on a steep decent. I don't need to use very much if any breaking. My valve body is also a full manual valve body.
- Location
- Payson, UT
I had a TH350 built for my old TJ with a LS 5.3 many years ago. I added a manual valve body with engine braking and it worked well in that aspect. Loved the engine braking on steep hills and drops.
Building a TH350 automatic for rockcrawling
I just thought I'd document my build of a TH350 that's going to be used for wheelin. I'm going to be running a 2003 GM 5.3l V8, TH350 and a 4.3 Atlas in a TJ Wrangler. I have never had good luck with auto trannys from the muscle car days and have been reluctant to wheel anything with an auto...
I will say, I wish I'd had used a 4l60E for a deeper first gear and the overdrive. Mine wasn't a street rig either, but having OD sure has been nice in my current TJ.
My old TJ felt like it lacked gearing in low range, during certain situations. I had a 4.3 ratio Atlas and when I needed instant wheel speed and RPM, it didn't have it. A higher stall convertor would have helped too. I had a 2000 RPM stall, should have done 2500 RPM IMO.
This is good feedback. I'll read through this. I know you alluded to it in your previous post, but do you feel a combination with the correct converter and my lower 5.0 Atlas will make for a better combo?
What ratio are you running in your t-case? Any idea on the converter stall?
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
I think it'll work well, with the higher 1st gear ratio of a TH350.
kmboren
Recovering XJ owner anonymous
- Location
- Southern Utah
I have a 4 speed atlas. My double low is 5.44:1. I have 5.38s in the rear able and 5.13s in the front. I like a lower stall. I have wheeled with people in higher stalls and it seems difficult to control. Mine is a normal stall with a 12 in converter.
TurboMinivan
Still plays with cars
- Location
- Lehi, UT
My old turbo Caravan had a Cheetah Competition reverse-pattern manual valve body, and it only had engine braking in 2nd and 3rd gears. (I didn't order it that way; that's just how they make it.) Turbo Action offers this valve body because the A-413 in the minivan was essentially just an old A904 RWD automatic turned sideways and converted into a transaxle.
The only thing more fun than daily driving a minivan with a reverse-pattern manual valve body was telling muscle car owners that I had a reverse-pattern manual valve body in my minivan.
The jeep I’m running now has a 4L80 and a 4 speed Atlas. 5.38s and 43”s. The Atlas has 3.8 reduction and when you shift the reduction box in it becomes 10.3 to 1 and it is unusable. The jeep in low range 3.8 with the 2.5 or so trans ratio seems to work fine for everything
- Location
- Payson, UT
Based on best estimates, ~$4500 for the conversion. Does that sound about right?
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Sounds about right, that's a ton on money to swap in a TH350 though.... but if it's what you want!
- Location
- Payson, UT
Yes, those are Novak prices, I'll check out AA. I'll double check my prices on the other things as well. Thanks for being a sounding board.
kmboren
Recovering XJ owner anonymous
- Location
- Southern Utah
I am curious. Are any of the other swap options cheaper or easier?
- Location
- Payson, UT
The only other one that makes sense while not as popular as the TH350 would be a 32RH out of a similar year TJ.
I found one in Denver needing rebuilt, for $400 and includes everything to swap (brake pedal assembly, trans, cooler lines, shifter, cables etc.)
If I go that route, I’d need to either make a 2 day trip out of it or get a freight company to bring it to Utah. 🤷♂️
I found one in Denver needing rebuilt, for $400 and includes everything to swap (brake pedal assembly, trans, cooler lines, shifter, cables etc.)
If I go that route, I’d need to either make a 2 day trip out of it or get a freight company to bring it to Utah. 🤷♂️
I ordered my buggy trans on Carpart and just had them ship it. It was delivered via a freight truck with a lift-gate and they dropped the pallet/crate on my driveway. I don’t remember it being expensive either. Easy peasy.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks