TH400: How it works II & Extra Clutches

[@shawnbins203]

Congratulations. For “not being an expert”..... you have some of the best th400 videos I’ve ever seen. This one in particular on theory/operation isn’t found anywhere else. 100% class act

[@mountainsgarage]

Thanks for watching! More to come.

[@V8Lounge]

Very good explanation of the function of all these parts. Greetings from germany

[@mountainsgarage]

Welcome!

[@cojventures7911]

Hi there I have been building transmissions down under for 30 years and I have been watching your videos and picked up lots of extra tips which means you can teach an old dog new tricks lol. You have the best videos I have ever seen in regards to transmissions please keep up the great work I appreciate your work very much. Colin

[@mountainsgarage]

Awesome, Thanks for commenting and watching!

[@randaltucker2981]

Love your delivery, great knowledge, and easy to listen to. Kudos.

[@kg6itc]

I doubt 90% of dudes rebuilding TH400’s know the gear changes like this. Curiosity might be the secret to being a great mechanic. It’s amazing that transmissions work, and knowing all that is clunking around makes driving more fun.

[@nathaninwa240z]

Seeing and hearing the explanation of how the gear set operates awnsered a lot of curiosity’s I had in building my new setup. Thanks for all the videos you have done

[@mountainsgarage]

Glad to help, Thanks!

[@johnnyb7825]

Have you ever made a 2spd out of a th400? Now that would be a great video to see!

[@shanetempleman452]

Please make this video

[@bryontharp5790]

I like how you say the words park and start

[@mountainsgarage]

After starting my channel I learned everyone has an accent!

[@daveyelmer3222]

I'm surprised you don't have more likes ! Your videos are excellent IMO. I have a TH400 I got out of a '77 Olds 98 decades ago, in my 81 Cutlass wagon with a rebuild '69 455 Olds. (it was in a "custom" 88 with a factory 2 barrel...). It is just my old "hobby" hot rod now. I did put in a BM shift kit decades ago, and the transmission has simply always "worked". Now, I am getting tempted to "refresh" it (along with the 455 - it has an "econo" cam). I learned everything else by studying and "going for it". I actually did have an original Oldsmobile B&M hydro stick in my '56 Olds, rather more decades ago... I like the manual/auto feature. I am thinking dedicated hot rod now. Thanks for your guidance. It helps a lot.

[@mountainsgarage]

Thanks for watching! I love old Oldsmobiles!

[@christianadkins1006]

Thank you for making these videos there very helpful and informative I don't know if you have a video about the turbo 400 value body but if you don't could you please make one where you show how Exactly how they go together

[@BigFun4Life]

Shawn your videos are very informative.Thanks for making them and sharing your knowledge,much appreciated...

[@mountainsgarage]

Thanks for always being supportive!

[@BEANS-O-MATICtransmissions]

Id like to add, because I've seen it stated by other builders, removing the inner seal in the fwd DOES NOT dual feed or add clamping force. If you look closely, there is another hole in the center that feeds the outer portion of the piston, so the same pressure is applied to the outer but not the same volume, thus, it has the same clamping force and nothing is gained by removing the inner seal. GM did this to prevent harsh engagement. The ONLY thing that happens is the clutch is applied faster. For a stock to low stall converter will cause a harsh engage and possible complaint. With a high stall converter, it won't be noticed. But the point is, there's no durability gain.

[@kevinlamb6852]

Thanks for another great video, very informative !

[@markmathews547]

Great video and information, thank you Shawn.

[@shannonleonard3317]

Awesome information thanks

[@dragginfool]

Shawn, great video as always. I wanted to throw another idea out there for a video topic. Some of us (especially ME! lol) would probably like to see a vid that covers ALL the bushings in a TH400 including what type you like to use, optional bushing styles like Durabond, and install tips. Thanks again!

[@mountainsgarage]

Great idea, Thanks!

[@petermullin5387]

Spot on with the pressures. Automatic transmission pump is extremely robust (and kind of crude) compared to the hydraulic rescue tools I work on. 10,500 psi from plungers that are roughly 1/2 inch diameter on the first stage and between 1/4 and 3/8 on the second stage. Plus the plungers and plunger blocks are honed to fit as a matched pair. Max clearance is something like 1/10,000th of an inch or less.

[@mountainsgarage]

Dam! Yes simple and crude is alright by me!

[@petermullin5387]

@@mountainsgarage I did a set of plungers and blocks in a pump for Rockland just before I hurt my knee. Fortunately replacement plungers and blocks come from the factory in matched sets. Tolerance is so tight, it was difficult to get the old plungers back in their matched blocks once I took them out of the pump.

[@mountainsgarage]

@@petermullin5387 Wow tight stuff. I hope the healing is going well!

[@petermullin5387]

@@mountainsgarage healing process is going very well. The boredom is at its worst when you feel fine but are still under “restrictions .” Stairs are a bitch with crutches and zero weight bearing. Have some (Soldering) projects downstairs going to try some of that this weekend while the wife is home.

[@glennberry1012]

very good info,,I have rebuild or re wrecked 26 t400s,,last time I had sintered plates made,am now 7 pair in front an direct clutch have ultra bell an valve body reverse style,,thinned all steels an pressure plates, but can not get all thing good ,close it is behind a572,psi screw, 1942 gmc dually,pos rear end ,problem always breaking case if down shift ,is that cured by straight cut planets.

[@johncarter9054]

Great article. Been following your videos for some time now. Can you please define ''loose torque converter'' >

[@mountainsgarage]

Thanks! Loose would feel like it is slow to couple and the engine would rev higher than it should. Tight would possibly bog the motor or not let the engine rev.

[@vrg69]

Really good info keep it coming I really appreciate your videos

[@mountainsgarage]

Thanks! I will try!

[@patrickveltri3520]

Excellent as always!

[@mountainsgarage]

Thank you!

[@allatonce3143]

Hey Sean ; I was born in Calais Maine back in 52 . Im almost 71 . I think i got a 475 . When i put it in low gear with wheels off ground it sounds like a gear drive timing chain . My ? is does a 475 make a distinctive whining sound in 1st due to straight cut ? Thanks , you do great work

[@nathanrobertson3238]

Can I send mine to you for a rebuild or to figure out if It's worth the time and cost to get it back on the road

[@glennmanchester5696]

Well I was born and raised in rhode island where are you ? Somewhere up that way I can only deduce by the accent .. If not then being in fla for 35 yeaahs has left my hearing bad and maybe I need to go home and pahk the cah in the yahd for a bit and have a beeah

[@TrampusWingo]

Man, Shawn, first of all, let me say thank you for sharing your knowledge and explaining things in a way that makes sense. I follow along with the comments and advice you give in our fb group too. Two quick questions? What do you use in place of a wave plate, or is that what gives you room for more clutches? And, do you source your parts (clutches steels pistons etc..) from one source, as you do the drive shaft materials? Thanks again, and keep em comin!

[@mountainsgarage]

Thanks! Yes removing the wave plate frees up some space for more clutches or steels. I have been buying from all over, always hunting for the best deal and quality stuff. I forgot a fellow racer is a transmission part salesman and I just ordered 5 boxes of clutches and steels from him.

[@kg6itc]

When replacing the older TH400 o-ring seal on dipstick, to get it “perfect” is it best to drain the fluid?

[@Daniel-Johnson]

Another Great one Thank you Shawn!!! I Just can't get over how in depth you go yet making it easy to understand for everyone! You ever considered being a trans tech teacher ? haha

[@mountainsgarage]

Thanks for the kind words! In the next life maybe, I prefer being the student!

[@jeepgodfabrication9970]

Nice video Shawn. Maybe a future video with reverse and the bands?

[@mountainsgarage]

It’s like you read my mind! Coming up, Thanks!

[@TheMizzlefish]

I got one for ya, my th400 is running high gear with 3.08s and tach is 4900 at 60mph! Has both shifts feels loose but makes 650 hp and will still slip the tires in high!! But i usually drive it 70 miles a day n mileage is disgusting now! Swapped from 700r4, th400 brand new 2600 converter n stupid ratio problem...

[@MF-rc4zh]

What is your opinion on cooling through radiator then external cooler vs just external cooler? Currently I run the rad/col and putting around the mountains off road trans runs 220. Thanks

[@mountainsgarage]

A stand alone cooler seems to run cooler. Less connections as well!

[@keysautorepair6038]

Can you do a video on the sealing rings or something like that I'm trying to use the soft ones not the cast ones how do you get it together without them falling off

[@mountainsgarage]

Good idea, Thanks!

[@TheMizzlefish]

What if a drum piston seal was leaking horribly? Would it still move with a wierd ratio?

[@DSRE535]

What do you have to do if you get rid of the wave plate to take up that clearance?

[@funfun8095]

👍

[@josephnubile1970]

Could you please settle the argument about horsepower to turn the transmission. How much power does the transmission take to turn between a turbo 350 and a turbo 400. I get the fact that a Powerglide takes less because of its only two gears but everyone seems to have an opinion about the other two.

[@mountainsgarage]

Another never ending perpetually retold Old Wives Tale. There are a lot of these floating around. Powerglides are good until you break them all the time, TH400 is always a good choice. A TH350 is not a racing transmission, it became the 700R4.

[@sewerpipecasso8750]

Shawn what is your email

[@mountainsgarage]

[e-mail]