Im swapping my 2spd for a th350 this weekend and was hoping i can get some advice as this is my first time. my tranny finally choked and its more less an emergency swap since this is my daily driver. what would i need (if any) to complete this? should everything be a direct match.. linkage, lines, etc? what about kickdown cables? i noticed a lil possible vaccum fitting near the tail. i dont recall the 2spd having one but i could be wrong. im gonna replace both seals and pan gasket while its out. also... what kinda tricks or tips do you all use to make the job a bit easier. ANY help is greatly appreciated!! :TU: i'll post how it went!
I'm not an expert and don't even play one on TV but as food for thought, have you thought about driveshaft length and rear mount location? Can't imagine your two-speed and a TH350 are the same, although maybe they are...just sayin'.... o No:
Hi Erik, thanks for the reply. a few people have told me length isnt a problem w/the short tail th350 so the driveshaft should b fine ( if they are right... o No: ) also i noticed extra predrilled holes in the frame for the rear mount. im assuming they are there to slide the cross member back for longer trannys. but i do think the th350 is the same length as my 2spd...could be wrong tho ou: can anyone out there confirm length??....
ok .... i decided to jump in head first and tackle this swap with the only knowledge i have for it....that the tranny is BOP... and i can turn a wrench :Smarty: im happy to say..(after a few bad words & smashed fingers) i learned that it is a direct swap :grin: . with the exception that my 2spd has an electric kickdown and the th350 has a cable. so i still have to get one of those. & the dust sheild didnt fit. i think im just gonna trim it a bit. another question... my carb came off a 73 455/th400. im not sure if the th400 was electric or cable o No: would my carb work for the th350 kickdown cable?? or do i need to modify something to attach it? & where does it go? until then i'll be more than happy to throw it into 2nd manually :3gears: and i definately feel the difference off the line!!
Matt, the TH400 is an electric detent rather than cable, so your 455 carb probably doesn't have any provision for the TH350 cable. One way to remedy this would be to find a q-jet and throttle/detent cable bracket from a TH350 car, another would be to fabricate a cable attachment and bracket and do some experimentation. Devon
The kickdown cable goes to the carb, the 400 turbos have an electric kickdown, so your carb is not made to accept the cable. If your carb is working OK I wouldn't advise changing carbs, but you'll have to modify the one you have. What you need is for someone to post a picture of a 350 fourbarrel motor with a 350 turbo trans with a closeup of the carb linkage. You need to know the distance from the center of the throttle shaft to the hookup for the cable so you'll have the correct travel. The cable itself has some adjustment where it attaches to the bracket, which you'll need also. It's a pain, I'm still trying to get mine right. ou: Dave B
Buick TH350 kickdown cables go to the accelerator pedal, not the carb, through a hole in the firewall by the throttle cable. These parts should be readily available from someone who has done a TH50 to TH 400 swap. You need the correct Buick cable and acc. pedal with two cable tabs on the rod.
Huh?? Mine kickdown cable went to the carb on my 72 which was originally a 350/2 barrell. o No: Dave B
I can guarantee the 69 th350 used gas pedal detent attachment. I have outfitted 2 68's with the cable to throttle pedal hookup ......since 68's didnt use th350's. I still have one 69 gas pedal with kickdown provision in my possession....if you would still need to buy one?
Sorry about jumping in with both feet without knowing how deep the water was! ou: Since his car is a 68 looks like you have what he needs. I'm curious now about when the kickdown setup was changed, if it was. My kickdown has a slide thingy on the end that goes on the bottom side of the linkage. Wish mine did go to the pedal, it would sure simplify carb changes. Dave B
Dave stay with what ya got....it is hard as hell to find a detent cable for this conversion.....but you can find carb to tranny cables all day long. As far as what year did they change....thats the $5.00 question...i dunno...68-69 is my bag.
Dave Would the 69 Special Deluxe with a six cylinder have a 350 turbo, and if it is would it have the cable your talking about? Dave B
Dave trying to find the answer.....i have never parted out a 6 cyl...all have been 350or400 ci models...i would assume it was a th350..or th400....but i think the 6 cyl was a GM corporate motor.so it could have used a chivvey trans.....some one..any one??? Help out?? o No:
wow... thanks for the replies guys!! so it looks like i need a pedal attached kickdown. Dave..my st300 had an electric kickdown attached to a bracket on the pedal.. would that attachment and bracket work for the th350 cable or is it totally different. just a thought o No:
Had to jump in here! I'm stealing a 350/350 combo out of a 69 for putting in a '65. I was suprised to see the bit going to the accel linkage in the cabin... I wonder how hard it will be to adapt the 69 throttle pedal to the 65? Ted
I'm sure it could be done. The later pedals hang from the fire wall, while I believe your 65 pedal sits on the floor. I would expect that, with some fabrication, you could effect the swap.