looking for a correct dated TH 400

[Brandon Metzger]

I am looking for a correctly dated TH 400 for my '72 BB. I have a TH 400 now that shifts great and runs smooth. I figured if I can find a case I would switch the guts from what I have to the correctly dated case. My current case also is missing a mounting hole because of damage.

Any suggestions on a supplier of such things.

Regards,
Brandon

[Patrick H.]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Brandon,

Is the TH400 you have now not the original?
Dates on the cases are not judged, so if you happen to have the original, I'd just get any TH400 case and swap the little tag on the side to match your original.

Patrick

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Patrick,
No unfortunatly it is not original. I think it is a '73 not a '72. I also have a 2" section of on of the mounting bolt holes on the bellhousing on the top driver side missing. I have a freind who is a Transmission engineer at GM and said he wouldn't worry about that. Also said not to mess with rebuilding because they work the best while original. And I believe this, even though old, has not been rebuilt. I was going to get some sort of "filler" to just cosmeticaly fill the break and prevent water and dirt from getting into the torque converter and flywheel.

I spent a bit of time cleaning this trans. Don't realy want that to go to waste. Knowing what I just said and what you have posted should I just keep what I have in the car? I would preffer to do this.

Brandon

[Patrick H.]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

If it works well, I'd keep it in the car until it blows or you happen to find a correct TH400 at Carlisle or a Corvette recycler. Try America's Finest Corvettes or Contemporary Corvette if you want the right piece. But until then, I'd leave it. Actually, even if I purchased a correct one I think I'd leave it for now.

Patrick

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Patrick,
Thank you for your help. I would leave it but I am in the middle of a frame off restoration. So I am debating to change it since the car is appart.

Anyway, my delema. Thank you again,
Brandon

[Patrick H.]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Ah. Now it makes more sense.

Then I'd call one of the places mentioned above, or other Corvette salvage yards, and find a "correct" one. If nothing else, I'd find one that wan't broken just so I "knew" it would be correct.

Patrick

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Thank you Patrick,
I should have mentioned that smaaaalll bit of info at the begining.

Should I worry about the date or anything if they are not judged? I am trying to do this as correct as I possibly can but at the moment reality is setting in and I need to draw the line. The car had three wheels in the salvage yard but I am enjoying the process of saving something that most people would not have saved. Anyway, I appriciate this conversation we are having and the help you are giving.

Regards,
Brandon

[Patrick H.]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

If it were me, I'd call around and first worry about finding a correct coded unit. I don't think I'd worry a bit about dates since it's not judged, and I'd guess that finding a correctly coded unit will be tough enough. IF you happen to find more than one, then worry about dates.

Patrick

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

I guess since I am this far in.....What would the correct code be? I am up to my eyeballs in this project and still am trying to figure out this date code and code this and code that. I figure one or two more projects and I will have it down pat.

Thanks Patrick,
Brandon

[David D.]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Brandon, Not sure if this will help, but I have an original 1975 Corvette TH400 trans, the Corvette VIN is stamped on the case. The tag on the side of the case is Yellow, it is stamped 75K 451 on the top line and 75-CK 17904 on the bottom line. FWIW. Dave

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Dave,
Thanks, the trans I have now is has a casting number of 8623462.
The tag has 547 in the top right. On the bottom of the tag reading form left to right is 73 C J 99103.

Any thought would be great.

Brandon

[Patrick H.]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Brandon,

If I recall, your car is a 1971 with 454. That would be a CS. If my memory is wrong and it's a 1972, then the code is thankfully the same.

On my Dad's 72, the tag has some other smaller numbers, but the code is larger and easily visible. IIRC, the tag is silver background with blue.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Patrick,
The car is a '72. So when you say the "code is thankfully the same" is this the same as the '71 or the same that I posted of CJ. the full code again is 73 CJ 99103. The tag is silver and I think there was a little blue at one time but is now gone.

Brandon

[Patrick H.]

Re: looking for a correct dated TH 400

Yes, it's still a "CS". Almost all numbers, specs, etc from 71 to 72 are the same EXCEPT the CEC/TCS system.

Patrick