From: rodder@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Jon D. Rodder)
Subject: Re: '87 Trans Am Modifications
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 03:15:44 GMT

In article <BxBG46.HEL@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Mshar) writes:
>> Stephen James Kendrish <sk4k+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>>In need of advice.
>>
>>     I'm telling myself that I'm investing money into my '87 Trans Am to
>>get more money out of it than I'll put into it by reselling (a lot of
>>people probably say this).  I probably will not sell it, however, when
>>I'm finished with it.  I bought the car for $3000 R-Titled.  The body
>>work is still excellent and the 305cid non-TPI motor runs great for
>>116,000 miles.  I feel like I got a pretty good deal.  
>>     
>>     Anyway, at this moment I'm having a 400SB Chevy being built for it.
>> I got it for $200 out of a 1970 station wagon (70,000 mi.).  First of
>>all, I'm wondering if the transmission and rear end can handle this
>>power?  It has the TH700R4 Automatic OD transmission and stock rear end.
>
>Will the body be able to handle it?? I have seen and heard way too many
>bent up TA stories to ever consider putting a quality engine into one of
>these cars. Did you ever notice that you never see 5.7 TPI IROCS with
>t-tops (with the exception of one year, 1987 I believe)? Know why? The body
>could not handle the torque. Plus, a 1970 400 engine is going to be a lot
>heavier than a 1987 305. The newer engine has aluminum brackets, intake
>manifold, etc. while everything on the 400 will be cast iron. So, the front
>suspension will definitely need to be beefed up.

The 87 engine also had a LOT more smog equipment, etc.  I doubt that the
400 will weigh significantly more than the 305.  The 400 accessory brackets
most likely weigh less than the beffy 305 aluminum brackets, btw.  And
if he's going to all the trouble of doing this swap, why not spend
an extra $100 on a new aluminum edelbrock manifold? 

>A 700R4 will not last behind a 400. Period. The only way it will is if it
>is ripped open and modified by a good tranny guy. As for the rearend, if it
>is a 10 bolt posi, it will probably be OK. 

I disagree...  I have a friend running an 87 700R4 behind a 90 HO350
with no problems in 30,000 miles.  I'm running a 91 4L60 (the new designation
for the 700R4) behind a 450hp blown 350.  SO far, no tranny problems,
but I don't have many miles on it.
As far as the rear end goes, the stock 87 rearend will NOT take a moderately
built 400.  My friend with the HO350 went thru two of them in the first year
he had the 350, and finally went to 12 bolt.

>-- 
>|       Michael G. Mshar        | My Life-Long Goal: To keep common sense    |
>|   mmshar@mn.ecn.purdue.edu    | alive and keep the idiots from taking over.|
>|  mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu   |     \\President, Nice Guys Anonymous//     |
>|____>>> United States Steel, Mechanical Engineer, Technical Services <<<____|


-- 
--=< Jon D. Rodder ----- rodder@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu >=-- 
    \    IRC-Op at tramp.cc.utexas.edu (Rodder)   /
     \    89 Jeep Wrangler - 258/PIECE OF JUNK!  / 
      \        79 Rx-7 - 12A/Holley 4bbl        / 
       \________67 Camaro RS - 350/4spd________/ 
Newsgroups: alt.autos.rod-n-custom