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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

'88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans?

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Glenn FitzGeral

03-28-2007 17:35:28




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I looked at/test drove an '88 Chevy 3500 (non-dually) today. It is in very good condition for a 19 year old truck. The automatic transmission gear indicator shows it to simply be a 3 speed auto however, it sure seemed to slip into overdrive as I got up around 50mph. Did an '88 come with overdrive?

Thanks, Glenn F.




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Mike M

03-29-2007 12:54:50




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 03-28-2007 17:35:28  
Look in the glove box hopefully the build tag is still there and if you have a code M40 that is a 3L80 or better known as THM400 They don't show the THM700R4 as being available for the 3500 series trucks.



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jdemaris

03-29-2007 05:37:16




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 03-28-2007 17:35:28  
In regard to some of the other posts - GM never made a lock-up TH350 or a TH400. And, GM never offered the electric controlled, variable pitch converter with the TH400 after 1967 - it was only made for three years. TH350 got replaced with the 700R4 (and later 4L60E or 4L65E) with overdrive and lockup, whereas the TH400 got replaced with the the 4L80E with lockup and OD. During the 80s and early 90s, 1/2 GM trucks usually came with 700R4 trans. along with 3.08 or 3.42 axels, whereas 3/4 and 1 tons were often equipped with the TH400 with 3.73 axles. One exception is the 1/2 ton Blazers sold to the military got TH400s.

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Revredneck

03-29-2007 06:40:07




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to jdemaris, 03-29-2007 05:37:16  
"GM never made a lock-up TH350" - I beg to differ on this one. They did make a lock-up version of the 350 (something like '79-81), but not the 400. If the truck shows only 3 speeds and not 4, it was a 400 tranny from the factory. If it has a lockup or a 4th shift, most likely it has had the tranny replaced with something other than original. Incidentally, about 90% of those trucks had the 700 series tranny.
Good Luck and God Bless, Tommy

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jdemaris

03-29-2007 07:03:04




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Revredneck, 03-29-2007 06:40:07  
GM never made a lockup trans badged as a TH350. What you are referring to is the 350C, not a 350. GM used it in several light trucks and vans. Stopped making it in 1986. Since the truck in question is an 88 (assumming it's original), it won't have a 350C that ended in 86 nor will it have a Vari-pitch 400 that ceased production in 1967. In regard to what the shift-selector shows ? That may not represent how is came in original fashion. Many dealers put in conversion kits for towing, removing the 700R4 and replacing with the TH400 or TH475 and installing new shift numbers/letters. The RPO code sheet would tell how it came new, and perhaps later mods. Dealers in my area put addendums onto the RPO sheet when modified, but probably small shops would not.

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Bob

03-29-2007 06:37:03




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to jdemaris, 03-29-2007 05:37:16  
1.) GM DID make a lockup 350.

2.) I never said they made the electric controlled, variable pitch converter for more than the "early years" of the 400.



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buickanddeere

03-28-2007 20:10:24




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 03-28-2007 17:35:28  
If the price for the truck was right. A beefed up TH700R4 can be built and installed. 4 speed over drive with a creeper low gear and lockup torque. No electronic shifting.



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Bob

03-28-2007 17:47:31




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 03-28-2007 17:35:28  
Could it have a THM-400 (HD 3-speed tranny) with a lockup torque converter and could what you perceived as a shift into 4TH was actually the converter locking up? IIRC; that tranny would have been an option.



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Allan In NE

03-28-2007 17:52:57




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Bob, 03-28-2007 17:47:31  
Don't think so, ol' Bud,

GM never made a 400 with a lockup converter as far as I know. They went straight into the 4L80E on that transmission.

Allan



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Bob

03-28-2007 21:37:11




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Allan In NE, 03-28-2007 17:52:57  
Yup... I "pulled and Allan"; and "shot from the hip" there.

I was thinking about the old THM-400's that had the electrically-shifted variable ratio torque converters and later "electric kickdown"; and was thinking they even had "lockup" at the end.



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Jon Hagen

03-28-2007 20:20:14




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Allan In NE, 03-28-2007 17:52:57  
Might it be a 350 trans with lockup converter ? a buddy had an 88 1/2 ton with 3spd th350 with lockup converter.



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Jon Hagen

03-29-2007 12:48:43




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 Re: '88 Chevy 3500 Lock-Up Trans? in reply to Jon Hagen, 03-28-2007 20:20:14  
Whups, 20 year old memory, buddy had a lockup th 350 in his 80 chevy 1/2 ton, not an 88.



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