Quote: Originally Posted by chunks I have a stock trimatic sitting in my shed, just trying to decide which box to go with and how much I need to spend. I will be making around 300rwkw to start with but would like a box that can handle a bit more for later on. A trimatic will handle up to 700hp, but might cost a little more to build compared to a 2speed, most people here will tell you to go a 2speed instead, option is totally up to you.

Everyone keeps saying the glide is such a strong box. It can be, but the fact is it's weak as piss in stock form, a hi flow with a bit of boost could blow it to pieces. It's ALL in how it's been built, there is a HUGE aftermarket for the glide, and because it's weak in stock form, almost everything needs to be replaced when building a tough one, this is why they cost so much to build. Don't get me wrong, i love glides, but be aware of what it takes to make them good. The th400 is physically bigger and stronger in stock form, the same reason they cost more power to use, pretty much no hard parts need to be replaced upto 800hp so can be built fairly cheaply. The tall first gear of a glide is a negative no matter what language you speak, but in certain combos you will gain back in mph what you loose in 1/2 track. It's really going to be a case of which type of box suits your application best, 5,000 k's on the street is bugger all, might as well go for the best times. The glide will need a shorter rear gear or bigger converter to 60ft as hard as the 3spd, the th400 will need a few extra ponies to match the mph of the glide, the ET at the end of the day wont be a whole lot different.

Quote: Originally Posted by PLATNUM everything cost me $5000 with TCE converter, 1 piece and all labour to install and how much does it cost to refill the bottle everytime you use to get it up on the converter

Quote: Originally Posted by GRN-747 A trimatic will handle up to 700hp 700HP (assuming the car has torque and gets traction) and even if thats flywheel not rear wheel HP, Who said they can build a Trimatic and guarantee it to do that ? MT

So could i go a stockish manualised TH400 with a higher stall and get a bit of life out of it behind a GT35 setup before having to build it properly...or am I dreaming? I'm on a bit of a budget at the moment having bought a house, but need a new box to get my car mobile again.

Quote: Originally Posted by chunks So could i go a stockish manualised TH400 with a higher stall and get a bit of life out of it behind a GT35 setup before having to build it properly...or am I dreaming? I'm on a bit of a budget at the moment having bought a house, but need a new box to get my car mobile again. Basically yes, when you say a bigger converter do you mean bigger than stock, or bigger than what you'd use with a glide? Because you actually need a bigger converter with the glide because of its taller 1st gear. A completely stock th400 in good nick should hold around 500hp. with a few valvebody mods and a couple of other small mods, so long as your sprag is in good condition and you have good pressure and everything is engauging properly, it should hold upto 800hp, Mine's been recieving ~700 hp for ages now and all i've ever had to do is change the oil.

Quote: Originally Posted by aZ` Basically yes, when you say a bigger converter do you mean bigger than stock, or bigger than what you'd use with a glide? Because you actually need a bigger converter with the glide because of its taller 1st gear. A completely stock th400 in good nick should hold around 500hp. with a few valvebody mods and a couple of other small mods, so long as your sprag is in good condition and you have good pressure and everything is engauging properly, it should hold upto 800hp, Mine's been recieving ~700 hp for ages now and all i've ever had to do is change the oil. By bigger converter yes I just mean bigger than stock. TH400 is starting to sound pretty good, what should I expect to pay for a stock one in good condition? Thanks aZ I appreciate your info its very helpful!

I bought mine as a well used but fully functioning box for $200, then spent another $150 on parts and about 5 hours to mod and build. Expect to pay $500-$800 one thats been reco'd recently and a touch over $1k for one thats built with mods required to handle some extra mumbo. One thing i will say, DO NOT skimp on converter, buy a good one, buy it once and have it tweaked up or down as required. Yeah my box cost me ~$350, but it's got a $1200 converter in front of it.

I can vouge for upgrading the sprag. I blew three of them before I went for a 38 or 40 element sprag.

Thanks guys, makes me wonder why more people aren't using them?

Quote: Originally Posted by chunks Thanks guys, makes me wonder why more people aren't using them? As stated earlier, they use more power, people with an endless budget wouldn't even concider them. Brett, what's one of those bad boys worth?

Quote: Originally Posted by aZ` As stated earlier, they use more power, people with an endless budget wouldn't even concider them. Yeh I guess that makes sense, from what I have read on glides they sap very little power due to the low internal mass. How much power loss are we talking with the th400 over other boxes, 10-15kw?

Quote: Originally Posted by mumstaxi 700HP (assuming the car has torque and gets traction) and even if thats flywheel not rear wheel HP, Who said they can build a Trimatic and guarantee it to do that ? MT No one i know, in a commordore i have seen them typically handle up to 130mph ish mphtraps ( so about 500ish hp) (v8 or turbo) and they are marginal at that , plus you can't have a transbrake with them. waste of money, I would have a 3 speed jatco before i went a traumatic. cheers darren

Quote: Originally Posted by ANK and how much does it cost to refill the bottle everytime you use to get it up on the converter haha ye, need to choose streetable loose converter if u looking for fun, my converter different

Quote: Originally Posted by aZ` As stated earlier, they use more power, people with an endless budget wouldn't even concider them. Brett, what's one of those bad boys worth? From memory it was $300-$400. I think the factory one is about 8 elements. They didnt even last a block! Since I've upgraded that I've not had any issues.

Quote: Originally Posted by mumstaxi 700HP (assuming the car has torque and gets traction) and even if thats flywheel not rear wheel HP, Who said they can build a Trimatic and guarantee it to do that ? MT this topic can go for days on end about which auto is better, all depends on who and how the auto builders goes building the auto, you can say the same thing about t400 and 2speed assuming the car has torque and has traction too. The best thing to do is to get opinions on different auto builders what is suitable for your car. that's how i'd go about things.

Quote: Originally Posted by GRN-747 The best thing to do is to get opinions on different auto builders what is suitable for your car. that's how i'd go about things. ...and that's how chequebook racers are born.

Quote: Originally Posted by GRN-747 this topic can go for days on end about which auto is better, all depends on who and how the auto builders goes building the auto, you can say the same thing about t400 and 2speed assuming the car has torque and has traction too. . I just wanted to know "who" can build Trimatics for 700HP so i could talk to them. I run a Trimatic behind my RB, i broke the output shaft some time ago , i asked for a stronger one at the time but was told the one i have (standard one) is the only one available. I have also been told a Trimatic is only good for around 4-450HP (a long way from 700HP), and after looking at the output shaft i can see why they break, i want to talk to the guys that can build em for 700HP so i can find out what custom output shaft they must use to handle 700HP , then i can get one for my gearbox if i break another standard one. MT Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Maybe give Hugos Raceglides a call?

Hugo's Tri's are "up to" 500HP,and use the standard output shaft. MT Some original photos have not been recovered yet.