TH350 clutch stack

[john billups]

I have cutdown piston for a extra friction and steel in the direct unit, but i see someplace say to add to the other stacks by cutting down the other pistons.
Good thing ?
Not a good thing ?
Don't bother ?

car is 305 Malibu

[Jim Kaekel]

A lot of this depends if this is for a Stocker or bracket car. If it's a bracket car, I would go ahead and put 5 clutches/5 steels in the direct pack. It's not really needed to add clutches to the intermediate, forward or low/reverse packs if it's behind a 305. If it's a Stocker and you can't afford the couple thousand for a race-built TH-200, I would install tall pistons in each pack to delete a clutch in each pack and reduce rotating mass. Also, if you can find a TH-250 (looks nearly identical to a TH-350 but it has a intermediate band adjuster on the RH side), they have a lightweight forward drum, sun gear shell with holes, light output ring gear, and gun-drilled output shaft that would remove a couple of lbs. You can also take the oil pump to a machine shop and get the gear side milled .100".

[john billups]

Thanks Jim, I'll stay with the direct 5 pack. I'd like to go stock but.... just missing a motor & trans, and a 120lb. driver. So for now it's a bracket car.

[Dean Feiock]

Behind a 305:

Forward 4 discs
Direct 4 discs
Intermediate 2 discs
Reverse 1 disc
Add clutch plate spacers to direct and intermediate clutches
Add as many light weight and roller parts as you can afford
Low volume pump if you can afford it
Add a 2.75 rear planet if you can afford it but note it increases 1-2 gear ratio spread
Add a custom front planet if you can afford