VK with a turbo 350/400 transmission

[maimu]

Hello all, i am new here, and i must say this Forum is brilliant.
Ok enough of that, now down to my question.
I own a VK calais 5 litre 308. i am having rebuilt and the product will be a 268Kw V8. I am going to buy a different Block with a turbo stud pattern as opposed to the trimatic (piece of crap)

Now in doing this is it going to be just a take out and drop in procedure due to the different gearbox? the engine i buy will be a Holden V8, but VK's never came out with turbo transmissions, so i am worried the crossmember or other things may need to be modified or changed.

Any info you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated.
thanx.
tim.

[Pushrod]

I have put a t700 trans into a vk.. had to make a crossmember, for the tailshaft I used the front half of a VN V8 tailshaft mated to the original vk rear, which is somthing you can do with hand tools but it must then be balanced. the std trimatic shifter might shift the t400 but im not sure, I used a t700 shifter from a vn which required some tunnel beating to get it to shift into low gear. (the end of the shifter linkage hit the tunnel on the passenger side)
the flex plate from the trimatic is the same as the turbo one.

make sure the tailshaft is done properly if it is too long it will whack the gearbox when the suspension moves and it can crack the bellhousing.

I can't think of anything else you will need to know.

Cheers

[hamish]

Use a t350 rather than t400. 400s being a larger box absorb more power, & the extra strength is overkill for a smallblock. T700 being a 4sp is a good idea if you can spend the extra money.

[maimu]

Thanx people for your help, you have been a big help. Just wondering i was always under the ipression that a turbo 350/400 were 4 speeds, is this incorrect???

[hamish]

Yes you were incorrect.
T350/400 are both 3sp autos. T700 is a 4sp