Some help and recommendations

[Kinetic Dan]

Hello folks!

Can anyone help me, I'm trying to figure out what autobox I have behind the factory stock Chevy 305 in my 79 Cutlass. Its a 3-speed column shift.

I'm going to be purchasing a crate 350, probably built to around 400hp, can anyone recommend a new autoto suit, since I might as well get a recon'd box at the same time?

[astroracer]

TH350...
You may want to consider stepping up to an O.D. trans. A lot of potential for rear gear changes and keeping the RPM's livable on the street.
Mark

[Josh]

My 79 Caprice had a TH250 unit, this was pretty standard. They are very weak. Sorry I cannot tell you how to ID the difference from a TH250 from a TH350.

[GetMore]

I second the recommendation to go with an overdrive unit.

Your stock transmission could be a TH-350, which is relatively strong, and may hold up to your crate engine, or it might be a TH-250, which is rather weak.
When you drove the car, did it seem to have 3-1/2 gears? The TH-250 had a lockup converter, so it would shift up through the gears, and then at light throttle, over a certain (low) speed, it would lock the converter, dropping the rpm a few hundred rpm. It wouldn't drop as much as a gear shift, but it was noticable.

The overdrive transmission that will probably be the best (easiest) fit is the 200-4R. It came stock in those cars in the mid 80's.
The 700-R4, also called the 4L60, and then when electronic control was added, the 4L60E, is a popular upgrade.
The 4L80E is the strongest, and as such, the most expensive.
Both the 4L60E and 4L80E require a controller, which will add to the cost.

One of the biggest questions is how much do you want to spend, and what is available to you?
I don't know what parts are available to you, or if you are planning on having the transmission shipped over to you.

[Kinetic Dan]

I reckon I have a TH-250, as it indeed seems like 3.5 gears!

I'll probably find someone who's rebuilt a 200-4R in the States and ship it over, any recommedations there?