3t40 HD and regular 3t40

[TurboGTU]

Ok..i've been looking into the 3t40 family. I have been burning\distroying 3t40s with my turbocharged 3.1. Well mostly because the trans were difective to begin with. When I swaped my "no second gear" trans to a 3t40 from a 88 Beretta GT...it only had 1st and 2nd..no 3rd.. That trans was fun..but soon burned on 2nd. Lasted for 2 weeks. The next two trans were from 2.2s. They didn't even last a day. The last one seemed to locked itself. Feels like first and reverse are fighting each other. Engine loads when I put in R or D....but doen't move. If I neutral drop it ..it sometimes unsticks and goes..but then seazes again. Not the TC..thats for sure. Well anyway. I found out that my GTU had less clutch packs than some Q4 3t40s on direct drive(4 vs 5)..and that the 2.2s had even less clutches troughout. Now the valve bodies are all different between them too. The 3t40 out of a lumina van would seem to have even better parts due to it beeing able to tow and beeing a van and all. What do you all think? I will be buying a lumina trans as is and drop it in. I bet it will hold till the cows come home. I'll also buy another lumina trans to build on. But on the differential..I get 3 different parts. One I can't deside on is the color and desighn. Which is stonger..black or silver??? anyone know?
heres the parts list from GMpartsdirect. notice that theres seems to be a mistake on the parts numbers and color..
91 lumina APV:
1st Design, 1st Design has silver side gear shaft. 8661949 3
2nd Design, 2nd Design has black side gear shaft. 8662923 3
88 beretta
Trans Mfr CD 125C/MD9, 3.18-1 Ratio,Black Differential Shaft 8661949 3
Trans Mfr CD 125C/MD9, 3.18-1 Ratio,Silver Differential Shaft 8662923 3
Trans Mfr CD 125C/MD9, 3.43-1 Ratio 8661978

[Quinky]

why not just have a transmission rebuilt insted of taking your chances with used?

[TurboGTU]

Well the current trans is fryed crap. I woulnt even rebuild it since I might even need the whole valvebody and pump (4cyn and v6 cy have diffent pump/valvebody numbers), and new TQ. who knows how many other parts I might need. I want to buy a J/y APV tranny to be able to move the car.. It currently still has good tags and want to use it to fine tune my engines ecm. I'll check for clean oil pan..and then pull it. While im at it..i'll replace the TCC and air check the valve body and install a cheap shift kit. I will have another APV trans to build on slowly with red clutches, and sonnax hard parts. One beeing the better pump drive shaft. the only thing im not too sure is on the differential. But I guess i'll know when I take it apart.