How strong is it? I found one for around 600 outta bus. Will it hold up to drag racing? How many gears? I know someone put it in their truck. Anything else I need to know?

 

The 540, 542, 543, 545 (AT series) are 4 speed autos, I believe some have reverse manual valve bodies, they have a couple different planetary sets available, NO PARK (prop shaft brake). Final drive is direct. The converter in the 542 I have here appears to be the same as TH400 (makes sense it all GM). They are pretty darn strong, pickup pullers in the upper classes like to run them in these parts. Don't Know about drag racing them. I don't think they're that much heavier than the 518 but they have girth. You need the SAE #3 bellhousing adapter to run it.

 

$600 is a good buy if it includes the plate and starter and everything. It weighs about 500 # so it is much heavier. I think you need a body lift or major firewall work. They are a great tranny, I have several in grain trucks. I have read that they can be broken when you get to big power levels, like anything else.....

 

I have one in my truck and had to use a 3" boddy lift to clear the flywheel housling, has manual valve body ( not offered factory as far as I know we had to build it), Low stall converter and cryo parts all over and and I realy like it but am pulling it out and going back to a NV4500 becose the rules ant most sled pulls will not let me run it becose it was never put in a 1ton or less from the factory. I can give you almost any info you could ever need on them. I found all the adapters and made it work with a devorced 205 but had plans to make a married setup. shifts are hard and fast the way I have it set up. Stillsmokin You are about the only other person I have found on here that has any clue what the 545 is and that it takes a #3SAE flywheel housing to bolt it up.

 

I know it has a SAE #3 housing from a little research. This tranny will go into a project Those on 1stgen may know what I am attempting to do

 

I'll take that as a compliment... Some folks think I'm flat out crazy! But then again, WyoTech did try to hire me a few years ago to teach out at Laramie.

 

I realy like your truck. A little off but I have the 3200 gsk with POD's and Pump pushed up to the head what injectors are you running with the 4200 and how do you like it. I know I need springs I did a 4k kit on my 96 and love it. Till the turbo blew but I made a 35/40-14cm w/g now so it worked out.