700r4 reliability ?

[ShiftyK5]

Since i'm rebuilding and motor for my blazer and gonna be pulling out the trans anyway i thought maybe i should rebuild my 700r4. So i called around to some shops and they either wanted close to $1500 to rebuild or the guy tried to talk me out of rebuilding the 700r4 and drop in a 400. Now i would love to put a 400 in but with finding one and gettin it rebuilt and gettin the new Tcase since i wont want to use the 208 with it it would be over the amount to rebuild the 700.

I've ran the 700r4 for quite a while with no probs at all, no slipping or anything, i had the stock gearset in it for a while dont remember what they where and have been running 4.11 gears for a couple years with 35" tires.

Planning on 1 ton axles with 4.88 gears and 36" tires for the rebuild... anyone ever run a 700r4 with close to that setup and had any probs?

 

[ShiftyK5]

Guess no one likes the 700r4

 

[K5er4Life]

I have gone through a couple of 700's, a few failures can be attributed to nothing more than the fault of my own. Obviously, 3.73 and 38"s are a bad combo for any tranny, especially 700's. That being said, what do you plan on using this truck for? If you are going to drive it on the street 4.88 with 36"s is not a bad combination and a properly built 700 with a cooler should have no problem lasting. The 700 has many benfits, I would not discount it for "problems" they allegedly have. 700's have a place, for a hotrodded mudder, no place. For a daily driven truck with the right gears and not super huge tires they will do fine.

What kind of motor are you building for that truck of yours? If your going crazy with it I would be hesistant to run a 700. I switched to a 400 after realizing my truck was quickly becoming something I wont drive on the street anymore. After 40"s, 1-ton axles, a 383, and a heavy foot it was a no brainer to make the leap for a 400. Just dont do what I did and fool yourself into thinking this truck will only be used for "light" trail duty and then come out with some monstrosity that needs far more money and time to finish and do right than you initially thought. To clarify, I wanted the best of both worlds, a decently built trail truck and a driver. Im sure you know that wont happen, so my point being know what you want for your truck and build it accordingly, of course plans do change.

Oh by the way, I have had 700's rebuilt out of truck, with all the goodies (kevlar bands, 13 vane pump, vette servos, better clutch pack, etc..) for way less than 1500. Look around call some shops and do more research as to what this trans takes for it to last.

P.S. Whatever trans you choose, dont forget the cooler!

 

[Chaddy]

Guess no one likes the 700r4

I like my 700r4. I also wheel the piss out of it, and have done for years. I did build it with upgrades Years ago after I killed the first 1.

 

[miniwally]

I like my 700r4. I also wheel the piss out of it, and have done for years. I did build it with upgrades Years ago after I killed the first 1.

This is exactly right.
A correctly built 700 is a good tranny provided you don't do stupid things like 3:08 gears and 42" tires.

I say build it and run it.

 

[rjfguitar]

Have it rebuilt with all the standard updated parts, along with the favored performance goodies.

I've ran a built 700R4 behind my built 406ci for a few years now, probably has about 20K on it or so of nothing but continuing beating. From mudding, to dragging 40K semi trucks down the road.

I definantly don't agree when some people say " a 700 can't be built strong."

 

[ShiftyK5]

Great, was hoping someone else out there had good luck with the 700, the motor will be pretty basic rebuild nothing over 275-300 horse.
and this truck will be my daily driver with as much trail use as i can find time for, nothing extreme tho. just want to have fun and still be able to drive to work

 

[rjfguitar]

Infact, whey even rebuild it?

You said that it wasn't slipping or acting up.... See how it does behind the new engine. If it doesn't slip under load than you are in good shape and might be suprised how much more time is left in it. If the shifts are a little sloppy with the added power, do a shift kit or corvette servo, that should take care of it as long as the clutches are still good. Which, they should be if it works good now.

My stock 700 did good behind my 406, I just rebuilt it finally because I just figured it was getting close to toast. The builder said it was getting fairly worn, but had life left in it.

 

[pauly383]

Mine was probably rebuilt before I bought it ......... six years and too many wheeling trips ago , also towed cross country with it .

 

[vortec]

mine does just fine turning my 33s. deep first gear, plus overdrive. best of both worlds. i haven't managed to kill it yet, and i do get a crazy right foot sometimes.

 

[K5er4Life]

To reiterate what was said, before my blazer was mine, it was my dads. We used to tow a 6500lb. boat and trailer hundreds of miles every year to the river and lake. Up steep hills, through scrouching hot deserts, with 33"s and no lift. Did that for many years on that 700 that was in there. It had no problems at all, no shift kit, no auxilary cooler, and few oil changes. Lived a long life, that is, until I got the truck "jacked it all up" (according to my dad) with big tires and mud bogging that the trans went...more than once.

 

[Supreme70]

Im running 4.88 with 36 iroks and have had no ill problems to speak of love the low first gear and the over drive is awsome.