Another 700r4 issue

[evolve991]

Trans history: Rebuilt 1989 700r4 with upgrades. It has run strong for 2 years. Shifted perfect,never slipped,never hung,never slammed.

I recently swapped a crate 350 into the suburban. Of course we didn't swap the front seal while it was out and easy. After about 30 miles of test drives the seal started leaking. Not gushing but steady dribble.

Possible cause of seal failure:
1 The motor was running hot (timing and pinhole in rad)
2 One cooling line got bent close to the exhaust
3 I had the TV cable 2 clicks too tight

Before dropping the converter it turned freely. I pulled the seal and checked the bearing, it had not walked forward. No debris I could find.
I replaced the seal and seated the converter but it must have slid off while I was fighting the tranny back onto the pins. I tightened the casing down but heard nothing like anything breaking. I dropped the trans back off and tried to get the converter seated again but it wouldn't go the last click.
Checked the splines on both and looked into the pump, no metal, pump tangs are there.
Got a converter from a buddy and it slid right on all 3 clicks no problem. BUT it won't turn by hand. I got it to spin with leverage. Clockwise is easier than counter but it does turn both ways with leverage.
Is there any chance its just stiff or is the pump definitely shot?

Sorry for the long post,wanted to get all the info into it

 

[olanchamedic]

Thinking your gonna need a pump.

 

[evolve991]

Thinking your gonna need a pump.

Yeah me too damnit. My buddy says "sometimes they're tight" and says to bolt it up and work the TC forward a little , maybe it will loosen up....I'm doubting it myself....wanted some opinions from you guys.


PS What really sucks is I had a pump and converter rebuilt by Deltrans as spares until some pillhead took the tranny for scrap

 

[evolve991]

Ya'd think I'd learn some patience in 50 years. nnnnnnnnaaaaaaaahhhhhh hit it harder

 

[Blue85]

It should spin fine by hand. If it doesn't something is definitely wrong with the pump or converter. The pump rotor can be cracked easily, as can some version of the pump rings. It's not clear from your description why you dropped the tranny back out again, but my guess is that you had trouble tightening all the bellhousing bolts. If that's the case, you probably cracked the rotor. This might be hard to tell until you take the pump apart.

You can rebuild the pump if you have the parts, but the whole pump is not hard to come by. Some shops will keep rebuilt ones one the shelf. A couple years ago I found a broken rotor on a 4L60E and found a shop to rebuild it in a couple hours time for like $40. This was the afternoon on New Year's eve. It doesn't cost much to have them rebuild it, and then you don't have to worry about alignment or getting all the vanes lined up right, etc.

The good news is that if you didn't start the engine, any debris will still be inside the pump. Even if it did run, there's a chance it's still confined. As soon as you break the rotor the fluid stops moving. There is a little screen in the pump outlet to catch the naughty bits if something in the pump frags. Make sure that is cleaned out before putting the pump back in.

 

[evolve991]

Thanks Blue. I'm getting a pump from a friend of mine. I wasn't aware he messed with these but I heard he's got the knack for making them strong. I dropped the trans back off because I got mad and rammy and forced it on after letting the d*mn converter slip off the pump

 

[evolve991]

Ok lets try this again. Here's the pump my buddy had. It's a 132 instead of a 732 but after alot of tense,disbelieving fact checking I found it's an upgraded replacement.

THIS time no rammy jammy gorilla method. Last round I tried leaving the transfer case and tranny together on top of a contraption I made.
This time the trans and transfer case are separated, no more short cuts.
I'll be swapping pumps as soon as I get gaskets and don't have to worry about thunderstorms filling up my exposed tranny.

 

[Greg Ducato]

I'm sure you already know this but, pull the pan first, remove the filter and lockup solenoid before you try and pull the pump or you will break these. Stand the trans up on it's tail when you do all this to lessen the chance of dropping a bearing or washer out of place when you pop the pump out. An old flywheel on top of a sturdy 5 gallon bucket works well if you have a buddy to help hold the trans for you. Lube the pump o-ring and case with a light grease and it will go together easier. Never use silicone on a front pump o-ring or gasket.

 

[evolve991]

Thanks Greg. Yup all those were the plan. If I recall correctly you were one of a few members who gave me all that advice a few years back with my former 700 nightmare. Everyone gave me good advice then and if I wasn't so pissed off last week I'd be driving right now

My buddy insists if the pump to case gasket isn't broken I can reuse it but I'm leary of that. I'm waiting to bum the money off my daughter for the gaskets and fluid since the Suburban is my only way to make money on jobs I don't have until I have wheels ( she takes care of 'the old man' well)
I have the pleasure of doing this job in my parking space 3 feet from the freshly poured sidewalks in my townhouse community while racing the clock because they're milling and paving our streets

Being a former " ya gotta move your car" guy on a road crew gives the whole thing a sick twist.

 

[Greg Ducato]

If the gasket isn't torn you can use it, no worry

 

[evolve991]

Well that's good news since I can get the pan gasket half a mile away but the pump gasket, probably the cheapest part, means a drive to Deltrans in traffic from hell

 

[evolve991]

I'm headed out to yank the old pump. QUESTION: Do I need to shrink or resize the 2 O rings on the backside of the pump? They were on it when I got it but are a little loose. Do they need to be flush inside thier grooves to slide into the trans?

 

[Greg Ducato]

Are they the solid rings or the scarf cut?

 

[evolve991]

Look solid to me. Kind of a greenish rubber teflon. I wrapped them with electrical tape while I was out there,didn't put it in the freezer though.

 

[Greg Ducato]

If they are solid rings it takes a bit more caution, center and compress them as best you can and lubricate them with petroleum jelly to hold them in place

 

[evolve991]

OK got it apart, looks clean nice to know! Found an extra O ring on the filter, that couldn't have helped much but it never acted funny.
The pump/case gasket has a small tear in the opening where I pryed the pump so I'm off to Deltrans to get a new one.

In the meantime I have the pump taped and in the freezer. The O rings on the pump I pulled were as loose as the ones on the new one but I'm taking no chances and letting the metal and teflon contract until I slide it into the case.

 

[Greg Ducato]

Clean off that yellow plastic thrust washer and "glue" it on to the pump stator with petroleum jelly so it wont fall off when you load the pump back into the case.

 

[Greg Ducato]

Pick up a new filter and seal while you are out and a good quality pan gasket too.

 

[evolve991]

I did. All from Deltrans so they should be the good stuff. Home in time for the gully washer, glad I bagged the tranny before I left.
Thanks Greg you rock!

 

[Greg Ducato]

Happy to help sir