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Th 700R4 Transmission

T

THEMCGUIRE

1/2 ton status
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Las Vegas, Nevada
I went over to Bloomfield, NJ to buy a cap and doors from fellow CK5 member NJK5SEAN.

Anyway, He needed a jump to get his truck started to lower the rear window. I went to turn my truck around to pull into his driveway and SURPRISE. SURPRISE, SURPRISE !!! reverse died... I feel a light shift when I put it into Reverse but nothing happens when I hit the gas.

Now, it worked find when I backed out of my driveway...1/2 hour before this.

Good thing Sean is a big guy. He pushed me out of the driveway and I was able to get home. Forward gears work fine.

History:

When I finished the body on this truck ( WTF Do I do now - 1988 K5 thread ) and started on getting the engine going, during my 1st try at starting the engine both of the trans fluid cooler lines to the radiator started spewing trans fluid. I replaced the lines and filled it with trans fluid, yes with engine running, moving it slowly through all gears a few times.

Then worked on engine, when I finally took it for it's first ride around the block, about 1/4 mile, I had smoke coming out of the trans filler tube by the time I got back home. To make a long story short I had to put another 3 or 4 quarts of trans fluid, in addition to the 4 that I put in when I replaced the cooler lines. I know how to add trans fluid so I do not understand why the gauge read full and then needed more.

This trans was rebuilt in 2006 by a reputable local trans shop. Then it sat in my driveway from 2009 to a few months ago.

So I have questions.

1. Do I always have to buy a new torque converter when removing / replacing a trans?

2. Has anyone dealt with www.transmissionpartsdistributioninc.com. They are selling a rebuilt for my truck for 625.00 plus 125 shipping. Here is the exact page:

https://www.transmissionpartsdistri...e-REBUILT-TRANSMISSIONS-cln-Blazer/Categories

They say: "Parts are updated with the latest hard parts. We do not recycle used parts or put anything into the transmission that is prone to wearing out prematurely."


3. How about those ebay rebuilts ? Can any of them be recommended ?

4. Many of the ebay items also offer upgrades like Vette Servo, etc. Should I be looking at these options.


5. I know that if I take it to AAMCO they will hit me for at least $1,500.00 without any "upgrades" so is replacing it with a rebuilt a better solution?

6. Having never done it before do you think I can change this transmission myself without messing it up or not adjusting the TV cable correctly?

7. If I take it to a trans repair shop how do I know that they will rebuild it with all the latest upgrades from 1988 stock ?

8. This is going to be a DD and I dont plan to go offroad. What upgrades should I get.

9. What questions do I ask to know they are a legit quality shop ?

10. How much should a shop charge. I see a shop in NYC that offers rebuilds for 399.00 that seems too cheap.


I would appreciate your thoughts and comments.
 
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i was taught in school when you replace a transmission you get a new converter too. but i dont remember what will happen if you dont, i alwayse did.

did you have any other leaks?

i had a 80 pontiac grand lemans with pontiac turbo 350, and when i got it on the road it puked fluid out of the dipstick tube once it warmed up, because the vent was pluged. it ended up blowing all forward gears, i had to drive 6 miles home home in the dark with no back up lights.
 
Heres the deal on a converter. Even if the converter is good, if junk went through the trans when it failed, it likely ended up in the converter as well. Cutting the converter in half (which is how they are rebuilt) is the only way you can clean them out.

If you don't clean it out, it is possible that the junk in the converter will either ruin the converter, or hurt other internal trans components when it circulates.

That said, I had a TH400 that had a problem with the front pump right after install, and I reused the converter because I didn't have money. It lasted, but like anything else, probably a crapshoot.

A 1988 core should be pretty decent, if the case and most hard parts are still good, then a rebuild shouldn't be ridiculously expensive. I don't think I'd go anywhere that didn't offer a meaningful warranty whether "new" or yours rebuilt.

As to install, look up tvmadeez.com or something like that. IIRC, setting the TV is not that complex.

Edit: I realize this is a 700R4, I was just referencing the TH400 as a trans I did the "wrong" thing on.
 
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THEMCGUIRE said:
I went over to Bloomfield, NJ to buy a cap and doors from fellow CK5 member NJK5SEAN.

Anyway, He needed a jump to get his truck started to lower the rear window. I went to turn my truck around to pull into his driveway and SURPRISE. SURPRISE, SURPRISE !!! reverse died... I feel a light shift when I put it into Reverse but nothing happens when I hit the gas.

Now, it worked find when I backed out of my driveway...1/2 hour before this.

Good thing Sean is a big guy. He pushed me out of the driveway and I was able to get home. Forward gears work fine.

History:

When I finished the body on this truck ( WTF Do I do now - 1988 K5 thread ) and started on getting the engine going, during my 1st try at starting the engine both of the trans fluid cooler lines to the radiator started spewing trans fluid. I replaced the lines and filled it with trans fluid, yes with engine running, moving it slowly through all gears a few times.

Then worked on engine, when I finally took it for it's first ride around the block, about 1/4 mile, I had smoke coming out of the trans filler tube by the time I got back home. To make a long story short I had to put another 3 or 4 quarts of trans fluid, in addition to the 4 that I put in when I replaced the cooler lines. I know how to add trans fluid so I do not understand why the gauge read full and then needed more.

This trans was rebuilt in 2006 by a reputable local trans shop. Then it sat in my driveway from 2009 to a few months ago.

So I have questions.

1. Do I always have to buy a new torque converter when removing / replacing a trans?

2. Has anyone dealt with www.transmissionpartsdistributioninc.com. They are selling a rebuilt for my truck for 625.00 plus 125 shipping. Here is the exact page:

https://www.transmissionpartsdistri...e-REBUILT-TRANSMISSIONS-cln-Blazer/Categories

They say: "Parts are updated with the latest hard parts. We do not recycle used parts or put anything into the transmission that is prone to wearing out prematurely."


3. How about those ebay rebuilts ? Can any of them be recommended ?

4. Many of the ebay items also offer upgrades like Vette Servo, etc. Should I be looking at these options.


5. I know that if I take it to AAMCO they will hit me for at least $1,500.00 without any "upgrades" so is replacing it with a rebuilt a better solution?

6. Having never done it before do you think I can change this transmission myself without messing it up or not adjusting the TV cable correctly?

7. If I take it to a trans repair shop how do I know that they will rebuild it with all the latest upgrades from 1988 stock ?

8. This is going to be a DD and I dont plan to go offroad. What upgrades should I get.

9. What questions do I ask to know they are a legit quality shop ?

10. How much should a shop charge. I see a shop in NYC that offers rebuilds for 399.00 that seems too cheap.


I would appreciate your thoughts and comments.
Click to expand...
might wanna correct your title, it's 700r4, not 400...

anyway... this is a OD 700, not an oldschool turbo 350 or 400, totally different beast.. so that is a somewhat loaded question... $600 is STOOOPID cheap for this trans.. as mentioned, it's not a 350/400... and that's an oldschool 350/400 price..

all the bells and whistles as you put it, is bucks, couple g's usually.. do you need kevlar clutches, 5 gear planetary, corvette servo, etc? not for a DD'er.

but an upgraded sunsheel, some decent clutches, etc are always a wise investment on a 700...

as an example, the pretty seriously built manual valve body 700 i'm doing from bowtie overdrive is gonna run about $2500 with a new converter... do you need that beef? certainly not, but something to think about costwise...

I would expect a decent, local, honest rebuilder would do a moderately upgraded 700 for 1200 to 1500..

take a look over at http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/catalog/catalog.php?Action=GETSUBCAT&CATID=B

to get an idea of available upgrades, pricing, etc, so you have some info when talking to a shop... and yeah, reputable, non-chain shop will be your best bet...


oh, here's the link Dorian mentioned for setting tv cables.. easy, but not to be f*cked up, or BOOM... http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php
 
new or reman convt also don't forget to flush the lines and stock or any aftermarket coolers . these hold junk just as bad if not worse . :whistle:
 
more questions...

I fixed the title. Duh. Thanks to all you responders for the useful info.

That Bowtie site has a level one for 1,095. Plus 170 for their 1600 stall converter.

After all the money I spent on this truck so far with the body rebuild and since this trans has already been rebuilt twice, yes twice by the same shop (They went out of business 3 months ago). I just assumed that since my teenagers were driving it and my teenage daughters ex-boyfriend was also off roading it. (Just found that out recently) they had trashed the trans. But now, after reading a bit, I now believe that the shop just replaced the parts that were damaged and put everything else right back in.

I want a trans that will last for quite some time with all the upgrades that the experts have designed, again "Level 1". I do not plan on any more off road adventures but I do want it to be able to tow a car out to Las Vegas (at this point it's who knows when we are going, so much trouble getting rid of this house since it is $120,000 under water.)

Since I am too chicken to rebuild it myself I will have to either pay for a local rebuild or buy a rebuilt.

I find that I just do not trust any of these shops. Unless I can stand there and watch what they put in the shell how do I know they are not putting in the cheapest parts they can? And even then how would I know that the parts that look nice and shiny are the best ones for my trans.

So, some more questions:

If I was buying a rebuild kit, do they automatically include latest upgrades?

Like the following from Summit. Is this the one I want should use/ask for ? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-378900/overview/make/chevrolet

or is this better:http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/catalog/catalog_inc/viewitem.php?ITEMID=7012 (I would have to add a new sunshell and servo as well, I think)

IF I specify to the local shop that this is the rebuild kit I want them to use, is that the best way to communicate to them what I am looking for as an END RESULT ?
 
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Well, somewhat smart-alecky, if you don't want to be replacing the transmission again, drop a 465 (manual) in it. Done. Forever.

I paid something like $1500 to rebuild the 700R4 in my old '83 as I was travelling cross-country, and I had no problems afterwards for a few years before I sold it. Beating a stock 700 offroad is pretty likely to kill it no matter how good a job they did on it, if it wasn't "beefed up" and cooled adequately beforehand.

In regards to a 700, I think paying up front for something that is warranteed to last, is the only choice, if you don't want to be doing it again. Good trans shops are few and far between.
 
rebuild kits don't get you the hard parts that need upgraded .

and if me and your luck get a done ready to bolt in tranny in the box and go for it .
 
I found a local shop... $1,500 plus any hard parts that he feels need replacing. Corvette servo included. 3 years warranty and he will honor it anywhere, if whatever shop I am at when I need work will work with him.

Recommended by a mechanic that I trust.

We will see :))...
 
Job done

I got it done by a local shop. $2100.

He said he did a level one upgrade, I ordered a extra trans cooler and new torque converter were included. He said he put a corvette servo also.

He did make one mistake and that was to connect the shifter to the wrong hole on the trans linkage.

When I called to tell him that I cannot get to 1st gear he told me that everything was correct, road tested and he we sure I was shifting it wrong.

I went under to check the linkage and spotted it right away since I was the person who installed the B&M Shifter kit.

So, I am worried. He told me it was tested but clearly whoever tested it did not detect the missing gearing.

We will see what we will see in the near future.

BTW I started a new thread a few minutes ago regarding my not being able to bleed the breaks. I would appreciate your taking a look and commenting on what my problem might be.

Thanks for all the support.
 
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