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To stick or not

Kyle89K5

Kyle89K5

1/2 ton status
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Feb 17, 2000
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OKLAHOMA
So, for the 2 second back story. My 89 has gone through 4 or so 700R4's since I got it. Doesn't sound too bad, I've had the truck for 11 years, but, the first one lasted about 6 years, the next several went quick. The last one, lasted all of a month before I lost line pressure and dumped it. At this point, I was mad enough to do crazy thing to the truck, so I drove it like this for about 9 months, shifting manually since with no line pressure, it didn't really want to shift on its own. And it worked, kinda, but when it finally got tired of not really having any fluid in it, it went into meltdown mode. This was a little over 2 years ago. At the same time that this happened, I had a big mess with an offroad company that soured me completely on wheeling for a while.

Well, I'm back. My son is ready to get his namesake out of the garage and running again, so it's time for a transmisison.

I've got a lead on some different Auto combinations, but I'm really starting to think about going 465 and saying goodbye to auto's for good. I don't mind shifting gears, if I went back to an auto, I'd do a manual valve body anyway, I kinda got used to it.

So, here's the deal, help me decide, 3 pedals or 2?

KP
 
Love my auto, but I can understand the frustration after hearing your story. I've had 3 trucks with 700r4's, but none of them were wheeled hard. I've never had a problem with any of mine. My k20 has a th350/np205 and I love that thing.:D
 
Go manual Kyle, you know you want to...and it's really such a non issue off road as long as you have the correct gearing. Off road I never use the third pedal, and the brute simplicity and strength is nice peace of mind.

Manual trannies don't get hot, will work upside down, and put more of the engine's power to the ground. Great theft deterrant too...

Rene
 
Go with 3 pedals! When I swapped out my 700r4 for the 465 I disliked it for 1/2 hour. No I have extra 465's sitting around since I will pull a auto out of any old chev I buy working or not. I'll never go back to a slushbox again.
 
I've always loved manual transmissions since blowing a couple 727(mopar) and Th400's. The NV4500 in my rig is great provided you keep synthetic in it ;)
 
I feel you pain, ive blown 5 th350's, 2 th400's, and 2 th700r4's over the last 10 years, my next tranny will be a stick with hydro, there is no way im rebuilding an automatic again.
 
I converted my 465 to a Turbo 400 several years ago. Still very happy. After 30,000 miles still works perfectly. My turbo 400 came out of a 90 tow truck and I had it rebuilt before I installed it. I also installed an adjustable vacuum regulator so I could easily adjust the optimum shift points for my engine.
I did not like the 465 that came with my truck. After rebuilding and modifing the 350 engine ( 300hp, 330 ft.lb. torque @ 2400 rpm ), the wide ratio would have it screem at 5500 rpm when I upshifted it was at 1000 rpm ( or so it felt like ). The large heavy gears did not change (shift) quickly.
Now the 700R4 was not GM's best transmission. It had a lot of problems. There are several companies that can build a rugged 700R4. It might be cheaper and quicker to purchase one of these trannys.
 
There are several companies that can build a rugged 700R4
Click to expand...

The last tranny to let go was one of these. HARD built 700. The only thing we kept on that build was the case. It had a 30 day warranty if I installed and a 1 year if they did the install, I did the instal and it died out over a month past, no waranty. They offered to build a new one, badass and all for change to replace it, but by then, I let me temper get away from me for FAR to long and just drove/wheeled the piss out of it. Not my finest hour/week/month LOL!

KP
 
Thanks for all the responses so far guys. I'm leaning heavy on a 465 at this point, may just be the way I go. If that's the case, at least I'll have a clocked 241 for sale :D

KP
 
onetonbb74 said:
I feel you pain, ive blown 5 th350's, 2 th400's, and 2 th700r4's over the last 10 years, my next tranny will be a stick with hydro, there is no way im rebuilding an automatic again.
Click to expand...
Damn, are you filling those things with mud, don't believe in trans service , or what? That's absurd to kill that many autos.:eek1:
 
onetonbb74 said:
I feel you pain, ive blown 5 th350's, 2 th400's, and 2 th700r4's over the last 10 years, my next tranny will be a stick with hydro, there is no way im rebuilding an automatic again.
Click to expand...

I can soooo identify with this quote. My old K10 went thru 3 th400's, one built by a friend (who is a good builder) and the last 2 built by J.W. Performance Transmissions in south Fla.. Ultimately, they all died which was real frustrating considering I had a ton of money sunk into them (all were "K" cases with manual valve bodies, various stall converters, kevlar clutches, big sprags, etc).

I love & prefer the hot rod gear slammin of the automatic but at this point I'm done with pouring money into them. My current K5 project has a hydro 465 (w/ 32 spline ORD tailshaft).
 
I vote manual, Just pulled my 4th 700 this year, got a complete hydraulic bell 465 to swap in this weekend.

Nate
 
throttleissues said:
Damn, are you filling those things with mud, don't believe in trans service , or what? That's absurd to kill that many autos.:eek1:
Click to expand...

Its my driving and I drive a lot, (35k/year) in stop and go traffic with weight in the back, and have several vehicles that came with crap trannies when i bought them. Yes i change fluid and put on coolers, but Ive put an auto in every vehicle that ive owned that came with an auto.
 
I just started swapping over my 700/241 to a rebuilt 465/205 combo and it really hasn't been that hard at all. Gotta wait for a part to come in next and then I'll be done. With a total of approx $1100 invested between the rebuilt tranny/ rebuilt tcase/ wilwood pedal & hydro/ new clutch kit/ new twin sticks/ new HAD tcase output flange, it's really not expensive compared to what you'll pay for a "strong" rebuilt 700. Plus you get a major upgrade in strength and reliability. Given, my cost is towards the high end and you can do it a whole lot cheaper makes it an even more viable option. Go 3 pedal and quit worrying about your trannies
 
465 all the way Kyle.

I've stuck money into automatics as well and after wheeling the 465 I wished I could start over. Manual is so nice. Rarely touch the third pedal as well.
 
I love my 700r4. I have had my rig 10+ years and had it rebuilt once, it did not die but I wanted a performance rebuild with all the updates.
90+% of auto trannies die due to overheating. I run a external filter and cooler not routed thru the radiator and rarely see temps over 175*.
OD is nice as well espically with gas prices.
 
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