UPDATE 1/24/11: On the Elky, I ended up w/ a Jasper 700r4, existing TV cable conversion, and wired up the lock-up converter. One thing led to another and after I finally got the car done and painted I barely got to enjoy it when I had a kid, and conveniently someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse. It was nice to have space in the garage for my bikes again, no registration or insurance, and less projects, especially since the new child took all my time and most of my money. Then I saw the car I really wanted to build (but knew I didn't have the time or space) and the price was right: chopped, channeled, lowered, 30-31 Model A truck w/ a cool v-8 (Cadillac). It was turn key, but I could spend the rest of my life making things "right" if I wanted. It was kismet, and now i have no space, no time, no money, extra expenses, and a slew of questions. But I finally have a reason to really use this site (which is terribly addictive by the way and far more active than the Jockey Journal) and become an Alliance member. Been on the Jockey Journal for a couple of years now, found this site, through it. Finally signed up here in April when I decided to start looking for a car. Started messing w/ 66-77 Broncos when I was 15, which got me interested things mechanical. Then I got into bikes b/c they were smaller and easier ...... and this spring i decided i wanted to get back into something cool with 4-wheels (I may have PM'd a couple of you all about various projects in the cl***ifieds). This stuff is just a hobby that I have outside of my day job. There some pictures and info at: www.velvetcustoms.com Now, MY 700R4 PROBLEM. I just bought this '66 El Camino w/ a 700r4, which broke (I think) when driving it home. So, I need to know whether it is "broken", what might have caused it so it doesn't happen again if its something to do with the setup. EVENTS LEADING UP TO PROBLEM: Test drove it 4 miles or so (no problem and PO said he never had an issue), bought it, drove about 3 miles on back roads and 40 miles at sustained 65mph speeds w/o problem, I felt a jump, but then nothing noticeable after that I pulled off, just in case, and didn't notice anything, and ****** fluid looked good, so I took off again When I began to take off in 1st again, it was making a profound grinding noise, but as soon as it shifted out of 1st, it was fine. Symptoms NOW: 1st gear only, it sounds awful (once it shifts out of 1st, it seems fine) no reverse CURRENT SETUP: 700R4 w/ mild 350ci engine TV cable: appears to be setup correctly and throttle (see photos): pedal opens carb virtually if not all the way, and when all the way to floor, there is no more pull in TV cable only cooler is the one built into a stock style radiator nothing is plugged into the Lockup plug on the ****** WHAT HAPPENED??: Did the trans just let go (old, tired....), and I should just swap in a new one and be done? Is this a TV issue (spoke to Bowtie Overdrives and they don't think it's a TV issue)? related to not having an external cooler, or anything hookup for the lock-up converter My concern is that once i replace it, that something is not correct and it will happen again. WHEN REPLACING ******: Can I use any 700R4 that isn't electronically controlled (it's not clear to me whether there are different gear ratios, spline counts..., or fitment issues)? For example, there's one on Craigslist, but the guy doesn't know what year it is or anything else about it. Thanks in advance, scott
Welcome to the HAMB! Start with a thread search for 700R4 and 700 R4 You may have an early (84-87) trans, try to stay after 1987 - verify two valve bodies. They have numerous inherent problems which have been successfully worked out over the years. Find another one, build it hard, and swap it out one afternoon.
Thankya, good to be here. What little I know now about this ****** (and automatics: never had one before) is what I garnered from searching here and the internet abroad? I have read that the '87 and laters are better, but is that why: 2 valve bodies as opposed to 1? Since the motor is nothing special and I don't plan on hotrodding this thing, I was planning on just getting a crate transmission from Jasper or similar for an '89 camaro, so I was wondering if they were all interchangeable.
rear planetary unit is probably toast, broken , bad , NFG... remove and dis***embly will determine the problem. Removal will also determine the year of the trans and needed repair or replacement. 700 trans only came in the chevy bolt pattern during the years you are interested in... early and late 700 / 4L60 trans are ID'd here: http://www.geocities.com/crosley_az/700id.htm have fun.
I have been a tech with chevy for about 10 years before switching to the parts department this year. I had a little experience with being a transmission apprentice 9 years ago when I lived in Arizona and not much after that but it sounds like the reverse reaction shell broke. There is a large hole in the center of it that is splined to the sun gear of the planetary set that Crosley mentioned. It is a fairly common problem for that splined section to break away from the rest of the shell and even still happens today on the all elecronic 4L60E transmissions. If you try to get a replacement the best ones to get are the ones that were in corvettes as they have the beefiest internals and a bigger 2-4 band servo. Best of luck.
Find a qualified trans person. use a "Beast" drive shell, available from several sources..... corvette use the same internal hard parts. I have never seen a beast drive shell break. Photo indicates the problem we speak about OF the ring of splines break off the main part.
My 2 cents. No converterlock wire. has some one recently had it out . This wont hurt but it is puzzling. Ive seen guys (me) grab wrong length flex plate bolts and drive them in to deep into barley denting convertor. I did it twice before we ( my ****** friend) discovered it My best friend now.
Who ever designed that part knew it would eventually break I bet he got a bonus for creating a new revenue stream.
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