What is so wrong with a 700R4 Tranny????

Guys- As I am in the process of rebuilding my 52 Chevy Deluxe I keep hearing conflicting info about me wanting a 700R4 tranny. I want to put a tranny that I can drive 80mhp on the highway for a good long road trip with know issuses. With me it's all about cruisen so I figured that a 700 was my best bet, I would like to know what the general feelings are towards them are to see if its my best option or not? Any opinionswouldbe greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam

 

There's no downside to running a 700R4 that I know of, unless your friends are all hard core period correct types. What motor?

I have one ready to go into my '55.

 

So who's gonna be driving the car?

 

I think they are great when they are adjusted and working correctly. I'd do it if it were me. I've seen several cars with them and they are alot nicer to drive with the 700 in it.

I'm planning on in the future putting one in my wifes 48 pontiac so I can change the rear gears and get some better mileage out of the car.

 

I'm in the process of doing the following...

(1) New Front End and rearend with 355 gears
(2) 350 bored 30 over
(3) 700 Tranny????
(4) Air Shocks with compressor in the trunk.

Thanks
Sam

 

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Ted/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style>[FONT=&quot]There is nothing wrong with the 700R trans. If you want to travel at highway speed.[/FONT]

 

do a search, this is an age old topic

 

There is nothing generally wrong with a 700R4.....the earliest of them, about '85 or '86 or so had some weak pieces internally that got them off to a poor start regarding durability.......like a lot of other major components over the years. However, GM soon corrected that problem and it is doubtful you could find many originals from that period anymore. The 700 has a 3.06 1st gear which is the lowest of all GM automatics. That isn't neccessarily a good or bad thing, just is, and MAY be beneficial in some setups depending rear gears and tire size etc.

The 2004R is also a fairly popular OD automatic and one that I kind of like. It, too, had early teething problems that were later fixed and certainly the performance tranny shops have many HD components for them. They have a 2.74 1st gear. Both have similar OD ratios, in the neighborhood of .70 (I think 2004R is.67).

The advantage, though not a major one, is that the 2004R is about the same dimensions of a TH350, except the rear mount is farther back, and has the same driveshaft spline. The 700 is longer, but if you have the room, that doesn't matter either. One thing to be careful of though, with both 200 & 700...the TV (throttle valve) cable adjustment is critical...VERY important from the git go.....you can fry either trans pretty quick if that is not adjusted properly. Not terribly complicated, but important.

On the other hand, there has been a rush to install OD trans in many cars that really can't benefit from them the way they are driven........mostly in town where the OD isn't even utilized. In your case, you have picked a good gear combo for both spirited city driving and a good OD effective ratio on the highway.

Ray

 

there is nothing wrong with a 700r4 as long as its working properly...i just sold a daily driver astro van that had 336,000 miles on the original engine but was on the third transmission. when they go out its usually pretty expensive to fix.compared to a 350 or 400 turbo.

 

In the 52 a 200r4 may be a better fit. Especially as far as the trans tunnel is concerned. I think they have a better gear spacing as well.

 

ditto, good trans. you can also think of the 200-4r it's the little brother to the 700-r4 and has a shorter cast in tailhousing that works great in some cars that are a bit tight in the trans tunnel. Don't confuse this with teh old 200 3 spd...it was junk and weak....the 200'4r on the other hand came stock in the Grand Nationals...they can handle 300hp in almost stock form. you do need to think about you ratios though with a 3.55 gear and tall tire you wont need the overdrive until you get on the highway, especially if you have a 6 sixer....you don't want to try and cruise a low power motor at 900 rpm...3.55 oor even 3.73 do work well in most cases though.

 

They work great. The tv cable adjustment is as stated earlier, critical. I put in a TCI valve body and it virtually eliminates this problem. I'm running 336 gears and get around 18 mpg in my truck.
Later,
Dick

 

got one in my diamond t. works great.

 

I guess I forgot to mention that I'm getting it for free and I have a guy to rebuild it for me for $600......

 

I think for what you are doing the 2004R would be the best to go with,it will make for an easier swap.Google "gm overdrive transmission" about the third site down is a good article from Chevrolet High Performance Mag below the article you will vendors that specialize in overdrives,Art Carr is pretty much the place for 2004R goods.Like it's big brother the 700R4 there are certain years you do not want as earlier versions had lubrication issues that made them failure prone so in either case you will want an 1987-91 core these will have all the later factory mods and are pre-computer versions.Also look into the TCI valve body as they have a unit that eliminates the TV cable so you really get the best of both worlds, a performance valve body and not having to fab up TV linkage.

 

I put one in my 48 Pontiac convertible. Not going yet but soon! (I hope)

48 Poncho

 

Keep this link handy, it will save alot of headaches that come with setting the kickdown. I would recommend one of these systems to everybody... "its so easy a caveman could do it"

http://www.tvmadeez.com/

 

I run a 700R4 in my old International. ZZ4 crate motor with Dart Pro 1 heads, ZZ430 cam kit, Tunnel ran with 2 x 4s and was getting 18 mpg on the Interstate. Sure is nice to have another gear when running 3.73 posi.

 

Recently swapped a 350 for a 700 - approx 30% lower low and 30% higher high makes a significant difference in performance and gas mileage. After I got er done - did not seem that difficult - lots of good advice here as well as other web sites. I like the swap so well I am going to do the same to my other car. Stay with the 88-92 years for the easiest conversion (per a transmission shop friend). Let us know how it goes.

 

check out what these guy say, i have one, and i love it.
www.bowtieoverdrives.com/

 

i have one in my daily (55 chevy) and wouldnt have anything else. another yes vote




skull

 

Beat hell out of one in a truck and it still goes.

 

Whether the 700-R is longer or not depends on which tail you have on the 350.
The short tail 350 is 1/8" shorter than a 200-R
The medium tail (9" I think it is) is 1/8" shorter than a 700-R
The 700-R is 3" longer than a 200-R

 

i know that the 200 4r has a small shaft, second gear drops a lot on a 700 r4 . smoother shifts on a 200 4r, this is from what ive read on sights. do a search and read about both. both are good. but the 700 is stronger.

 

I have one in my Buick ,I love it!

 

200 is the best option for several reasons most of which have been addressed, another is dual bolt patterns and the fact that all of the inherent weaknesses in the 200 have been taken care of by the after market. According to Art Carr the weak link in the 700 has not been addressed. You should be able to get one for almost nothing they made a crap load of these and stuffed them in every v8 gm mid size for years.

Good luck

 

I have a 700r4 in my merc behind the hemi with 3.55 gears. The tranny works great, just set up the TV cable properly.

 

Got 1 in my coupe with a 3.42 rear gear. Works like a champ. Just put some good parts in it at rebuild and you should be good to go. As everyone said the TV adjustment is critical or you will fry it quickly.

 

The 700-R4 and the 4L60 in some newer cars are the same transmission. If someone has bad mouthed the trans, they set up the TV cable wrong and burned up the transmission. You can get a 4L60-E if you are computer savy and eliminate the TV cable. Stand alone controllers are available via GM Performance and others. I personally prefer the electronic unit, but to each his own.

 

I go through and install 700R4's for customers all of the time. Everyone is happy. If you are going to run a little more power, there are a few better parts you can throw in at rebuild time.

None of the "weak links" are anywhere near coming into play behind a Stovebolt.

What everyone says about the TV cable cannot be emphasized enough. That cable should NOT ever be confused with a kick down cable. On a 700R4 is of critical importance. It MUST be hooked up, and it MUST be adjusted properly, before you even fire it up for the first time. If it is left disconnected or maladjusted, you will be up for a rebuild before you get out of the driveway.

I also rock the 4L60E and the 4L80E. Electronics can be your friend.