700r4 Which Year Is The Best

[BCOWANWHEELS]

I WANT TO GO WITH A 700R4 IN MY 72 LWB AND I,VE NEVER RAN A 700R4 BEFORE. which is the best year model trans to get and what should it come out of. i,ve been told i should get one out of a truck and put a corvette servo in it for sure. my truck is 2 wd.
bob in tn.

[BACKYARD88]

I can't remember for sure but I believe an 86 model you can put a check ball in the end of the TCC solenoid for manual lockup. I'm pretty sure it's an 86. Your engine and driving/towing style should dictate what kind of upgrades you make.

[OLDIRON69]

I want more info as well, didn't see anything in the FAQ section..

[Musclerodz]

The later the better, but want you want is the guts form a 4L60E which has stronger internals. The weak link in the 700R4 is the overdrive. I did quite a bit of research 4wd related and didn;t like what I was finding. If you want a stout one, pony up the bucks and buy one from one of the big tranny companies. I finally decided on a 4L80E which is bullet proof out of the box.

Mike

[BACKYARD88]

Originally Posted by Musclerodz

The later the better, but want you want is the guts form a 4L60E which has stronger internals. The weak link in the 700R4 is the overdrive. I did quite a bit of research 4wd related and didn;t like what I was finding. If you want a stout one, pony up the bucks and buy one from one of the big tranny companies. I finally decided on a 4L80E which is bullet proof out of the box.

Mike

I agree. 700R4s have never been known for power holding ability. I've torn up my fair share of them I'd say if you're putting it behind a warm engine or are planning to do much towing you'd be money ahead buying a unit from a performance re-builder.

[whatnow123]

Not to mention.. how to tell what year you've got. That's what I would like to know.

[OLDIRON69]

Will the 4L80E bolt right up to a early 350? I had a 700R4 in a S-10 and the tranny was shot when I bought it. It cost $500 to get it rebuilt and that was me pulling and installing it back in the truck. My tranny guy is good and inexpensive on a 4L80E I'll probably have to find my own core though..

[BACKYARD88]

4L80E will bolt to your small block no problem

[BCOWANWHEELS]

problem with the 4l80 e is it need a stand alone computer to work $$$$$$$$$$$

[BACKYARD88]

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

problem with the 4l80 e is it need a stand alone computer to work $$$$$$$$$$$

Yup, but you don't have to worry about scattering the guts all over the road. It's all in what you need and what your budget will allow. Your average driver won't require something line the 4L80E but it's nice to have

[OLDIRON69]

You still will need the lock up converter right?

[northerngmc]

So is there much $$$$ difference between buying a rebuilt 700r4 and buying a used 4L80E and then a stand alone computer?

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by northerngmc

So is there much $$$$ difference between buying a rebuilt 700r4 and buying a used 4L80E and then a stand alone computer?

Good Q... anyone know how much a "stand alone" computer is and how it would work with a 4 barrel carb?

Anyone have that kind of set-up?

I already have my 700R rebuilt and in, just curious.

As far as the 700R4 I think it was 1988 that they made a lot of the "good" improvements, so 88-92 or 93? Can't remember what the last year was.

I used a "used" 700R4 in my truck and it burned up in less than 5K. Hopefully my rebuild will last much longer (1.5K and going strong so far.)

[bdozeraz]

Originally Posted by northerngmc

So is there much $$$$ difference between buying a rebuilt 700r4 and buying a used 4L80E and then a stand alone computer?

Here is a stand alone computer for the 4l80e. http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...php?ITEMID=372

[BACKYARD88]

Jegs sells a TCI unit for 694.99 that works with HEI.
GMPP has their own unit 12497316 but the list is a little higher at 1284.00

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by BACKYARD88

Jegs sells a TCI unit for 694.99 that works with HEI.
GMPP has their own unit 12497316 but the list is a little higher at 1284.00

Are those prices just for the stand alone computers???

[BACKYARD88]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Are those prices just for the stand alone computers???

Correct, that's just for the equipment(computer, harness, cables etc.) to make it shift.

[special-K]

Then,there`s the speedo hook-up.Abbott Enterprises makes cables for this.

[SactoJim]

A 700 can be built to hold up to stout big and small blocks...just gotta find someone that knows what they are doing. Bowtieoverdrives has a great website with lots of info about overdrives and I rarely hear anything negative about them.

By the time you get a good used 4L80E (if that's the route you take) tranny (hopefully its a good one), get the computer and solve the speedo problem you're gettin up there in $$$.

Also keep in mind it takes more HP to run a 4L80E.

I have a built 700 behind my mini supercharged 383 and though I don't have many miles on it, I have beat on it pretty hard and the tranny seems to work great......ultimately time will tell.

If money were no object, I would probably go the 4L80E route.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I have the bowtie overdrives lock-up and brake switch kits. Both work awesome.

[Musclerodz]

Controllers are not cheap. I did see one advertised on ebay for about $400 but know nothing about it. I will be using a PCS controller which is about $800 but it allows signal inputs for multiple gear ratios such as needed for my 4WD.

Mike

[redrum]

I've read quite a bit about the 2004r and 700r4, and not just any old yahoo trans guy can build one and make it live behind horsepower. Any decnnt trans man can build a t-350 or 400 to work well, but the lighter overdrives need to be built to a gnats a$$ for long life. The 2004r has been made to live behind twin-turbo Buick V6s putting out 1200hp. for example.
If you want to have an understanding of what it takes to get long life from either trans go to PTS (performance Transmission Service) and read the Strengthening the 2004r writeup. Its about the 200 but the idea is the same.

Another thing that is a misnomer is people will say the 700 is a 350 with overdrive and I don't believe thats quite true. The 700 is probably closer to the THM-200 (not 2004r) than it is the 350.

Anyway, thats my 2 pennys

[cooters]

the t350 actually uses some of the same pieces as the 700, the 4l80 uses some of the same pieces as a 400 and the 200 r4 uses some of the same pieces as a 250

[redrum]

VetteVet, that should be Required reading for anyone thinking of doing the swap!

[mnunn454]

I read recently 88 and up TH700's are stronger than their predecessors. If I already had EFI, then jumping up to a 4l80E would be a fairly simple step up. In torque terms, a 4l80E is roughly as strong as a stock TH400 and makes a good towing tranny as long as you keep it cool.

If you don't have EFI, then because of the controller requirement you'll likely find it cheaper to go with a TH400 (if you can live with 3 speeds) or a TH200 or 700 that's been beefed up with aftermarket parts. (I have a Bowtie Overdrives built TH700 behind my modified 454 and it's doing fine)

If you have money to burn, go with a TH400 and a Gear Vendors Overdrive unit bolted on. They're almost bulletproof and will provide you with 6 forward gears.

Just my 2 cents.