700r4 Rebuild Kit... suggestions?

[Thadious]

Well, the 350 was built last summer and expecting about 270-280 HP out of it... so I figure I'm going to have to do something with the transmission...

I'm going with the 700r4 model for the 4 speed and I've got one that came behind a V8-5.7 and a K case model that came behind a V6-4.3. I understand that the K case is desireable being of thicker material in the castings and I'm looking at going with a "Monster In a Box" kit ($500) and a 1650 stall torque converter from them as well... total cost, about $700 which is right around my budget for Christmas.

http://racetransmissions.com/store/p...roducts_id/568

Any thoughts, experiences with them (good or bad) or recommendations? A new tranny is out of the question though...

Cheers!
Ted.

[Thadious]

Wow... no one?

[RootBeer 6117]

Some times you feel all alone here, I wish I could help Transmission are not my strong points. Yesterday was the first time I had ever heard of Monster in a box when I was watching Truck U,then I read your post.I got some local transmission guys I trust we traded a lot of work. Didn't want you to feel all alone, maybe this will help kick start the thread.
Joe

[justplainray]

I'll add my $0.02 worth.
Had a '95 Safari van that I bought with 55k on the clock from the original owner.
4.3 V6 700r4 trans 2wd full power air pulled a 2000 lb trailer all over the country.
First thing I did was install the biggest trans cooler that would fit in front of the radiator.
Drive that van to 240k without ever opening up the transmission or engine.
Changed the fuild in trans twice in that time and changed the engine oil at each 10k mile mark.
There was nothing really wrong with that van when I retired it from service.
I think that says lots about the 4.3 engine and the 700r4 trans.
Currently have a 700r4 behind a 400 small block in a '56 1/2 ton step side.

Suggestions? Go with it.

[DransportGarage]

Hi Ted, I guess I'm a little confused. You say you're below 300 HP, but you want to really beef up the tranny. What are you going to do with the truck? Unless you're going hill climbing, and are just going to the cruise-ins, I'd get a stock convertor and a garden variety B&M rebuild kit like shown here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/B-M-7...Q5fAccessories

Better still, skip the rebuild and see if the tranny lasts forever, as Ray suggests.

Then, with the money you saved on the kit (or the skipped rebuild), and the mileage with the stock convertor, take your "significant other" out for a steak so you're allowed to buy more parts in the future!

[Thadious]

Hmmm... I know the 4.3 and 5.7 versions of the 700r4 look identical, but from what I've read, the 5.7 has more clutch plates and a different valve body... dunno... may have to pull them apart to compare.

The issue I've run into is that the 4.3 is a "K" case and supposedly stronger (they have a far better removable lower cast bell housing) and I'm pretty sure it shifts ok... only drove it about 30 miles. The 5.7 came out of a stolen truck that was dumped, picked up by the city, turned over to a towing company and was headed for the scrapyards... (yes, it's all legal me possesing it!) so I really don't know it's condition.

The rebuild on my SBC 350 looks like this:
* 88 block bored 30 over (355 now), pistons 30 in the hole.
reconditioned rods with ARP bolts.
* Scat cast crank
* Melling HV oil pump
* 96 Vortec heads,
- valve guides shaved to 0.530" and down 0.100"
- rocker studs pulled, bosses shaved down 0.375" and tapped 7/16"
- Comp cams studs loc-tite'd in
* Lunati 60101 cam and lifter kit (0.454 Intake / 0.468 Exhaust / 112 deg lob sep)
* Sealed power hypereutetic pistons with coated skirts
* Hastings Moly rings
* Cloyes double roller timing chain

a final static compression of 9.6:1 and a dynamic compression of 8.29:1

So figuring I would build a tranny now to go behind of it that will survive. I don't know how much over stock the 700r4's will take (and yes, using a pretty good sized cooler infront of the rad already). I'd rather rebuild it now, than have it blow later when everything is bolted up.

Or just guess on them, put in the 2000 stall converter from the 4.3 and run with it...

Hmmm now you got me thinking... cause the money would go a long way to closing alot of the other parts up!

Cheers,
Ted.

[DransportGarage]

I'm not an expert, but that sounds more like 350-400 HP to me, depending on the carb, intake & exhaust. Could have a scoche more by decking the block & dishing the pistons vs. being flat tops in the hole (.030" is a bunch, and an equivalent dish would be monstrous...what's the head chamber cc?).

[bobinbc]

That cam only has 256/262 duration, which will be quite tame in a 355 cu in engine. It's a good match for the Vortec heads and a stock stall. I would estimate around 300hp using long tube headers and a good dual plane highrise with a max usable rpm of around 5000rpm. Stock 4.3 700r4 should work fine unless you plan to actually race this at the track with slicks. Been there done that in an S10 blazer, my .02

[Thadious]

Yep, trying to keep it somewhat tame for now... we'll see if it grows in the future... Not sure how I'm going to do the exhaust manifold but have a dual 2 1/2" exhaust. The intake is a 4 bbl - vortec intake with a 350 tbi carb (may upgrade to the 454 tbi in the future) and adapter at the moment. Will be using a EBL computer setup for it (don't suspect the stock comp will play).

So... just might take the 4.3 tranny and stock converter, slip in some new, firmer clutches and steels, corvette servo and some other due mods and call it a day... save the extra coin and pickup some of the last parts I'm going to need...

Ted.