700R4 FAQ question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

67ChevyRedneck · 01-13-2005, 05:35 PM

I was just reading the 700R4 FAQ section. I believe I have a 700R4 out of an '83 firebird. I was reading that '87 to newer trannys are better, which may be true cause my junkyard '83 700R4 blew. I also read that the spline on '84 to newer trannys is 30. It will be a few months before I can get a new tranny, so I don't want to pull the shaft to check. Is this true, and what is the spline count on 82-83 trannys? What I was thinking of doing was going to Advanced, don't laugh, I'm poor, and get one of their rebuilt 700R4 for $800. It also comes with a 15 month guarantee. I have yet to find anyone who will rebuild mine for less and give a 15 month guarantee. I was thinking of going in and asking for a tranny out of something like a 90 caprice to get the "better" tranny and give them my '83 as a core...they have no idea what is what. Will I need to change my input shaft??? When a tranny is rebuilt, will it even matter, or will all the components be the same no matter what year it "started as"? If so, I could just get another "83". Also, when I "ask" for a tranny, was there a vehicle they were better in? Ex: Camaro, truck, caprice etc..... Sorry for the length, but the FAQ concerned me.

powell72 · 01-13-2005, 07:15 PM

I ordered a 700R4 from jasper for my truck and told them I had a 91 2wd chevy pick up. I would think any reman trans would have a torque converter on it so input spline count wouldn't matter. I think one of the differences of the models is that the corvette had a special servo. Is yours a lock up converter? Anybody know anymore than me about this? Is there a OUTPUT spline difference?

67ChevyRedneck · 01-14-2005, 09:51 AM

Anyone???...........Please...........

I guess I was thinking of the "output shaft"....oops. When I order it, it will come with a torque converter and as far as I know ALL 700R4's converters lock up. I ordered a lock-up kit from TPI for $70. Worked great, but THIS TIME I'm adding a trans cooler, a tv cable kit from bowtie overdrives, and the lock up kit that also works with your brakes from bowtie overdrives as well.....I know it was a junkyard tranny, but it was probably my fault it blew....biggest reason being I used the rad. trans cooler instead of an external one.....

chickenwing · 01-14-2005, 10:55 AM

I wish I could tell you whether or not you can get away with swapping the wrong core for a newer model tranny. I'd go with honesty as the best policy. Probably charge you a slight core charge for the extra. To keep from contaminating your new tranny you could run an in-line filter on the chiller return line.

In regards to your second post.

I used the bowtieoverdrives tv cable set up. I kept stock style cables. The carb adapter did not come with the throttle/tvcable mount but a tv mount. That cost an extra 20 bucks. A good set-up would buy again. Excellent customer service for install questions. Even if you did not buy one of their trannys.

For the lock-up wiring, I think you can probably do it yourself as good as BTO's stuff for a lot cheaper. You can power your lock-up through your brakes using a stock cruise control switch. Here's a link for the part I am thinking about using. I still gotta make sure the contacts do what I want. http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDeta...pe=422&PTSet=A

Here's another link to some good info. Might save you some dough. http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sum...o/700R4p1.html

67ChevyRedneck · 01-14-2005, 11:23 AM

Thanks 'wing, ain't heard from ya in a while. I wish I could do this now. Being on here has me excited about working on my truck again, but the funds aren't there. It WAS my daily driver. All it needs is that tranny! I hate to think of her sittin with a crate engine with only 6K on it and 6K on a complete power disk brake swap and suspension rebuild. I'm not trying to cheat anyone with the tranny, I don't even know if IT IS from an 83 bird. In my experience those places don't care what you bring in as long as its a 700R4. The core charge is $250. I have a lock-up kit wired up now, but it's only based on the 4th gear pressure switch. I've never had any problems with it, but I have heard it's good to have it disengage when the brakes are applied. I don't understand what you mean about an inline filter on the tranny flud. I have all steel lines and have never seen this. I am going to add an external cooler in front of the radiator and will need to purchase new, longer, lines anyway. Thanks your the help 'wing!

chickenwing · 01-14-2005, 12:02 PM

I have been scarce. It's still duck season till the end of the month... Here's a link for the filter. It will plumb in easy enough when you add the tranny cooler. http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...BCAT&CATID=SA1 I am sure Napa sells em cheaper. Just have yet to find a part #.
The reason for the brake switch or a vacume switch in the lock up harness is so you do not stall out your motor under heavy breaking. Interrupt the power or the ground and the lock-up releases. Read over the tech info in the link above. Wiring is cheap. Have fun with it.
Rich

chickenwing · 01-14-2005, 12:47 PM

Jusr re-read your last post. The core charge is $250. My thought was, if you give em the early core would the core charge drop?

Mixup · 01-14-2005, 03:57 PM

When I did my 700R4 swap the rebuilders didn't care what year the core was. They rebuild it with all the upgrades anyway.

67ChevyRedneck · 01-14-2005, 04:07 PM

OK, I did kinda figure that...does anyone know what the upgrades are??? Better friction packs??

'wing: the price without core is about 800. If I didn't have it at the time i order it it will be 1,050 + tax. Anyone know of anywhere else I could possibly get one, other than a junkyard, that would be less and with a year or so guarantee??

hyperformance · 01-14-2005, 05:50 PM

don't overlook the Painless Wiring lock-up set-up, it includes the vac signal, cruise switch and pressure switch. i've heard very good things about them and have one for my 700r4 but haven't installed it yet

http://www.painlesswiring.com/catalogframe.htm
scroll down to #60109

also, i'll use the BowTie Overdrives TV cable set-up

rustyold72 · 01-14-2005, 06:51 PM

Try these guys, level 1 tranny $866
http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...SUBCAT&CATID=B
And some info on the 700r4
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sum...o/700R4p1.html

72c5 · 02-13-2005, 06:11 PM

Great links, thanks.....especially the www.tvmadeez.com one....

Longhorn Man · 02-13-2005, 06:52 PM

If I remember corectly, the early 700 has a mechanical speedo, you may want to look into swaping the tail shaft out fromt he old to the new so you can keep this feature.

01-13-2005, 05:35 PM	#1
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	700R4 FAQ question I was just reading the 700R4 FAQ section. I believe I have a 700R4 out of an '83 firebird. I was reading that '87 to newer trannys are better, which may be true cause my junkyard '83 700R4 blew. I also read that the spline on '84 to newer trannys is 30. It will be a few months before I can get a new tranny, so I don't want to pull the shaft to check. Is this true, and what is the spline count on 82-83 trannys? What I was thinking of doing was going to Advanced, don't laugh, I'm poor, and get one of their rebuilt 700R4 for $800. It also comes with a 15 month guarantee. I have yet to find anyone who will rebuild mine for less and give a 15 month guarantee. I was thinking of going in and asking for a tranny out of something like a 90 caprice to get the "better" tranny and give them my '83 as a core...they have no idea what is what. Will I need to change my input shaft??? When a tranny is rebuilt, will it even matter, or will all the components be the same no matter what year it "started as"? If so, I could just get another "83". Also, when I "ask" for a tranny, was there a vehicle they were better in? Ex: Camaro, truck, caprice etc..... Sorry for the length, but the FAQ concerned me. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

01-13-2005, 07:15 PM	#2
powell72 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Loveland Co. Posts: 3,098	I ordered a 700R4 from jasper for my truck and told them I had a 91 2wd chevy pick up. I would think any reman trans would have a torque converter on it so input spline count wouldn't matter. I think one of the differences of the models is that the corvette had a special servo. Is yours a lock up converter? Anybody know anymore than me about this? Is there a OUTPUT spline difference? __________________ Chris 74 Custom Deluxe SWB 350/350/3.73’s 99 2wd Silverado RCSB 5.3/4L60/3.90’s http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...short_bed.html

01-14-2005, 09:51 AM	#3
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Anyone???...........Please........... I guess I was thinking of the "output shaft"....oops. When I order it, it will come with a torque converter and as far as I know ALL 700R4's converters lock up. I ordered a lock-up kit from TPI for $70. Worked great, but THIS TIME I'm adding a trans cooler, a tv cable kit from bowtie overdrives, and the lock up kit that also works with your brakes from bowtie overdrives as well.....I know it was a junkyard tranny, but it was probably my fault it blew....biggest reason being I used the rad. trans cooler instead of an external one..... __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

01-14-2005, 10:55 AM	#4
chickenwing Lovin' Life in Miss.! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, Mississippi Posts: 1,937	I wish I could tell you whether or not you can get away with swapping the wrong core for a newer model tranny. I'd go with honesty as the best policy. Probably charge you a slight core charge for the extra. To keep from contaminating your new tranny you could run an in-line filter on the chiller return line. In regards to your second post. I used the bowtieoverdrives tv cable set up. I kept stock style cables. The carb adapter did not come with the throttle/tvcable mount but a tv mount. That cost an extra 20 bucks. A good set-up would buy again. Excellent customer service for install questions. Even if you did not buy one of their trannys. For the lock-up wiring, I think you can probably do it yourself as good as BTO's stuff for a lot cheaper. You can power your lock-up through your brakes using a stock cruise control switch. Here's a link for the part I am thinking about using. I still gotta make sure the contacts do what I want. http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDeta...pe=422&PTSet=A Here's another link to some good info. Might save you some dough. http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sum...o/700R4p1.html __________________ The truck... you hear that? No really, you did hear that?!!! Last edited by chickenwing; 01-14-2005 at 11:00 AM.

01-14-2005, 11:23 AM	#5
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Thanks 'wing, ain't heard from ya in a while. I wish I could do this now. Being on here has me excited about working on my truck again, but the funds aren't there. It WAS my daily driver. All it needs is that tranny! I hate to think of her sittin with a crate engine with only 6K on it and 6K on a complete power disk brake swap and suspension rebuild. I'm not trying to cheat anyone with the tranny, I don't even know if IT IS from an 83 bird. In my experience those places don't care what you bring in as long as its a 700R4. The core charge is $250. I have a lock-up kit wired up now, but it's only based on the 4th gear pressure switch. I've never had any problems with it, but I have heard it's good to have it disengage when the brakes are applied. I don't understand what you mean about an inline filter on the tranny flud. I have all steel lines and have never seen this. I am going to add an external cooler in front of the radiator and will need to purchase new, longer, lines anyway. Thanks your the help 'wing! __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

01-14-2005, 12:02 PM	#6
chickenwing Lovin' Life in Miss.! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, Mississippi Posts: 1,937	I have been scarce. It's still duck season till the end of the month... Here's a link for the filter. It will plumb in easy enough when you add the tranny cooler. http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...BCAT&CATID=SA1 I am sure Napa sells em cheaper. Just have yet to find a part #. The reason for the brake switch or a vacume switch in the lock up harness is so you do not stall out your motor under heavy breaking. Interrupt the power or the ground and the lock-up releases. Read over the tech info in the link above. Wiring is cheap. Have fun with it. Rich __________________ The truck... you hear that? No really, you did hear that?!!!

01-14-2005, 12:47 PM	#7
chickenwing Lovin' Life in Miss.! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, Mississippi Posts: 1,937	Jusr re-read your last post. The core charge is $250. My thought was, if you give em the early core would the core charge drop? __________________ The truck... you hear that? No really, you did hear that?!!!

01-14-2005, 03:57 PM	#8
Mixup Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 358	When I did my 700R4 swap the rebuilders didn't care what year the core was. They rebuild it with all the upgrades anyway. __________________ 1980 Chevy Shortbed Pickup 1969 Z28 engine Turbo 350

01-14-2005, 04:07 PM	#9
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	OK, I did kinda figure that...does anyone know what the upgrades are??? Better friction packs?? 'wing: the price without core is about 800. If I didn't have it at the time i order it it will be 1,050 + tax. Anyone know of anywhere else I could possibly get one, other than a junkyard, that would be less and with a year or so guarantee?? __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

01-14-2005, 05:50 PM	#10
hyperformance Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 47	don't overlook the Painless Wiring lock-up set-up, it includes the vac signal, cruise switch and pressure switch. i've heard very good things about them and have one for my 700r4 but haven't installed it yet http://www.painlesswiring.com/catalogframe.htm scroll down to #60109 also, i'll use the BowTie Overdrives TV cable set-up

01-14-2005, 06:51 PM	#11
rustyold72 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ark City KS Posts: 505	Try these guys, level 1 tranny $866 http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...SUBCAT&CATID=B And some info on the 700r4 http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sum...o/700R4p1.html __________________ 71 Chevy C10 "The Rust Bucket" 72 Chevy C10 apart in the garage 02 WS6 T/A Fast Black and bad@$$ 93 Nissan Pathfinder "Emily" Totaled RIP girl 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee-HEMI powered 87 Iroc Z28 305 TPI auto (crying out for an LS1 swap) Last edited by rustyold72; 01-14-2005 at 06:56 PM.

02-13-2005, 06:11 PM	#12
72c5 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Boston Posts: 311	Great links, thanks.....especially the www.tvmadeez.com one....

02-13-2005, 06:52 PM	#13
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	If I remember corectly, the early 700 has a mechanical speedo, you may want to look into swaping the tail shaft out fromt he old to the new so you can keep this feature.



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