Phoenix Rebuilt Transmissions?

[67ChevyRedneck]

It's possible my 00 Z may need a new tranny soon, so I was trying to source a rebuilt one for it and I came across Phoenix Transmissions in Phoenix, AZ. Classic trucks did a write up on them (for a 200R4 to be put into project old school?) a few or several months ago (time flys) and while I was at it I checked out their 700R4's. They list a rebuilt one at $550 with a core of $250 and $260 for shipping. The trannys comes with a torque converter and the shipping price includes shipping your core back (so the net charge before tax would be $810 bucks.) The trannys are DYNO tested for 40 minutes before being shipped, cool, huh? I was going to go with a BO tranny ($895 + $125 for torque converter + whatever for shipping and no core charge). I will still be using BO TV and lock-up kits. The tranny comes with a 12 month warranty with the option to buy a 24, 36 and 48 mo. warranty. Sounds like a good deal, anyone have any experience with them?

[SCOTI]

There's also a Phoenix Transmissions here in Texas.... Weatherford, Tx. I know they do alot of aftermarket + street-rod conversions. So, the question is which one's in the article?

[NPilot1975]

I got my 4L60E from Mad Dog Transmissions out of Tampa, FL. It was arounds $1200 with no core charge and it was shipped for free. 700R4's might be cheaper. Great transmission and it is built up. Might be worth checking out, I was really satisfied.
www.maddog-transmissions.com

[Backroads]

If the engine is moderately built (under 350 hp) and or you tow infrequently with it, I wouldn't recommend a 700R4. First trans bought was from Premier Performance in CA. and lasted about 13 months. AAMCO said it was severly overheated. I used a 6 pass cooler recommended. I had repaired and installed a 10 pass cooler with a temperature gauge and tranny fluid temps reached nearly 280 without the trailer at hwy speeds. Installed B&M racing cooler and temps would stay between 150 and 240 degrees towing. Tranny went south in about 13 months. Rebuilt and busted an input shaft at about 13 months. That's three 700R4's in a little over three years $1500.00 each and all out of warranty. Installed a TH400 with GV overdirve and have been happy for the last 5 years.
Instaled in an 86 C/10 w/4.56 gears. locker and 31/10.5 tires and SBC producing about 330 hp and 390 lbft of torque towing a 25 ft travel trailer maybe 10% of the time.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

There's also a Phoenix Transmissions here in Texas.... Weatherford, Tx. I know they do alot of aftermarket + street-rod conversions. So, the question is which one's in the article?

I found them online as well in my search, I believe there is no affiliation between the two. The article was on the one in phoenix AZ.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Backroads

If the engine is moderately built (under 350 hp) and or you tow infrequently with it, I wouldn't recommend a 700R4. First trans bought was from Premier Performance in CA. and lasted about 13 months. AAMCO said it was severly overheated. I used a 6 pass cooler recommended. I had repaired and installed a 10 pass cooler with a temperature gauge and tranny fluid temps reached nearly 280 without the trailer at hwy speeds. Installed B&M racing cooler and temps would stay between 150 and 240 degrees towing. Tranny went south in about 13 months. Rebuilt and busted an input shaft at about 13 months. That's three 700R4's in a little over three years $1500.00 each and all out of warranty. Installed a TH400 with GV overdirve and have been happy for the last 5 years.
Instaled in an 86 C/10 w/4.56 gears. locker and 31/10.5 tires and SBC producing about 330 hp and 390 lbft of torque towing a 25 ft travel trailer maybe 10% of the time.

I don't tow anything. I think you just got some bad trannys? The one in my truck was out of an 83 firebird (supposedly the older trannys were horrible) and it had over 100K on it when it died. Adding a tranny cooler is good, but what did you use for a torque conver lock-up kit and how did you adjust your TV cable? If these items are not properly dealt with (not saying you didn't) a tranny will not last long. I will be going with a tv and lock-up kit from Bowtie Overdrives. Their kit takes the guess work out of tv cable adjustment and the lockup kit works with the brakes so the TC locks and unlocks properly. Improper tv cable adjustment or the torque converter not locking correctly will cause high tranny temps.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by NPilot1975

I got my 4L60E from Mad Dog Transmissions out of Tampa, FL. It was arounds $1200 with no core charge and it was shipped for free. 700R4's might be cheaper. Great transmission and it is built up. Might be worth checking out, I was really satisfied.
www.maddog-transmissions.com

I bought a 700 from him and it lasted about 30 minutes. I spent all the $$$ for the hardened parts and it turned the inside to slush. They gave me another one, but it is easier to pay more local and have the service right there. My only concern is the turn around for shipping and the down time. BTW the new tranny has about 500 miles on it and hasn't broken, YET that is. I thing the GV OD w/t400 is the way to go and think about how many 700's you'll go through and then the $2-3K for the GV is reasonable, plus 6-speeds out of a 3-speen is cool as well!

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

I bought a 700 from him and it lasted about 30 minutes. I spent all the $$$ for the hardened parts and it turned the inside to slush. They gave me another one, but it is easier to pay more local and have the service right there. My only concern is the turn around for shipping and the down time. BTW the new tranny has about 500 miles on it and hasn't broken, YET that is. I thing the GV OD w/t400 is the way to go and think about how many 700's you'll go through and then the $2-3K for the GV is reasonable, plus 6-speeds out of a 3-speen is cool as well!

It would be nice, but I can barely afford the $800 for the rebuilt trans let alone buy a good or rebuilt 350 or 400 and a GVOD unit. My grandpa had several 80's and a 90 caprice with the 700R4 and all went at least 90-100K before a rebuild (my grandpa bought a new caprice every 3 to 4 years and somehow managed to put 150 to 200K on them ) They are good durable transmissions if they are rebuilt and installed correctly. (Now that I have said that I am doomed to get one that was a friday afternoon rebuild)

[70rs/ss]

Stock stuff lasts longer in stock applications (I am guessing the caprices were not high hp cars with enemic v-6 and V-8's). Anyone will tell you they don't stand up and if you put any power to them they break. You may be one of the many that get lucky and it lasts awhile, but I don't believe there is any such thing as a bad one, just weak parts, and all 700R4's share the same weakness, it is just a matter of time. Do it now, just know it will not last 100K miles.