TH350 to a 700R4 linkage problem.

[veinbar]

Hey everyone,

I have recently replaced my TH350 with a 700R4. I made all of the necessary installation changes to get the new tranny to mate up properly. My only problem now is that the column linkage doesn't work properly.

For Example:
Far Left = Reverse (cannot be put into park)
Once to the Right = Drive w/ OD (skips neutral due to forcing out of reverse)

My resolution has been to put the van in neutral, and use my parking break. This is a very temporary fix, or so I hope. What do I do?

My setup is in a 1976 Chevy G10 Van, but the application is identical to the trucks of this era.

I'm all ears. I have only heard rumors from friends where they tell me that I will need to replace my steering column. That's not cool.

Thank you for your help.

-Jon

[krue]

Have you tried adjusting the linkage at the column? Loosen the clamp on the linkage, put the tranny in park by hand, put the shift lever in park and tighten the clamp.

[James McClure]

Do like Krew says then P,R,N,DR will be right. DR3, DR2 won't be and you may not get DR1 manually. If you can't deal with that you'll have to change out the upper steering colunm for one with a 4 speed trans. jim

[Jonboy]

I saw an article in Car Craft this month that shows a replacement bracket that goes on the transmission from Phoenix transmissions that corrects that problem. They are about $30.

[gezn2]

The other posters are right, I've gone the other way switching from a 700R4 to a TH350 in an '80s van.
The shift-arm on the tranny is slightly different, so in order to get the geometry right for your shift linkage you need to move the one from the old tranny over. If you then loosen the setscrew on the pivot, set both the tranny and shifter in Park, reassemble everything and retighten it you ought to be good to go
As Mr McClure says, you *might* not have enough travel in the old-style linkage to manually select D1 but everything else ought to be fine...

[57larry]

I went from a 700r4 to a 350 in my 84. indicator doesn't line up exactly but it's close

[Captkaos]

I have factory 87, 90 and 91 truck's with 700R4's they don't line up perfectly either. The linkage didn't change on them I confirmed this on a comparison to the 3 speed that came factory on a friends 77. The indicator is the only difference from what I have seen.

[gezn2]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

I have factory 87, 90 and 91 truck's with 700R4's they don't line up perfectly either. The linkage didn't change on them I confirmed this on a comparison to the 3 speed that came factory on a friends 77. The indicator is the only difference from what I have seen.

Yup, the only reason I noticed that my shift levers were a little bit different is that I had both of them side-by-side on a bench, it's been 12 years or so but ISTR it was just something like 1/8" and I figured better safe than sorry......