700r4 feel

[Indyuke]

There seems to be more 700r4 topics right now. I wonder if that's because a bunch of people have pulled their trucks in for the winter and are doing major work to it while it's down. That's when I did my 700r4 swap.

I just remember an unheated garage, laying on the concrete floor with my wife trying to wrestle the tranny into place. Never forget that. But it was fun.

I do have a question of those who have 700r4's in their trucks. I bought bowtie's kit, TV cable, brackets, prx gauge and set it all up. The pressure's are good and I've got about 20,000 miles on so far. The question is, how does the shifts feel on your trucks. Are they soft and gradual, or are they sharp? I have mine set up so that the tranny shifts a little late and with a sharp bang. The shift into overdrive is softer.

I drove an '88 GMC with a 700r4 for a bit, and I set up my '70 to mimic the GMC... plus a little late and sharper. Just wondering how your guy's shifts feel just for a comparison.

[fatboys69]

put one in mine about 5-6 years ago ( had a buddy of my bro-in law build it for me ) and he built it so that when it shifts you are barely able to feel it. I like the shift itis just like driving my 01 Yukon. Never really could get it to shift right and broke down and bought the bowties overdrive cable kit and brackets. best money spent on that swap. I don't drive it alot but I can go get in it at any time and it shifts great all the time even after sitting for a month or 2 in between road trips.

[texanidiot25]

With the Firebird it shifted smoothly when driving around normal, but was quick and firm when you gave it the beans (how ever small they were with a 3.1 V6).

[Andy4639]

Mine has 150,000 on it and it shifts fine, you can feel it but not to the point I'd say it's stiff. I like to know it's going through the gears but it doesn't have to jerk the truck.

[cparman]

IMO late is better than early. Late is a bit more fluid pressure and a harder hit. The one in my Blazer is that way, and I like the feel of a nice firm shift. The TV adjustment is critical, and someone in the thread said, and I agree most of the failures in these transmissions are related to PILOT ERROR. I beat on the one in my 500HP chevelle, and it never blinked. I never thought about the trans in that car as a weak link. I love these transmissions, they just make our trucks a bunch more user friendly.

[piecesparts]

Many 700s have a soft and fluffy shift to them. That is normal, However a shift kit from a company like "Transgo", will wake that tranny right up. A video comes with each and every kit and it is really good for the home do it yourself guy. If you want to go further, there are many things that can be done to a 700R4 to make it a sharp shifter. I have mine set so that they will snap your neck on the shifts.

[Painter D]

Mine barks the tires ,yes tires (plural) when it shifts from first to second almost every time. I had it built that way since I like firm shifts.

[piecesparts]

Ditto: Also TIRES not tire.

[67_C-30]

I've also preferred them with a Vette servo. It makes the shift nice and firm and will bark 2nd slightly at WOT, but still mild if you puttin' around. I hate the ones that some tranny shops do that makes the ashtray pop out when it shifts!

[texanidiot25]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

I've also preferred them with a Vette servo. It makes the shift nice and firm and will bark 2nd slightly at WOT, but still mild if you puttin' around. I hate the ones that some tranny shops do that makes the ashtray pop out when it shifts!

Now THAT I want to see.

To the guys barking tires into 2nd, what motor specs are you guys running?

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Now THAT I want to see.

To the guys barking tires into 2nd, what motor specs are you guys running?

A stock 305 in a 80's camaro will chirp 'em with Vette servo. I put in my '89 RS with the anemic L03 TBI 305 and it would chirp them at little at WOT. It was still slower than pond water though!

On a side note about the ashtray thing, when I first put the 383 in my '82 Z28, I had the rearview fly off and hit me in the helmet, the billet lighter would fly out of the dash, and my removeable Clarion slide out CD player would pop when I launched. Of course, it had a 4 grand converter and pulling 1.56 60' times on motor!

[texanidiot25]

Well shoot, if an anemic 80s 305 can do it, so can I! A 700 swap is in my near future as we have one in storage. Got a trans shop friend that would probably rebuild it for the cost of parts

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Well shoot, if an anemic 80s 305 can do it, so can I! A 700 swap is in my near future as we have one in storage. Got a trans shop friend that would probably rebuild it for the cost of parts

I'd recommend beefing it up if you plan on beating on it! (I've seen your videos) Just 'cause they'll bark don't mean they are bulletproof!

[enaberif]

Seems a lot of people are going the 700r4 route now!

I guess more people like myself want gas mileage.

[sjarrett71]

I've only had a 700r4 in an 85 TPI Z28. I loved that thing. It would bark the tires into second and third and then get great mileage.

[whatnow123]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Now THAT I want to see.

To the guys barking tires into 2nd, what motor specs are you guys running?

I'm running a bored 350, flat tops, aluminum heads and 4.11 posi rear with 30 inch tall tires. I don't know what kind of HP I'm making but it feels real good... part throttle just driving around it will chirp the tires going into second as well as third if I got my foot into it. I can break the tires loose at 40mph down shifting and flooring it. Check my build thread link below for the complete specs of my engine.

I don't know the specs of the trans, but driving normal it shifts comfortable like an auto should (less than 1/3 of petal) but firms up with more juice.

[Indyuke]

Hmmm... I wonder if I have it adjusted firmer than it needs to be. I'm always nervous about soft shifts, feeling the clutches ruuuuuuubbbbbiiiinnnnggg together until they fully engage.

[Painter D]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Now THAT I want to see.

To the guys barking tires into 2nd, what motor specs are you guys running?

.040 bored 350, Trick flow aluminum heads, roller rockers, Comp cam (.511 lift) , MSD ignition, Air Gap intake, Holley 670 carb ,(need a bigger carb)

Transmission has a vette servo, 5.0 boost valve (whatever that is), kevlar bands, and red racing clutches. That's everything the guy that built it for me said he put in it.

I'm also running 4.10 gears with a Auburn posi unit ,and an elec. fan to free up a few more horses. I'm planning on adding a Weiand 142 blower sometime.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Now THAT I want to see.

To the guys barking tires into 2nd, what motor specs are you guys running?

On my 84 GMC (avatar) I am running a 385 stroker motor with a Comp Cams roller setup. The 700R4 has a 2400 stall converter (non-lockup) and it is feeding a 3.73 posi geared rear end. My daily driver is a 91 Silverado, with a 350 and 3.42 posi rear end gears. The 700 R4 in it has an updated lockup converter from "Precision of New Hampshire" http://www.gopnh.com/. Both trucks have had the trannys rebuilt with the heavier duty planetaries and sun gears, larger clutch packs, corvette governors, and the valve bodies built with the larger sonex valves and heavier duty shift kits. These trannies both will shift hard from first to second and very solid, quick shifts from second to third. I have a friend that is very good at his work in the transmission world.

[mleeb]

I'm running a BB 402, with a 700r4 with corvette servo...and it barks from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd if I push it! but overdrive gear is always smooth.