88_Import_Slaye

Things you need to know about 700R4/2004R and the TV cable

Basic Check list
1. Correct WOT
2. Correct TV cable adjustment
3. Instant pressure rise

TV System
1. TV Cable controls the pressures in your tranny which also determines your shifting properties
2. You can not adjust your TV cable to get harder/later shifts, or softer/earlier shifts, you will destroy your tranny or you will not have a properly working tranny.
3. If your tranny isnt shiftinf right, such as, when you romp on it and it doesnt down shift, you need to look at your TV cable, but that isnt all. Inside your valve body, there is a spring that controls the TV plunger, over time these become worn and shorten, they must be replaced! If your tranny builder didnt put
a new one in, then you need to take it back and have them do it.

700R4/2004R & Aftermarket Carb/Throttle Body
1. If you have an aftermarket carb or throttle body in front of your 700R4/2004R, then you need a kit to fix the relationship between the linkage and your TV plunger. The aftermarket setups were NOT designed to work with 700R4/2004R trannies and if you leave it the way it is, you will ruin your tranny.

TV Cable setup
1. First check for WOT, undo the TV cable from the linkage. Have a helper in the cab mash the gas pedal to the floor, now, try to open the linkage more by hand, if you can open it more then you do not have correct WOT and need to get a new throttle cable or find what the problem is.
2. Connect your TV cable back up, then, push the green (might be different color) button in and slide the plastic housing as far back as it will go towards the tranny. You might have a slider lock TC cable, same thing applies, just undo the slide lock and push the housing back.
3. Have your helper masht he throttle again, the TV cable will auto adjust itself.
4. Now the TV cable is properly set! DO NOT ADJUST IT!!

TV & Pressures
1. Again, your TV cable controls the pressures in your valve body, if the cable it out of adjustment, you will not be getting proper pressures, this can cause burnt clutches and over heating if the cable it out too much, or really hard late bang shifts at light throttle if the cable is in too much.
2. After any adjustments to the TV system, you need to put a 0-300PSI pressure gauge on the pressure port on the driver side of the tranny, you should use a 90* elbow and route it over the crossmember up into the driver's window.
3. You should get INSTANT pressure rise on even the slightest tug on the TV cable. If you dont, then your setup isnt correct and you will burn clutches. Your pressures while driving will vary depending on your tranny builder and how you drive. Obviously, higher RPM will show higher pressures
4. THESE TRANNIES ARE HYDRAULIC CONTROLLED DEVICES, NOT USING A PRESSURE GAUGE IS LIKE NOT USING A VOLT METER TO SEE IF YOU HAVE CORRECT VOLTAGE!

Power
1. Stock 700R4's can handle about 300HP/TQ, they can be built to hold upto 650HP/TQ. There are companies who claim 1000HP, but who knows. Why you would want an overdrive in a 1000HP car is beyond me.
2. Builders claim to use all sorts of cool sounding parts. Parts are parts, but builders are not equal! Do research!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Series
1. There are 3 differnt types of 700R4/2004R trannies, series 3 88-92 is the best and only one you should have, it has all of the fixes/upgrades GM has done to these trannies. The series 1 and series 2 are not worth building or upgrading to a series 3.

Shifting
1. The computer DOES NOT control shifting, the governor in the tranny does. To change the WOT shift point, change the governor spring. Stock spring will shift around 5000.
2. Shift kits are a load of BS.

Lockup
1. Lockup occurs when the tranny goes into 4th gear, a 12+ supply to the 'D' pin will provide power to a solenoid that provides the hydraulics to the converter to lockup. You can do this with a toggle switch for lockup in 2nd, 3rd as well. The converter unlocks when the brakes are applied, this breaks the circuit and the solenoid deactivates. You can not lockup in 1st gear, there is no hydraulic circuit available.

Life span
1. These trannies, if taken care of can see up to 400,000 miles (under perfect conditions)
2. On average you should get 200,000 miles if setup correctly.

Fluid
1. Fluid should be changed every 7000 miles
2. To properly change your fluid (this only applies if you have a drain plug in the pan), start the car, open the drain plug and start draining while at the same time, slowly pouring in new fluid, you should have 7qt of new fluid. On the 6th quart, turn the car off, plug the drain plug and top it off. This allows you to flush the system with new fluid. It is not dangerous if you are paying attention.
3. Heat related issues are discussed in another thread https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=244064

These are just a few important tips and bits of info you need to know before saying that the trannies suck. They dont, they just have to be setup correctly.

I will add/edit if I can think of anything else or find a mistake I've made.

BruceEmbry

Fluid
1. Fluid should be changed every 7000 miles


NO!

The fluid and filter in your transmission should be changed every 24,000 miles or 2 years which every comes first.

And since the transmission pan has to be remove to replace the filter, installing a drain plug is a waste of your time and money.

iceman02

iTrader: (1)

I'm going to have to disagree with ya' there, Bruce. Those who have dropped the pan to drain the fluid know that you will end up with transmission oil EVERYWHERE, unless of course you have a nice drain plug to drain it from. While it is true that you have to remove the pan eventually, the drain plug will save you having to clean up a mini Exxon Valdez oil slick.
Thanks for the info, 88Import, as I need to set my TV cable for my new tranny!

BruceEmbry

Apparently you did not read my post. Both the fluid and filter has to be changed. You have to remove the pan in order to replace the filter. Replacing the fluid and not replcaing the filter is a big mistake!!!!!!!!!!!

88_Import_Slaye

apparentley you didnt read HIS post, he said that it's best to have a drain plug so you can drain the fluid BEFORE removing the pan, again, you dont want to clean up a big huge mess.

And yes, you can change your fluid every 24000 miles, but everyone else is going to be smart and do it the right way. However, you should change your filter every 24000 or so. You dont have to change the filter every 7000 miles.

btw: new drian plug, like $10 if that. Time, 5-15 minutes if you have the pan off already to change the fluid and filter...

82knightrider

iTrader: (1)

So theres 3rd gens that came with factory ATF drain plugs Where can I get one of those kind of pans?

88_Import_Slaye

not that I know of. My tranny does, it was built by Bowtie. The install drain plugs in all their pans. Just get a drain plug for $10 or less and install it into your pan, hell you can use a freaking wood screw if you wanted to.

Apeiron

The description of the lockup wiring only applies to transmissions reqired by bowtie overdrives.

88_Import_Slaye

correct! sorry, I forgot that they do complete rewiring of the valve body... I dunno what it is stock.

Forshock 85TA

Good post Dustin

My trans from bowtie came with the drainplug, the "warrany" kit comes with a temp gauge, that inserts into the drain plug hole.

Do you have a list of the pressures? (Dont have them with me, there in the "pile" for the car)

Toehead

and what do you do if your tv cable won't auto adjust? (mine doesnt)

88_Import_Slaye

thanks. I dont have the ranges, that is why you have to call in.


why not?

Toehead

I follow the guide, pulling the adjustor all the way out. when you mash the throttle it is supposed to click into the right position. mine just stays stuck where I put it. I lubricated it , with the same effect.

88_Import_Slaye

you said pull out, you need to push in towards the transmission/rear of car. Make it shorter, not longer.

Toehead

so it does. Wow, I can't even follow directions hahahh. thanks man.

88_Import_Slaye

just glad i'm able to help someone. Dont feel bad, i always skim over directions so I get things wrong 50% of the time.

jj74sd455

i found this very helpful, i had been trying to adjust in between driving to no avail. thanks for this post

duckmanquacker

Hey Mods how about moving this up top into the useful section?

Ron U.S.M.C.

As opposed to a after market drain plug in a stock pan I use a fluid pump from harbor freight to remove the majority of fluid from the trans pan through the fill tube. Takes about 10 min. to do that way. I don't like the idea of a drain plug on a trans. cover especially on the bottom of the pan.

duckmanquacker

My trans drain plug is on the side of the pan not the bottom.

haroanarchist

What is the loop that is on the wire that connects to the carb linkage called? I need a new one mine broke.

Keith's92Z

I have question for the experts : I have a 92 Z28. 5.7, 700R4 Tranny. My Tranny out of the blue as hard to go all the into park, if I pushed it I could get it to go into park and stay. Then it started slipping in second but only in second. What could it be other than needing to be rebuilt?

paulo57509

Perhaps the manual shift cable is out of adjustment?

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

this post is over 11 years old. todays upgrades on the 700R4. bring it past the the 4L70s.but it's not for the cheep!