I'm a 1st timer and have a few questions concerning 700r4. 1) Do you need to remove the entire torque arm & rear springs as suggested in the factory Manual to remove the trans? (Factory manual sugests that the rear will turn forward under pressure from springs when the torque arm is removed.) I can see that the trans & torque arm are together in a bushing assembly as they join the drive shaft. 2) Since the 700r4 is a OD non electronic trans do I need to rewire the original harness to the new trans? (Currently planning on keeping stock gauge cluster) 3) What shifter combo would you recomend for the Monster 700r4 stage 2? B&M Shift kit?

I'd leave the torque arm and springs alone. Just be aware that the torque arm MAY be loaded in such a manner that it'll go up when you unbolt it from the tailshaft. With stands under the axle it isn't free to turn much. With stands under the body and the axle hanging, there's no pressure on the springs. Just be ready for it and it should be fine. If you decide to remove them the springs practically fall out, and the torque arm is only two large bolts from falling out.

Unless you've already paid for the Monster - skip the whole thing. Monster's suck - they always have issues - there's a gazillion threads on here about people getting screwed by them - they never seem to last more than 6 months, as well as most the other internet tranny sales firms.

There's a member here from Pro Built Automatics - they have very high reviews from everyone on TGO that has ever bought from them - if it's not too late you should check them out, or get a local tranny shop to rebuild the one you have.

But to answer the rest

should just plug up - connector should be the same
I think I did remove my torque arm when I took out my tranny for rebuild
what's wrong with factory shifter? - with an automatic there's only one purpose, to get from park to reverse to drive

Thanks for the information so far. Just to make it clear I have not purchased the Monster Transmission yet, was considering them as a primary source.

I am putting in a new trans because current trans has 118k and I am doing a v6 - v8 swap. Apparently the bell housing bolt patern is not the same from v6 to v8.

I would like the B&M shifter because i'm considering a few runs in bracket racing class.

What's wrong with Monster? I have rebuilt two transmissions, a 700R4 and a C6, using Monster's kits, as well as many of my friends. Never had a problem. unless of course it was not rebuilt correctly or some other operator error. I'm not saying that nobody else's kits work just as well or maybe even better, but I have never experienced a problem, neither has anyone I have ever seen that has used them.

Maybe their parts are fine - maybe it's THEIR builds that suck, maybe they've done better recently - I dunno - I just know that if you search monster transmissions on TGO, you'll find more bad threads than good - but I haven't seen any in awhile - maybe everyone stopped buying from them after the bad rap and thus no new bad threads. Just trying to pass along what I've seen - I've never used any of their stuff myself, and wouldn't after having seen all the bad rap. But I do know that no one has ever had a complaint about anything from Pro Built!

Ah ok I see what you are sayin. See I've only ordered the kits and done the builds myself, haven't ordered any transmissions from them. I'll keep in mind Pro Built for my next transmission though. Thanks for the info.