CamaroNewb21

Hey guys, I recently bought a awesome 83 z28 camaro, and I love it, I have almost entirely rebuilt it as far as the engine goes, but now I have run into a little problem and I was hoping I could get some advice from the pros.
K, heres my problem, The car I bought was a former Drag car, Has a new engine that I rebuilt in it, as the original was locked up, now that I have her running I have realized that the former owner also had a racing modified transmission on the car... I think anyway, it is a 700R4 Automatic Transmission (I believe thats stock) but the gear ratios are radical, in third it takes a whoppin' 3,500 rpms before it will shift to fourth, I am pretty sure those aren't stock specs. and no the transmission shifts like a dream, never had any other problems with it other than that.
I have looked into rebuilding the transmission and setting different gear ratios and decided that maybe it would just be better to buy a new transmission, that would also give me an excuse to put a five or six speed in it. Also I am a big fan of Manual Gear boxes, I am considering putting something like a TKO or a TR6060 in it. what I am really wanting to know is has anyone on here done a transmission swap? I am looking for the easiest solution for a easy replacement job, I have read that most swaps require a ton of extra parts and work to get them to fit/work right, I am wanting an almost bolt on replacement. Thanks!

Barlow8869

iTrader: (1)

you ever try to adjust the cable that goes down to the trans ... the shift points are not from gear change, converter maybe, or spring kit if it is not the cable ... can you make it shift sooner if you start with the selector in first and shift up manually?

for a manual swap, you will need a pedal setup, a master/slave setup, and you will have to cut a hole for the master to go through the firewall, and a hole for the shifter ... not sure what else all is needed, but there are many swap threads on here you can read

CamaroNewb21

Yes I have. And it does get me around making it go to 3.5K just to shift, but the final gear is no good either, I am roughly doing 2,750rpms at 60mph in fourth gear, and it takes about 3,100rpms to do the speed limit. I am just worried that the higher cruising rpms could wear my engine out prematurely.

CamaroNewb21

You can adjust the shift times? with a cable? Thanks I will look into this.

Barlow8869

iTrader: (1)

if it is not at the factory adjustment, it will change shift points, yes

CamaroNewb21

Awesome. will changing my shift points change my rpm range in fourth gear? say, possibly lower rpms at regular cruising speeds? Thanks.

excessiveego

are you sure your tach is right? remember, the tachs are off in like 90% of third gens, some by only 100 rpms, but others by 1000+ rpms, Id recommend temporarily installing an aftermarket tach to insure yours is correct, they can be had for $40. After that, I second that it may be your torque converter, but you should feel a but of flat spot and hesitation if that was the case.

as far as a manual swap, a donner car is the easiest route, then you have every part you need and have something to compare your modifications to if you arent familiar with the setup

the goal is not to modify your shift points by adjusting the TV cable, it is to return the cable to factory settings to restore proper shift points, as a cable that is out of factory spec can ruin your transmission

and if you are in 4th gear, even changing your shift points the correct way will in no way affect your RPM, installing a torque converter with a different lockup can affect it slightly, but the only real way to lower cruising RPM's is to change your rear gear ratio..... or tire size...

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Your RPM's at a particular speed are determined by your tire diameter, final gear in the transmission and rear-gear ratio.

My 84 T/A has factory size tires (26.1" tall), 3.73 gears and .70 4th gear (OD Auto). I run 2600rpm at 70mph.

when I've got my foot in it, my car likes to rev before shifting. By what you're describing from the shift characteristics, I'll bet its got a 3600 stall converter in it rather than "bad" shift points.

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

You said it was set up as a drag car, so I bet it's got super low gears in the rear end. Check what you have for rear axle and gears.

CamaroNewb21

Ok will do. And thanks everyone for the help!
I will also look into an aftermarket tach didn't know about those being off, Lol!
taller rear tires sound like a good option, My goal is to cut rpms by about 500 at 65mph, (From 3,000 down to 2,500) will bigger tires effect any other aspects? Acceleration or such? Thanks guys and sorry for my lack of knowledge about transmissions, this is actually my first time working on one.

micktroup2

Don't mess with the TV cable. You will burn up the trans. A lot of 'shift kits' really are just mods to the governor. It is a device in the trans that has weights on it that are thrown outward by inertia(no such thing as centrifical force!) as it rotates, moving an actuator that initiates gear changes. If you change the weights and/or springs on the governor, it changes the shift points. I had one on mine when I bought it and it wouldn't shift until around 3500-4500 rpms. Got sick of the stiff neck it gave me and just replaced the trans. Much better! You can buy a governor on line for under $50. Might be a good first step to have a trans shop reset the cable and sway out the governor. Or you could do it yourself if you can reach it. There is a round cover on the driver's side of the trans. Just pop it off with a screwdriver(it is around 3 inches in diameter) pull the old governor out and put in the new one. Getting the cover back on is a bit of a chore, since you have little room to move to tap it back on though...

86_Dan_Z28

iTrader: (1)

http://www.700r4l60e.com/

Check this place out.

CamaroNewb21

Had My TV cable checked at a local shop and it was a bit off they said.
They adjusted it and now I am shifting into third at roughly 3,200rpms, and it is shifting smoother now!