what was the first year that 700r4 came with the lock out feature in the torque converter?

 

You mean the lockup to improve gas mileage? I believe they had it from the beginning. The 700R4 was first introduced on some more premium GM cars around 1981.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure all 700R4's came with a lockup converter. TH350's first got the lockup in 1980 though.

 

maybe i read it in the history of f-bodys and just thought it started in the 3rd gen.what was it they did around 87 or 88 to the tran?

 

Added the auxiliary valvebody with the forward and reverse accumulators and removed the hydraulic control provisions for the TCC.

 

The 1982 Firebirds and Trans ams didnt have 700r4's they had a crappy three speed turbo TH200C. To the best of my knowledge 1983 was the first year for the 700r4 in a third gen.

 

that true jimrockford.I had a 82 for a week or two.they say the trans crossmember is needed to do a 350turbo swap.Thanks mod.I thought somthing was don about that time to improve the 700r4

 

Absolutely true, JimR. I had an '82 T/A with the infamous "Chevette" tranny you are talking about. Even it had the lockup torque converter to improve gas mileage. As I recall it locked up between 30 & 35 mph, and almost felt like an add'l gear change. If you have a broken speedo, this lockup will not occur, and your highway mileage will suffer. I know this from experiance.

 

Speaking of the TH200 "Paper weight" garbage.They were so bad that even my transmission guy told me he stopped messing with them back in the
80's !!! And said if someone had brought in one he would ONLY put a rebuilt TH350 or tell them to go elsewhere !! So I got that deal done with him for $550 R&R with new TQ.C !!

My 200C went out at 65K miles in my LU5 '82 T/A.And a 82 S/E V6 I had a few years ago had the 200c go out at 75K miles !!


Dave