Early 700R4 Mods
 

Are there any early 700R4 rebuild and upgrade threads out there that include the installation of a trans brake, torque converter lockup, manual valve body, and the use of a kit to improve shifts? I would like to see a rebuild with all of these modifications done to see if any one modification will change how another is done. I also want to avoid buying a rebuild kit and end up not using a lot of the parts because some of the mods will eliminate the need for them.

The trans I am rebuilding is out of an '83 Camaro.

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

I would save the pain and heartache, and just get an 87-92 trans and use that instead -- for lots of reasons. Put the 83 trans in the garage and save it for if you ever sell the car and want to keep the original trans with it.
the manual valve body should negate the need for a shift improvement kit, and I don't think there is a trans brake available for a 700, but you'll probably need most of all the other stuff with the overhaul kit anyway, so not much overlap there. There are usually some extra parts in every kit, that's why they fit multiple years....

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

Thanks for the advice. I have heard that the early ones were junk. So my '90 2500 truck tranny is junk too?

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

if it's a 3/4 ton (2500) it should have a 4L80E in it.... i think..... might have been '91 was the first year for those, but don't really remember. do you do a lot of hauling/towing with it???

but 87 -92 700's are the better ones, add a large external cooler in front of radiator helps a lot. So if your 90 is actually a 700, it is one of the better ones.

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

No trans brake for the 700 ever made it past the prototype phase, they all failed.


if you want an OD automatic with a 'brake the 4L80E or the 200R4 are the only choices
and they cost a fortune

you can buy a fully prepped 400, for a fraction of the cost.

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

but no overdrive... that blows.

700's can hold a fair amount of power, I have one in my 454 monte, and built them for 502's and 383's with nitrous, ect, but yeah, no brake available....
and yeah, 200-4r is an option but very finiky, I'd choose the 4L80 first

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

Depending on your rear end gearing and tire diameter not having OD is not a big deal. millions of cars were made without an overdrive transmission.


If you have 9" ford rear end you can just swap carriers when you want to cruise on the highway and get better MPG

A spare carrier and gear set is alot cheaper than any race prepped OD trans. changing out the carrier takes about an hour or 2.

or you if have money to burn you could install a gear vendors OD unit and have the best of both worlds.

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

I was just under it this morning and the tranny has a pretty shallow, square pan. I'll take a better look when I do a fluid and filter change. I tow my 2000lb tent trailer occasionally, but I'm in the market for a boat and don't know how big I'm going to go yet.

I am actually leaning more towards a TH400 for the Camaro. I have 28" tires in the rear and probably a pretty high gear ratio. I'll check that too when I change the fluid. The TH400's are quite a bit cheaper and trans brakes are available. Just need to find a short shaft with a ball bearing sprag. That's what a friend recommended.

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

Got over 200k out of my 10/82 production 700r4. Lasted2x the mileage of the freshbuilt 92 core that went into its place. The 92 never shifted as well as the 83 either.

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

Sounds like the rebuilder lacked on either knowledge or the decency to give you a true rebuild if you had problems from the beginning. That's why I can't buy a rebuilt unit. You just never know what the rebuilder actually did unless you take it apart and take measurements. At that point you might as well have rebuilt it yourself. I found a TH400 for 150 bucks. I'll run it the way it is for a while, but I won't be kicking myself when it comes time for a rebuild. When it does need one I'll be doing it myself.

Re: Early 700R4 Mods
 

But I see you point. As long as I keep up on the maintenance of the tranny in my truck it should last.