I need opinions on my winter project. My '92 RS is going to need a stronger trans after I finish the cam & Stealth Ram swap. The original 48,000 mile 700R4 has a TransGo shift improver kit and a Hughes 2500 stall converter, otherwise it's stock.

Should I build-up the 700R4 or swap in a T56? How much total cash for each option? Pros & cons for each option? Please help me out...thanks!

 

what are you building your car for? drag racing? autocross? just cruising around town? if you're going to be drag racing i'd go with an automatic because it is very consistent and you don't have to worry about missing shifts, etc. if the car will rarely see a strip i'd go with a t56. sticks are a lot more fun to drive i think. if you plan on autocrossing/road racing, dont even think about automatic. if you're going into a turn in 3rd gear you dont want the tranny to upshift into 4th when you let off the gas because as soon as you start getting out of the turn you'll be accelerating again and an auto would have to shift again which kills time, whereas a stick you can leave in whatever gear you want. i dont know the cost of building up a 700 but expect a t56 swap to cost anywhere from 1200-2000, depending on how much you spend on the trans, and what clutch, shifter, etc. you get. a good clutch can run $400. dont forget the cost of the pedal swap and hydraulics. you'll also have to cut a hole in your floor and since the t56 tranny mount isnt in the same place as a t5/700r4 you either have to hack up your cross member or buy a new one from www.spohn.net for $100. it's really not all that much work and the payoff is totally worth it i think. don't forget the t56 has two overdrives for kickass highway mileage. you will also need a flywheel from an LT1. you can use a '93 trans but they're not as strong as the '94-'97 ones. do not get a '98+ one cuz you have to modify the crap out of them to get them to work on a first gen SBC

 

I agree with Train. If your planning on bracket racing go auto, if anything else go manual IMO. A T-56 swap isn't cheap but you would have to try to break it. :hail: T-56

 

just build the trans, but it is not called a 700r4. should have a 4L60 in your car. 700r4 was the previous name for the trans in older models.

 

they changed the name to 4l60 cuz the 700r4 was known for problems. gm wanted to get rid of the bad image by changing the name. i dont know if they even improved the tranny or not lol

 

Thanks for the suggestions, Ukraine.

I will only be using the car on the street and maybe a few runs at the track per year. The car will never see autocross, although it would be FUN!

I really would like to do the T56 swap, so I guess I'll be doing some research on the subject...

700R4 is what I thought my car has. If it's a 4L60, then whatever. It's still a 4 speed auto trans, right?

 

First where in the chicago area are you?? I'm in the west burbs so maybe I can give you some info.

The T-56 swap is a penny. You need pedals, an LT1 bellhousing, trans and not to mention the master and slave cylinders. If I had the cash, I would do this swap.

If you're going to use it as a pure strip car go auto but convert it to a TH-400 as the 700 is weak by comparison. You can still track the car with the 6 shifter but it is another variable that can hurt your times. If you do decide to go with the T-56 let me know as I need a converter and a shft kit.....my stock trans doesn't like my motor, so instead it just slips. If you still want to do the 700 still let me know I can get a decent deal on internals and what not for ya. Good luck either way.

BTW the T56 trans usually sells for 1K+ itself.

chris

just so you guys know a 4L60E is jus an electronicially controlled 700. Same internals with pressure switces. And you do have a 700. Both are 4 speed autos. IMO go with the 6 speed you'll enjoy it more, especially when **** tries to line up with ya

 

if you want to get picky, he has a 4L60(no E suffix), which is identical or near identical to a 700R4, just a different name, but technically it's not a 700R4. 4L60E didnt get used by F bodies til '94 (v8 at least, not sure about v6), '93 models still used the non electronic one, hence the detent cable that year.

 

SPHON HAS THE ENTIRE KIT TO SWAP A T-56 INTO A 3RD GEN FOR ROUGHLY 2700 BUCKS...ONE DAY I WILL. LATER

 

Yikes!! $2700! I could buy 2 pro-built auto trannys for that amount. BUT, the T56 is still the direction I'm leaning to. Pehaps I can do it cheaper. Dammit...just remembered that I'll need a good strong clutch which is another $250 or so...Time to start saving!

I live in Aurora, but I'm up in your area quite often (not with the Camaro, however). I would be interested in your idea of selling you the converter & shift kit (installed by Chuck @ FLP)...How about the entire trans? Nothing wrong with it at all. It shifts very quick and doesn't slip, I just don't want to take a chance with over 425lb/ft of torque! Plus, I've always had stick cars. I miss them now!

 

Actually the internals are fine...I did it myself. But I do need a converter and a kit. Unfotunately all I have now is the TV cable pulled a little so it firmed it up slightly,but not much. If you need any help with the swap let me know (I do know something as I just did the entire drivetrain on my car..includeing the rearend). But definately let me know cause I could use 'em. I know a guy that'll sell ya a bum trans for 1K but it needs a rebuild (grinds 4th I wanna say)....not your best bet. There is a guy that sells perfect trannies for like 1500 but I don't know is name off hand. Either way keep in touch. Maybe you should bring that 'maro up here sometime in the spring and we can cruz to some street racing scenes ( not necessarly to race).

chris

 

I'd like to keep in touch as well. Another do-it-yourselfer like me! Can't wait for spring...

 

no kidding....hopefully the snow stops now.