Should I do it myself or pay professional with lift? 700R4

 

Its pretty strait forward swap that you could do yourself if you have about a half a day and the tools.

 

If it were me, I'd take it to a shop. Usually I do all my work myself, but the stall and the gears were the only two things I didn't attempt. A friend of mine with a shop put mine in for free, but I remember thinking to myself as I stood there watching, "boy, I'm glad I didn't try this one on my own." I'm sure you could do it if you tried, but it'd be a real PITA under a car on jackstands since you've gotta take the tranny out of the car. Plus if you don't install it correctly, you could burn up the tranny. I know because I just saw a guy do it a few weeks ago. Something about only getting the converter over two clicks on the shaft, rather than three. If you don't know what I'm trying to say on that one, then you have no business putting it in yourself.

 

It's not quite so bad as that, if you don't install it correctly, you probably won't be able to bolt the transmission up to the engine. It is a bit annoying to crawl around under the car when it's on stands, but not impossible, especially if you have a helper and a floor jack.

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1984 Camaro Z28 Astral Silver w/ 2 1/2" cowl induction hood
Engine: Decked 383 cid 4 bolt w/ oil cooler, 9.6:1 compression, ARP fasteners, 600 cfm Performer carburetor, Torker II intake, Performer RPM Heads, XE268H cam, Magnum roller tip rockers, MSD6AL ignition, Blaster2 coil, recurved HEI distributor
Exhaust: Terminator headers, Custom 3" TIG welded stainless exhaust, Twister muffler
Transmission: 4L60 w/ Corvette servo, .500 boost valve, TransGo 7-CS clutch springs, 700 PKH pump rings, 700-2 reprogramming kit, Borg-Warner High-Energy frictions & bands, 2400 RPM lockup torque converter
Drivetrain: 2.73:1 limited-slip Dana 44 w/ disc brakes
Tires: Front P225/50VR15 Rear P265/50VR15 Eagles

 

When you get the tranny buckled up to the motor,try to spin the converter.If it spins nice and free the converter is seated if not than you need to pull it back out and get it seated.The fit of a stall converter is much tighter than a stock converter because they are built to closer tolerances.Yes this can be a pita if its your first time doing it but it beats paying someone to do it.

 

I did mine on my S10 myself. I had to drill holes in the firewall to get to three of the bellhousing bolts. Big Fun. anyway, if i can do it, you can. have fun getting the tranny back on the jack, though. i had to do it under the truck because it would not clear the frame if i put the tranny on the jack first and tried to roll it under the truck. I put the my second converter in while the motor was out. lots easier hehe.

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88 S10
Dropped 3/4
Dart equipped 406
12.20 @ 115.25 mph