I bought a 700R4 from Pro Built about three months ago and when I recieved it it didn't have a tailshaft housing on it (WTF?). He said he ran out of them so I swapped the housing and speedo gears from my old trans onto the new one. About a month later my speedo stopped working and TCC stopped locking up. I checked the speedo gears and the driven was completely stripped. I figured maybe they were just old and beat so I bought a new one from a local tranny shop (37T driven). That lasted until a couple days ago so I bought a new sleeve housing and a new drive and driven (17T and 37T). I put these on yesterday morning and it stripped the driven gear AGAIN with just a couple miles of driving!!
I have the right gears, I have the correct speedo sleeve housing for a 37 tooth driven gear, and I know I have them on right. I showed the local tranny guy (Butch), and he confirmed I was doing everything right. The only advice he could give me was there was too much endplay in the tailshaft. I took the driveshaft off and I couldn't move the tailshaft back and forth so I don't see how that could be the problem. Plus, I made sure to put the new bushing Dana sent in the tailshaft housing. Once the driveshaft is slid into place there's no wiggling any other type of movement. I can't figure out why they keep stripping. I hope it's something simple that I'm doing and nothing he screwed up because I can't pull the tranny out of my only vehicle and send it back to him for repairs (I kinda have to drive it to work).
Oh well, I guess I'll try and call him again. I can't get through today.

 

When you are putting in the dive gear on the shaft, which hole are you using to hold the speedometer clip? There are two holes. Call me when you see this?

 

It's not doing it because it's a probuilt trans, it's doing it because there is a mismatch in parts somewhere or it's not getting assembled right. Is the speedometer sleeve made for a 37 tooth gear? If it's cable driven does the cable turn easy...

 

I know it's not doing it because it's a pro-built trans. This is the best damn trans I've ever had in any car and I've already recommended Dana to all of my friends who own thirdgens.

I know the sleeve is made for a 37 tooth gear. I have it in my hand right now and inside one of the gears it lists is 37 red.

I'm 99.9% sure I have the right gears so it is not a mismatch in parts. I've checked the diameter and shape of both gears and it's the same as the stock ones which worked for 138,000 miles.

Also, I didn't even have the speedo cable hooked up this last time. The only thing I hooked up was the VSS so the TCC would work.

I guess it's narrowed down to the hole I'm using for the speedometer clip. I know there are two holes, one towards the front of the trans, and one towards the back. Without jacking the car up and taking the tailshaft housing off right now I can't tell you which one I used. I thought I put it on exactly how I took it off the old trans.

This leaves me with two questions. First, if I use the wrong hole would it cause the driven gear to be stripped, or wouldn't the gears mesh at all? If it would, I know I just need to put it in the other hole. Second, which hole should it be in? The one towards the front of the trans, or the one towards the back (tailshaft)?

Thanks for the help and I'll try to call you again.

 

Theres only a 5/16 difference in hole locations so it wouldn't be extreemly obvious if it was in the wrong one.
The clip should be in the front hole.

 

Thanks, when I take it apart I hope the clip is in the back hole so I know know what my problem is. I hate when things don't work and it appears that your doing everything right.

 

It is the one (hole) toward the front of the transmission that holds the speedometer clip & yes, it will tear itself up in no time when it is in the wrong hole.

 

Here is a little info on installing speedo gears:
http://sethirdgen.org/vss.htm

Having the speedo clip in the wrong hole will allow it to work, but will kill the gears. They will mesh, just not properly.

 

Once again, thanks for the help!!! I don't know what I'd do without this website!!

 

Problem solved!!! Wrong hole. Thanks for the help Pro-Built and others.

 

I have to ask: Why did you have to even say that it was a Pro-Built Transmission? To me this means you were "leaning" on him to "get this problem fixed". Now you see that it was NOT his problem but yours. Trouble is, people come and go in these Forums and many just glance at the headings. Oooh, Pro-Built Trannies can be a problem. On to the next one.

The way I see it, if you KNOW someone caused a problem and they can't/won't fix it, fire away. If you DON'T know what is up don't do ANYTHING that might give someone the wrong impression.

I know this has nothing to do with me but it really irks me, regardless of who is involved.

My $.02

 

Sorry about that, I didn't really mean anything by it. It just seems that when you mention Pro-built on this board you get tons of people that want to help you out.
I'll edit the title if it will let me.

 

Ok, it wouldn't do what I wanted it to. If a moderator sees this feel free to take Pro-Built out of the title.