ok, i searched and was surprised i couldnt find anything... maybe i missed it? it someone can redirect me to a post that can answer that would be cool, or if someone just wants to answer hehe

planning on a 400 + hp/tq 350, and its going in my 89 RS i bought recently. its got a 700 R4, 305 tbi, and 95k on the odometer. should i be planning a new 700r4, or just a rebuild? what am i looking at cost wise between the two? im willing to uninstall the trans myself with my dad, just not rebuilding it with him lol any opinions?

 

You can basically go either way. The 89 box is a good basis for a beefed up rebuild because it incorporates improvements over earlier versions. you can contact transfixleo or Pro-built through this site and get info on what they suggest. at 95k it's probably a little tired anyway. my local guy is very well respected but a little pricey. for an overhaul, case strengthening and transgo shift kit he's around $1800 using your core. if you are not going to use the ECM you may just want to bolt up a TH-350 or 400. at 400hp you obviously are not going to worry about emissions so i doubt if you will be using the stock computer. you might comment on that. the 700r4 uses the ECM for TCC lockup. i would also give the rear some thought as well.

 

Save yourself alot of time and hassle and get a tranny from www.pro-built.net They build them strong and to last.

 

yea a th350 was what i was thinking too... its all undecided yet, so ill see what i can do. thanks for the advice though, ill check out the pro builts

 

Technically, there are no "new" 700R-4's anymore. GM stopped producing them in '93 and I don't know anybody that is casting all of there own parts. All the ones you buy now are rebuilt, just some better than others.

But to answer your question, I'm assuming you are refering to "rebuilt" by getting it done at a local shop and "new" being one ordered from a company. A lot of "local" shops do crappy work, and some do good work back to OEM standards. But for any type of performance application, definatly go to a place that specializes in performance transmissions. If you can find a shop like what Danno talks about, thats great, if not, definatly look into something like a Pro-built. Pro-built is about the same, if not cheaper than what a "local" shop would charge for a tranny, but I have yet to hear anything bad about Pro-built.