Does anyone know what needs to be done to a 700r4 to put a non lockup TC in?

 

Nothing!! I had one in my 91 for 2 year's with no problem's. Then I bought a TCI with lock-up. If you really are picky I suppose you could program the chip to not lock-up the converter or something If that is even possible, it is'nt a must though.

 

uh.. why would you want to put in a TC without lock up?

 

I'm not sure why you would want to do that either but if you do, you better get a really good tranny cooler because is it going to run a lot hotter. If you are doing this to a stock transmission, good luck and start saving your money for a new tranny.

 

It can be done. At least according to torco, which is who I got the converter from. And the reason I am doin it is because I am goin to a carb and will not have an ecm. Because my firebird is just a weekend car I do not care about gas mileage, which is about all you're gettin with that lockup.

 

id like to know why or how a tranny would run any hotter minus the lockup feature,

 

The way it was explained to me is that "because when it is unlocked it is slipping which builds up more heat".

 

converters always slip, what can you do about it ? th350, 400, etc, they all slip all the time, never lock up, cept the few C models they produced. th350 is one of the most reliable they made, and 400 too. they survive well over 100k miles in the big 1 tons and sometimes larger,

also, i have been running my 83 caprice 700r4 in the same 83 caprice for months now with lockup unplugged, works fine, no problems at all, clean fluid bright red still and everything. and thats an early 700r4 with 90,000 behind original 305 LG4, i got tired of it locking up at 30mph in and out all the tiem so i yanked the plug on it




so hmmm.,.

 

well, you know the lockup is a good thing right? it stops the converter from sliping, giving better gas mileage and less power loss thru the drive train. its basicly an electric cluch that locks the fly wheel to the trans.

 

This might be of interest to you:


http://store.summitracing.com/search...rt=prf%2D60109

Benefits as mentioned, lower operating temp and better gas mileage, longer tranny life.

 

Sorry, double post.

 

Well, there are certanly a lot of interesting anwsers but nothing that really answers my question. Except for 91wtROH17's which is do nothing. Anyone else agree?

Oh yeah Fevre that module is to KEEP the lock up without an ecm, but thanks anyway.

 

well to answer your question, like 91wtROH17's said "nothing"
just put the TQ in and thats it..

 

all torque converters slip, excpet lockup feature ones in final gear at certain minimum vehiucle speed, just cuz is not connected not locked in doesnt have to mean that its bad for it, they slip anyways at all other times,
i stand by that unless my 1983 original 700r4 pukes on me out of the blue, in which i highly doubt.



good luck with oyur 700r4, BADBIRD

 

If I remember correctly, the man who rebuilt my tranny had to change a valve in the pump or somewhere near it to route the fluid correctly to compensate for the fact that a non-lockup was being put in. He also told me to leave the front o-ring off that goes on the shaft the TC sits on. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about (and the 8.4 sec 69 firebird in his garage makes it look like he does). The reason for the new valve and the 'forgotten' o-ring was to push 100% of the tranny fluid through the cooler, as opposed to 30% flow which he said would result.

*shrug* I just know my car moves faster than it did

BTW, Mickey at Torco told me he changed his TC style, he sells billet (sp) style TCs more inline with what Vigilante makes. Costs 300 now instead of 190 tho

 

Thanks everyone for your help. Turns out i gotta do what cael says. The cool part is Torco sent me the kit I need and instructions with my converter for FREE! These guys are great to deal with, hopefuly Im as happy with the converter as I am with their service.

Thanks again

 

I guess that's the proper way, but I did none of that and had no problem's at all!!

 

ok forgot about this one

im not done with it lol

not to be a pain or anything but i want to learn also and this is the only way to currently

the o ring on end of the shaft of the lockup trannies is small diamter and non splined

the non lockup input shafts are big diameter and two sets of splines and i cant see what would make any difference at all by rmeoving or not rmeoving the o ring its not gonna touch anything inside of a non lockup converter at all the lockup shaft end is so tiny compared to a non lockup one, big time

lockup shaft looks longer than non lockup one also but a bunch, all thanks to the extra small diameter non splined length on the lockup shaft

i did put a non lockup converter on the 81 lockup th350c i ahve and it seems ot go on but didnt make as good of clicks going on as it should however

im just not sure,,

i think this needs to be discussed a bit more so no one ruins anything on their ride..

right ?

no ?

cuz this 81 th350c trans i have is a real good heavy DX diesel dual bolt pattern long length one i really want to keep it but i cant be retaining the diesel converter and i dont care about losing lockup ill never find a gas lockup verter anyways, so,,

im jut not convinced at all that any damage can occur to a trans due to fluid flow or slippage or whatever by not running a C verter in a non C trans..

less someone has positive info/proof somehow ?


thanks

 

Just to clear some things up, the 700R4 is an overdrive transmission, unlike the THD350 or THD400, and in fourth gear the engine RPMs at cruise can be close to (or below) the stall speed of the converter. Near and below stall speed, the converter will slip much more than at higher RPMs. This extra slippage produces the higher tranny temperatures that you won't find in a THD350/400 that cruises at a higher RPM (1:1 final drive). This is why the lock up is required to reduce tranny temps in the 700R4. If you've installed a higher stall converter your tranny could generate even more heat if it's cruising significantly below the stall speed.

If you go without lockup you can: install a tranny cooler, higher rearend gears, cruise in third, rebuild your tranny soon.

 

so th350 c with a non C verter in it is fine then

i could see on a 700r4 though it being bad without lockup i guess although i have run some with without lockup connected and had no issues

also on the early 90's 4T60 trannies(FWD) i have unpludded many lockups on these and never had any issues, we have a 90 cutlass calais with 4T60 in it and its been run a few thousand miles with it unplugged cuz it was sticking and killing the engine at stops in gear, and it runs fine no problem at all, its mostly all highway driven

thanks

 

You may never have a problem, depends on alot of different variables, but without lockup you are shortening the life of your transmission.