After reading every 700r4 related post in this forum for the past couple of monthes, it has become obvious that they all turn to crap after 100k miles if left stock. Unfortuneately, it seems like mine is just about to explode. The shifting seems rough and very erratic, not to mention recurrent 3-4 and 4-3 slippage. I tried Seafoam TransTune, which fixed a burnt first gear in a friend's civic, but didn't seem to help anything, unless it made things worse. To make matters even more bleak, I had a recurrent nightmare of the transmission crossmember falling off the frame, due to it only being loosely threaded in by an incompetent mechanic.

The problem is, I am going to need to sell this car in a few monthes in order to move to CA, so cost is imperative. I can get a used 700r4 for $70, but I wouldn't know what kind of shape it would be in. Another option is to try to beef-up mine by fixing and replacing everything within my skill level.

From this site I can get servos, springs, and pretty much everything else for relatively cheap. If I was to keep my transmission and try to beef it up with a transgo shift kit and news servos or whatever, would it help? Or should I start with a new core and work from there?

 

My 700r4 is stock with 173,000 on it.I don't beat on it too much,but she shifts just fine.I do however get the tranny fluid changed. Just letting you know they all aren't bad.[knocking on wood.]I would get that trans for 70 if i was you because that is a steal,but I would invest in a rebuild. If you have alot of milage the transgo kit may help it to it's death a little quicker.I got akit but had doubts when I got it at about 155,000,so I am keeping it when I need a rebuild.

 

Unfortuneately, I think a rebuild is beyond my skill level. Besides, I'm sure that it requires a series of calibration tools that I do not have at my disposal...

So should I get the replacement, and just go through and replace what I can before I throw it in?

More than likely, I doubt I would be able to replace/repair anything further than the valve body because of lack of experience. I got a tech manual, but it wouldn't be of any help save for the diagrams.

 

I've been told that Lucas trans additive does wonders for 700r4s. Anyone able to clarify?

Also, I haven't been able to find too many informative sites covering the 700r4. Anybody know any, or at least and active forum dedicated to transmissions?

 

The Lucas additive worked well in my 79 ford ranger by not burning a quart a day,but to burning aquart every 3 days.I no longer have the truck so that problem is solved.Well if you can get a trans that cheap ,then why don't you checkout a few good reputable shops prices and go from there if you have the money for that.You also can get a good 700r4 from a place in Ashland MS called TCI for a reasonable price that is gonna have a warranty and hold up to alot of hp and tq.

 

Well the selling point is... it needs to be cheap. I got TCI bookmarked, but a new tranny or a decent rebuild is out of my range.

I can afford the $70 tranny, and I might be able to afford to replace springs and servos.

It's not that I'm broke, it's just I can't dump too much money into this thing. All I need is to get it running smoothly enough to sell.

I haven't had any major problems like not shifting, but it's just the feel of acceleration that bothers me.

 

I believe summit has budget th350's and th400s.
You can pick one up for 500 bucks about - brand new.

Look into that maybe. Thats cheap concerning a new transmission that I'd trust over a 70$ used 700R4.

 

That's completely out of my range. I'm looking to spend $150 at the absolute max.

I'd have no problem investing that much if I was going to keep my baby, but I'm moving to California where emissions laws and gas prices necessitate selling it.

I just need somethig good enough to show off the 1000+ man-hours I've put into the engine these past few monthes.

 

Ok - hmmm...

Well, without a diagnosis this is pretty tough, bro. Is there anyway you can VERIFY that the $70.00 700R4 works?

If it needs anything fixed, it will quickly swallow your budgeted goal.

 

the $70 tranny would be from my girldfriends dad, so I can invest resonable trust in him

 

Anyone know where I can find a good 700r4 resource, with articles, quides, and stuff like that...?

 

BTW, would it be worthwhile to switch to a 200r4? I hear they shift better, and there's plenty of good mods, but what would I have to invest in for the conversion?

 

dont know about 200r4's, but im rebuilding my 700r4. Money is a problem as im only 18, and have my fair share of expenses. A mechanic i know said i should just rebuild it my self. I of course said i wouldnt want to get over my head seeing as i only have general mechanical expiriance. He offered to help me pull it and watch over me rebuilding it and we'll just keep a log book of the time that he's been helping me. We figure itll cost me maybe 200 bucks (to him) plus parts. I jumped on this deal cause im trying to learn everything there is to learn about mechanics. (plus 200 canadian isnt much at all, )

 

I've done a few 700's so I have some limited experience.

As long as you don't need any hard parts, A kit is about $150. Sprags are $45 or so ea. There are two. You can get $100 converters, not that I'd run one unless I had no choice. You may need a rebuilt pump too. $400 is a safer budget. Or your car might sit for a while. You'll need two books to help you through it. The Haynes trans book is very good, but a little lite on specs. The ATSG book has all the specs. You don't have to have the ATSG book. Haynes books are at the chain auto parts stores. The ATSG is available at JC Whittney. They are about $15ea. You should get the proper snap ring pliers. I spent 45 min. on a snap ring using picks. Took 10 seconds with the right tool. They're $15 dollars from a tool truck. They have flat corrugated tips not round pins. Use feeler gauges for the lip seals on the pistons and lots of grease. Soak the plates in ATF first.
There is a check ball kit that goes up inside the 2/4 servo bore. It's been a while so I can't remember the holes name, just where it goes.
You can take all the clutch packs to a trans shop for disassembly/assembly. Cost unknown, I built my own spring presses. You will have to have a shop install & size the recommended 1 pc .seals. Replace all bushings. DIY depends on experience. $??
I'd recommend putting a high rpm pump slide spring in while you do the trans. It can't be done later w/o trans removal like a servo piston or shift kit.
Always check the pump clearance on a rebuilt pump. Just like you should check a fresh crank/block.

700's aren't T350's which can be done for $150. Find a parts distributor to lowere your prices. There are some online parts suppliers also. They will probably be cheaper than a local shop but probably not a distributor.

Parts http://www.bulkparts.com/
valves & springs etc.http://sonnax.com/
There is a kit to restrict the orifice size in the rev input or low/rev piston. I forget which one it is. It reduces the delay going into rev. Compare a T350 to a 700 and you'll see. About $8 dollars and the easiest part of the job.
http://www.txchange.com/teckpak.htm
http://www.thegrid.net/thedrivetrainpage/
http://www.specialtytrans.com/specia...ical_pages.htm
http://205.178.174.23/sumner/techinfo/techinfo.html