ok im debating between rebuilding my 700r4 or doing a t5 swap but im haveing issues finding a rebuild kit i like local shop (a buddy) will rebuild it for 350 with a stock kit and new pump and if i buy a shift kit hell put it in 2 but i was thinkin bout doing an after market kit.

 

I've installed both the B&M and the TCI kits in these transmissions, successfully, and I like TCI's upgraded kit. Their basic kit is about the same price as B&M, but that's not the one I like. Take a look at www.tciauto.com

 

look at www.700r4l60e.com

 

well i dont want to rebuild my self ive only rebuilt one trans and it was nice nor fun and i dont have enough in my budget to pay 500 for a rebuild kit 100 for a shift kit and 200 for someone to do it.

 

Most stock kits are good enough. Just tailor it to your needs. For example if you want firmer shifts add an aftermarket band servo, if you need more holding power add more clutches with an alto 3-4 kit or raybestos z pack. Some of the upgraded kits come with wide bands and those aren't good on used drums so a lot of times you'd be better off with the stock band. Blocking accumulators makes firmer shifts and is sometimes done in the upgraded kits but that isn't so good because it just makes harsh shifts not good ones. Good idea having a friend do it that way you know what parts are actually being put in. I've seen many people not get what they pay for. The more experience he has the better he'll be able to help you pick what you want. Get a good shift kit and make the rest of the trans the way you want it unless someone has the majic kit that does it all and money grows on trees.

 

Allo of my rebuild kits come with "modified" TransGo Shift kits. What is it you need to know here?.... Stay away from the Alto 3-4 clutch setup. It is known not to work very well in the 700R4/4L60E transmissions, for many years now. The Borg Warner Hi-Energy 3-4 clutch setup had been proven over the years. Just increase the clutch count to 8 or 9. Any questions here, call me at 909 7951876, anytime in the afternoon. Dana

 

alto kits get a bad rap sometimes because the instructions are too difficult for most to understand, and their feeler gauges must be broken that day. I use one in my 3-4 for my 4l60e with success. The point of diminishing return comes with excessive clutches because the steels get too thin. The end all cure all to the 3-4 debate comes with the z pack because there is only friction on one side so it runs the coolest. At $350 you could squeeze the transgo 700-2&3 kit in or also the SK 700-Jr-B. Both are great and come with updated t.v. valves and pump pressure regulator springs. Your friend is a great price how do you get friends like that. Now what is the lesson here?

 

well not so much my friend as my dads my dad has been a mechanic for chrysler for bout 15 years and this is a guy that he takes all his stuff to and gets rebuild kits from he said he can get the stock rebuild kit and pump for 200 bucks his cost and then hed only charge me 150 to put it in if i pull trans and bring to him and he said if i buy a shift kit why hes got it apart hell do it cause i realy am not fealing drilling holes in my valve body so which shift kit is good? ive eard that transgo is and deff not to get a b&m but im doing this on kind of a budget so i figure no more then 450 to rebuild the trans and a stock kit with a shift kit should be okie dokie.sorry for the lack of punctuation.

 

the 700-2&3 kit might be a little time consuming for the chrysler mechanic. It doesn't make the trans shift that much harder than the Jr kit. Most of my rebuilds use the jr kit and I enlarge the holes of the plate to the 2-3 specs. The jr kit is super cheap and can be had for about $25. It includes almost all the same parts as the 2-3 kit and your dads friend will still be his friend if you get what I mean. If you need I can email you a pic of the 2-3 kits holes to drill and with the jr kit it will clean up the shifts plenty. The nice thing about your trans is that it is the most common year so the rebuild kit from late 1986-1992 has all the parts that yours would need. Make sure that you get a kit with all new steels because that is where someone else buying your kit would try and save a nickle. call (530)300-8849 if you need the instructions.

 

alto kits get a bad rap sometimes because the instructions are too difficult for most to understand, and their feeler gauges must be broken that day. This is nonsense. Yes, you can drill "some" of the separator hole sizes to the -2-3 kit, as I have been doing that for years now, but that is only part of fix. "It doesn't make the trans shift that much harder than the Jr kit". Oh really, I have built hundred's of these units, and that is not true. The "point of diminishing return comes with excessive clutches because the steels get too thin". The reason the 3-4 clutches fail has "nothing" to do with the so-called thin steels. It is the 3-4 clutches ability to get rid of heat, due to how much oil the clutch material can hold. Dana

 

I've spoken with Dana a couple of times on this subject so it seems like a good time to ask.
Is it beyond the capabilties for the average Auto Technician ( class of '79! ) to get into a 700R4 deep enough to upgrade the 3-4 clutches? I've rebuilt a couple of transmissions back in the day (TH350, TH400) however was persuaded not to attempt the 700 because of a few assembly details ( like proper pump housing alignment? ) that are better performed by someone who's been there before. I've got three 700's sitting in my shop. Two of them have no 3/4 gear so I know what that means.