A friend of mine in California just had his tranny go out on him in his '88 Vette so he went to Bowtie Overdrives about an hour away from him to get a new one. They installed a built 700R4 with TCI 2200 stall converter. When he got his car back, he definitely noticed the shifts were much harder and quicker but then he realized it wouldn't go into 4th until he was going close to 80 mph. Normally he said it would go into 4th at about 40 mph with the old tranny under normal driving. He also said that he didn't really notice a difference in stall speed. So he takes the car back and they try to give him a bunch of B.S. They actually try to blame it on him somehow. Finally they agree to look at it again and say it'll be ready until the following Monday. I havn't been in touch with him after this so I'm not sure of the outcome. Have you ever heard of these guys? My friend said that before he went there he had heard only good things about them. Also, is the problem he's having a common one? What causes it to do that?
Thanks

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, McLeod street clutch, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Kenny Brown STB, Global West steering box brace, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

[This message has been edited by Steve91Z28 L98 (edited March 29, 2001).]

 

Hello.Don't know about Bowie Transmissions, never heard nothing bad or good so that is a plus. Since you all gears and overdrive is only gear that is coming on late we will rule out govt. That leaves us Valve body and front pump. Valve body first. The valve body is the brain of the transmission. If not working right all kinds of things can go wrong and in our case, late overdrive. Could be TV adjustment. Go for ride and adjust TV cable, it must responds to adjustment!! This is the easy way. Play with cable. If there is no respones then TV valve is stuck. If the TV is alright then you look for stuck valves. The valves that you need to look at are Modulated up or down valves, TV limit valve. Next is gasket on spacer plate Is it the right gasket. Last, front pump, Check PR valve, boost valve or sticking pump slide. It's a bit-- but if any valves are stuck you will have problems shifting. F.C.

 

Adjusting the TV cable is something that I mentioned to him but get this. He told me that they modified the throttle bracket in some strange way to where he can't adjust the TV cable anymore. I havn't seen the car so I'm not exactly sure what they did to it. He's in Califrnia and I'm on the other side of the U.S. so I just get this info over the phone. I'll try to talk to him again sometime soon to see if the problem has been fixed or if there are more details. thanks for the reply.

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, McLeod street clutch, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Kenny Brown STB, Global West steering box brace, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

 

I have heard a few things about Bowtie OD's. Some were as you have stated that is was something the customer did, other complaints wre shift timing (too early or too late at light to medium throttle) & too firm of a shift at light throttle openings.
Hope this helps!