I have read some good stuff on the 700r4 and saw another post with a video that was vary impressive my ? is, For an all perpose trans can the 700r4 be built to handle 500+hp as cheaply as the Powerglide?

 

Do you have either type of transmission or looking to buy one? 700's are a good automatic with overdrive. Some people don't like them since it has a high gear drop from 1st to 2nd and not ideal for drag racing. Dana at Probuilt has rebuild kit for $510 that handles 625 hp. Would you do rebuild or pay somebody? Not sure how much a shop would charge. http://www.700r4l60e.com/store/produ...&cat=19&page=1

Are you looking for a drag race transmission? I thought powerglides were for that.

 

It takes very little to upgrade a powerglide to handle a lot of torque. Mine has an aftermarket turbo spline input shaft, steel clutch hub and dual ring servo piston. There's lots more that can be done but that's the basics required to increase the strength. A V8 PG with the 1.76 first gear is stronger than the 6 cylinder 1.82 first gear PG.

Which transmission is best depends on what you want to use it for. A strip only car can use a powerglide with no problems however a heavier car will probably be quicker with a 3 speed such as a TH350/400.

For street/highway use, it's common to have a transmission with an OD to help fuel mileage. As mentioned above, the 700R4 isn't a great race tranny because of the gear ratios but it's an excellent street tranny. With the low first gear, a car can have poor gears in the diff, 2.73 etc and still get off the line quickly then with an OD, lower the engine rpm for economy while cruising down the highway.

For better strip performance and still keeping an OD for highway use, the 200-4R is a better transmission. It has better gear ratios than the 700R4 and still has an OD.

 

Thanks for all the info, The plan for this car is simple. I will race it on the weekend and still drop my daughters off at school monday mornning. I am just starting this build this winter, This is the first 3 gen I have ever done. I have allways given the 700r4th350's trans away because I ran a Super T10, or a PG. I thought if there was something I didn't no about the 700r4 and itwas a good trans I wouldn't worry about rebuilding the PG right away. The Mill I am going to run is probally going to be close to 500 hp, fuel isn't a worry I just thought it would be nice to have OD but tuff is better, Stephen 87 IROC is your car track only? and did you ever try the 350/400 with any luck? I don't want to push my motor to hard (high RPM) on the highway etc... the plan is not to build a rpm mill more of a Torque Monster low rpm's

 

HMMM-TORQUE MONSTER----
BIGBLOCK JK!!
Kickin' my own a##--Gave away a PG w/3500 stall b'cuz I hurt the big block in my '74.
Sounds like a good time for a street//strip project.Good luck.When you start, I would subscribe to the thread!!

 

The Rossler and Extreme Automatics TH400's seem to be getting abetter reputation in high HP cars these days than the glides.

I won't run a glide in a race car if it were given to me, none-the-less a street driven car.