So I picked up this 86 z26 as a project car and believe me its a project. It took about a week two rebuilt carbs and unhooking the computer to get the car to run somewhat (and yes the dis was swaped). now that I could drive the car a little I find the trans slips and dosent like to go into gear D or R sloppy shifts and all to go with it. the fluid is clean and not burnt so Im wondering if the valve body or filter is cloged. the car sat for 5 years in a field. Id like to keep overdrive but at the same time I have a 350 coming out of the machine shop in a few days and dont have a lot of money left for the trans should I just swap it for a 5 speed or rebuild the existing trans any thoughts?

 

What i would do is as follows is one of the following (in order of what I think would be best)

1. swap in a newer 700r4 rebuilt or used
2. rebuild your 700r4
3. go t-5

The 700r4 isnt a bad trans. However thats not really totally true. The 700R4 evolved a good deal over its life the early 82-84s being complete junk to the later late 87-93s being pretty respectable. The 86 that im assuing you have unless its been swapped is in the middle ground. It is a revition of the 700r4 that had many of the original serious design flaws corrected but is not as well refined as the later 700r4s. Its good enough to work with but given the opportunity i would swap to a newer 700r4. If this is out of the question rebuilding your current trans would be my second choice. The T-5 however is my least favorite choice. They are a light duty trans not fit for use behind a 350. Granted if your nice to it it might last a long time but it also might not. If you wanted to go stick shift There are many other transmissions i would go with first.

 

After doing some work to the trans and checking everything, The TV cable needs to be replaced Ill try a shift kit and servo swap and see how things turn out. this looks to be the cheapest method right now Ill also have to replace all the seals on the trans also

 

I would put a T56 in it, a LT1 T56 will bolt right up and out last the T5

 

that swap would be later on. I was thinking about building this one for road racing so it will be a learning exp. for me Ive only built them for drag till now.