i found a trans on craigslist for $50. it's a 700r4 out of an '85 camaro and the problem with it is that it's blown (has only first and reverse). i want to rebuild it cause it's something i've never done before. i'm very mechanically inclined so turning a wrench is nothing new to me. i should be picking the trans up on sunday and probably in a couple weeks, after i pay some bills, i'll be getting a rebuild kit for it and if need be other parts for it as well. i definitely want to do this cause i would learn something.

im also doing this cause i want to get rid of my blown 200c that only has first and third gear and get an o/d trans with some nice gears for cruising. i know i could rebuild the 3sp that's already in there but i want better economy while cruising and better gearing.

is there anything i should watch out for? any tips? i also plan on buying a book to help me rebuild it. thanks for the help.

 

I bought 2 books, the ATSG book and SA Designs rebuild book. The SA book has color pictures and is very informative when it comes to tranny related parts (i.e. Torque converter, racing techniques, ect...) The ATSG book is much more indepth but can be confusing at times from when I was reading through. I have not used either to rebuild just to find parts on the tranny to look over but both seem like excellent books and I will not have a problem rebuilding a tranny with either of them.

Here is a link for the books:

SA Design book:
http://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Over...0815394&sr=1-1

ATSG Book:
http://www.amazon.com/ATSG-700-R4-Au...sr=8-1-catcorr

 

i got a 700r4 in great shape for sale....

 

One piece of advice I have is to get the trans and take it completely apart before ordering anything. This isnt even specific to what your doing now but just in general with something like this. I'm rebuilding a manual trans right now and ordered the rebuild kit before completely taking it apart. Then when putting it back together I found another broken part I couldnt see before because it was a bearing in a gear. I was lucky and found someone local who could order it for me with no shipping but if not I would probably have paid more in shipping than for the one bearing. I would take it apart then see whats broken so you can order stuff that may not come in the rebuild kit then to save money on shipping cost.

 

chas and built, that's some great advise! i'll probly end up getting both books to help out. i wasn't even thinking of tearing it apart before ordering anything but once i get it i'll tear into it and see what i need. thanks for the help.

 

Where do you get those rebuild kits? Does it also come with the special tools you'll need? I've rebuilt about 5 of 6 automatic transmissions all Chryslers though and I needed specific tools made for just rebuilding that tranny. Are the 700r4s like that?

 

well the deal fell through and the guy never emaild me back that sunday and emaild me like 2 days later and i said screw it.

so i think im just going to rebuild the 200c thats in there and next year have a 70r4 in there. the reason im gonna go this route is over the winter i plan on rebuilding a 350 and that's when i'll do a different trans.