Removed all smog/emissions equipment. Removed CC Quadrajet and installed Holley. Replaced distributor with vacuum advance dizzy, so the computer is basically not doing anything useful any more.

Will these mods prevent the 700r4 from locking up? How can I tell if it's locking up?

 

The computer won't lock it with that configuration.

 

See sticky at top of carb forum for alternate methods of lock up.

 

From my understanding the computer won't lock the transmission when it's in open loop mode and it can't get out of open loop mode because I don't have an o2 sensor signal to it any more. I still have the coolant sensor hooked up to the ECU. Is there a way to fool the computer to think its in closed loop mode so it will lock the transmission? My Haynes manual makes it seem like the ECU will go into closed loop by it self after a certain amount of time, like 3 minutes, regardless of what all the sensors are telling it.

I'm just thinking of a way to do this without having to spend $60 and crawl under the car and make a mess out of dropping the ATF fluid out.

 

There's probably a way, but it'd probably cost you more than $60.

No need to drop the transmission pan if you really don't want to, but then again it's probably time you replaced the fluid and filter anyway.