Hello everybody,

I'm new here and also new to third gens. I recently bought an '88 Camaro IROC-Z 5.7 and three weeks after owning it, I lost third and fourth gear. Reverse, first, and second all work fine with no hesitation. It is leaking a small amount of fluid, I'm not sure where yet. All of the lines are fine so I have to take a better look.

After reviewing many threads, it seems that it's the 3-4 clutches or the piston. I know a guy who's saying it has to do with the sprag and that I would be silly to even try to open up the transmission.

I'm very confident in my mechanical ability but I've never rebuilt an automatic transmission before. I'm looking for the least expensive option to get the Camaro back on the road so I'm wondering what I should do. I have a friend who works at a parts store and can get discounts on everything. Would it be a better route to buy a rebuild kit with the clutches and steels and a new torque converter, or to buy a used transmission for $700+. Opinions please.


Michael

 

You have the 3-4 clutches, very common on stock 700R4's. If you want to rebuild this I have the DVD and the build book for these. For the kits, go to https://www.700r4l60e.com/store/home.php?cat=19 This will give you some choices. Let me know if I can be of help here? Dana

 

if you keep driving it you will overheat the fluid and it wll begin to turn brown.

I don't see where you pay $700 for a used 700r4. Since your car is not a beast, you will do fine with a stock rebuild and I see rebuilt trannies for sale at $700 all day long, and some offer sales at $600.

No, it won't have an upgraded sun shell or vette servos but you don 't need it for your engine.

When you begin to get into higher torque output from modified engines (cam and heads) then it's time to consider an upgraded tranny