Project 3.4 Camaro

My trans has issues shifting up into 2nd, all other upshifts and downshifts are just fine, it does have a bit of a leak at the tailshaft and I plan to replace the seal, but I don't think that is the cause, i think something else is, also it should be noted that on the rare occasion I can get into 2nd(seems less troublesome when its freshly topped off, so maybe it is the leak) but once in 2nd gear it does just fine, and has no problem downshifting to it either, I've already made sure the TV cable was set right, so I basically want to know, if its not my fluid leak, what else could cause this problem???
Keep in mind its only an issue with the upshift, car drives fine in 2nd, and downshifts to it fine, just 1-2 upshift. Driving around with 10 cars behind you and you're engine almost redlining, waiting for an upshift that may or may not come is not fun....

Guest

Maybe a partly-bad governor? Stuck valve in the VB?

DeathStarr89

iTrader: (1)

could be crud in the valve body...


Mine wouldn't 1-2 shift at all, after a good cleaning of the valve body and new servo seals it works like new...

Project 3.4 Camaro

any idea which valve, or how to test them, also could the servo cause the problem? And not quite sure what or where the governor is, thinking some sort of centripetal spring thing that controls shift points? Last but not least it has a different style filter in it than it did before, seemed to fit just fine, and was for a 700r4, but wasn't quite the same, I doubt if it could hinder the trans at all, but if something as simple as being dirty could stop up the VB then idk. But if you guys could throw me some ways to troubleshoot the VB, governor and servo that would be great.

DeathStarr89

iTrader: (1)

Governor is on the back of the trans, drivers side. There is a big metal cap that you gotta carefully tap off, the governor is under it. You'll lose a little fluid so throw down a rag to catch it.

When you get it out check the condition of the gear and clean it all out really well. Make sure to get the cap completely seated back in the trans all the way around when you put it back on.


If you are going to drop the valve body out then now is a good time to install a shift kit

Do your best not to hurt the separator plate gaskets or lose any ***** when you drop the VB down. It can get ugly real quick if you aren't careful.

Check all the valves in it on both sides. Most you can move with a small flat head screwdriver. If you take them out to clean them do it one at a time and pay really close attention to how they came out. Get a few cans of brake parts cleaner and spray it out good. long tweezers, very small needle nose pliers and an air compressor will be your friends here. do not use rags at all when cleaning it. You need to make 100% sure that you don't put anything back in wrong or get any dust/gunk in it.

Servo is on the passenger side towards the front of the trans, there are lots of how-to's on getting it out on the net.. most are for trucks, you'll have to drop the back of the trans down quite a bit to get enough clearance to get it out. I'd be willing to bet that it's fine though, you wouldn't have 2nd at all if it wasn't applying the 2-4 band.


There are a few vids of 700R4 rebuilds on youtube and you can download the one from Transgo on the shift kit install. Those should get you familiar with the inner workings...

Project 3.4 Camaro

Hmm, as much work that is I think I will just leave it to the trans shop, I might check the governor out, but I really don't feel like dropping the VB, much less pulling the trans, but idk, how easy to or hard not to is it to pull it with/without **** falling out/apart? Also as much as I want to do a shift kit, I can't really justify the cost of non essential parts at this time, unfortunately, especially since I just put a B&M shifter in....(broke that STUPID plastic rod on the stock one)

DeathStarr89

iTrader: (1)

It's not hard but if you've never done it before and this is your DD then i'd just take it to a shop.

bmorgil

The 700R4 has undergone many changes since its awful beginnings. The first ones had lots of upgrades. The 1-2 shift valves have been changed three times. The change that causes lots of 1-2 problems happened around '82 or so. The valve body on the 1-2 was sleeved with one or two (depending on what GM put in it) Aluminum sleeve(s) there are 3 valves captured in there. The shorter valves can get cocked as things wear or even right from assembly. If you force the end plug in and the valve that is in there deep is even slightly miss aligned, it well stick like hell has no fury. There is only one way to fix it. You have to remove the valve train on the 1-2. You will know in a minute if it was cocked. It will be visibly cocked and it will be stuck. Until you fix this it will not shift out of first. Food for thought. I pulled a TH700 3 times looking for something obviously wrong. I found it but, it's not obvious. Re-installation must be done with care. Use a lot of Vaseline to keep the two deep internal valves inside their sleeves and put it together then take a small screw driver and make sure you can push the large internal valve compresing the spring. It will either move or it won't. DON'T FORCE IT. You know the rest. By the way... no one is better with a turbo 700/4L60E than Dana at Pro-Built.

If you want to go for it....drop the pan, make a small tool (TransGo will show you how) to reach in and grab the roll pin that holds the sleeve. If you can get the pin out this way you won't even need to pull the valve body. If you can pull this off (pin out from the top) you can pull the valves by wiggling them out carefully. You have to remove the sleeves also because you will probably have to scotch brite the sleeves to remove what ever is needed to get the valves working freely. If it is sticking there is no guess work here. It will be free and easy to move as should the other valve in that interior sleeve. Or, it will be cocked and stuck.

Hope this helps. You are at the number one cause for freshly rebuilt 700's that won't shift into second. Of course there are other things that it could be. However, this is usually it for second shift gear malfunctions.

Bob

Project 3.4 Camaro

Thanks for the info, probably I'll do it at school or have the transmission guy at work give me a hand with it if I still try to fix it. Though I might just switch to a manual since I want one now anyway(didn't know how to drive one till recently, (RIP 96 'maro)).

bmorgil

Don't give up to easy. A 700 R4 with a TransGo shift kit is a nice tranny. It can be very intimidating to open up any transmission. The secret is in the tools and the patience. Not many good Mechanics anymore who really understand how to tear one down. Buy yourself an SK700 from Dana at Pro-Built or, TransGo directly. You don't have to pull the trans to do the job. You will learn a lot.

If you can get a diagram and follow the fluid paths and you will see what your shift kit is going to do. It is a Job that has a few tricks to it but you will learn. Do not miss a step no matter how difficult you think it is. Good luck, have fun and keep that Camaro rolling.

Project 3.4 Camaro

It has nothing to do with giving it up, I just don't want an automatic, only reason I ever did was because I didn't know how to drive a stick.