So I used to be self employed, that didn't work anymore and I picked up a part time to be a delivery driver. That same day I left work pulled up to the gas station, put it in park and pumped gas. I started my car, put it in drive, and it went in reverse. I thought I selected the wrong gear and tried to put it in drive. It went into reverse again, the gear selector moved freely and I couldn't select a gear. I just got this transmission from Craigslist in July so I could move to Indianapolis. I only been above 3000 rpms one time since I got it and babied it 90% of the time. My question is what transmission do I upgrade to so I can stop having these problems. I would like to stay around $500-$800 area, might be impossible because I'm going to have to pay for labor. I have a 93 lt1 that had a stock 700r4 behind it. I would love a 4l80e or 6 speed but that's way out of the budget, I'm guessing. Any good suggestions?

 

TH350 around $6-700. I would try to stick with a 700r4 or 4L60 that 4th gear is nice though and most of the time they can stand some punishment. Saying that I have broke some too! A well built TH350 is almost bulletproof IMO though.

 

I get about 16 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway. I feel like if I don't have overdrive that would drop quite a bit. So I'm thinking I definitely need overdrive.

 

without major modification.. I'd say your options are another 700r4 or swapping to a manual transmission.

 

I would love a manual, those extra gears and increased hp would put a permanent smile on my face.

 

I just went through this. Fix your shifter linkage at the transmission. I can almost guarantee thats exactly what it is.

Couple bucks at a hardware store will fix it.

 

It happened the same to me. Check the Trans cable and the linkage from the shifter to the end near the pan. In my case two bolts were loosen and my bracket went down

 

With him saying the shifter moves freely, its as simple as the linkage falling off at either the transmission or underneath the shifter cover in the passenger compartment.

I bought a 1/4 inch clevis pin, and am going to weld the adjustment notch closed so the pin will not move back and forth. A couple washers and a cotter pin in the end will work perfect for me

 

Salvage yard 4L80E $ 120. Core charge $ 25. TransGo 4L80E-HD2 kit $ 115. '92-'93 GM 6.5L turbodiesel PCM used $ 50. Recal shift points $ 85 + shipping. Of course there's still the nickel and dime stuff, but the 80E doesn't have to be mega-bucks.

 

This is mine fixed. $1.56 at a local True Value for the 1/4 inch clevis pin and cotter pin. Tac welded to washers and the steel linkage to the trans. Its a solid connection to the linkage and feels better than the stock linkage did.

 

I have also had that little clip pop loose on me and left me with reverse only. The 700R4 is a great trans. Stay with it even if you have to save a few bucks to have a competent trans guy rebuild it. Sounds like your other issues were from installing used transmissions.

 

Annd you were right! Cost me $140 from a local shop just got my car back a few minutes ago.

 

Ouch!

 

You don't want to even hear the price he quoted to fix my heater core.

 

Heater core is maybe a 2hr job.