This transmission I am rebuilding is missing the thick 3-4 clutch apply plate that sits directly on the 3-4 clutch retainer with the little tabs in the input drum.

It was apparently rebuilt by a reputable company back in '08.

Does anyone know why/how it would have been built without this? I'm just curious on whether it was intentional or not...I imagine not.

 

This is just a wild *** guess, maybe to allow more plates to be installed?

The 3/4 clutch stack up in the 700R4's can be varied according to how the trans is to be used. Thicker and fewer clutch & plates for road use (to dissipate heat build up), to using more and thinner ones for drag use (for better power transfer).

RBob.

 

Agree with above. Probably trying for more frictions.

It's a dumb idea. Return the plate.

 

The 700R4 uses the thin .055" apply plate with five fingers and it uses the .125" - .130" flat pressure plate that sits on top of the thin .055" plate. This is fine and I use this setup all the time without problems. Starting in 1993, they went to the "one piece" apply plate. You can use either one here without any problems.

 

So I can use the retainer ring on the top set of clutches in the input drum without the thicker bottom clutch apply plate as long as I have that thicker plate right before the snap ring and make sure my tolerance is good?

 

You can mix and match the pressure plates, steels and snap ring to get the right clutch clearance.