Going to be rebuilding a trans some time after new years. A friend of mine that has rebuilt a few tranny's is going to help me out. Looking to put a shift kit in it, any good recommendations for one? What else do I need to get if I'm rebuilding it. Car has 180k miles on it, and I don't think the trans has ever been touched.

 

Transgo is the best kits I've found whether it's a stock rebuild and you just want a reliable trans or they offer reprogramming kits all the way to full manual depending on trans.

 

Transgo SK-700. Set it up for one of the intermediate modes. NOT "full manual", NOT "drag race", NOT "show-off"; don't get greedy. Something like "street performance" mode, whatever they call it.

You'll need a paper & rubber kit w clutches, aka "rebuild kit". Also the 3 clutch pistons so you get new lip seals. Wouldn't be a bad idea to replace the sun shell while it's apart. A new torque converter of course; would be good to get one with somewhat higher stall than stock.

Watch the series of videos on youtube by transmissionbench.

 

I carry the modified TransGo Shift kits for these. If yours is a 1987 you will need to find out if it is an early 1987 or a late 1987. The Performance Shift kit will not always work in the early 1987 with the first design valve body. The late 1987 has the second design valve body and is the better way to go. The second design valve body if needed is common and is apx. $25.00. The Heavy Duty Shift kit can be used with either valve body. These kits are setup to give smooth part throttle shifts and quicker and firmer shifts with more throttle. The later GM heat treated sunshell is a good idea. Let me know if I can be of help as I have everything needed to do these right. Go to: www.700r4l60e.com There you will find everything you need/want.

 

Go with one of the kits on Pro Builts website. I've built a few 700r4/4l60 trans and those look like very complete kits with all the right upgrade parts. DO NOT re-use that stock sunshell, it will cause you headache down the road.

 

What stall speed should I go with if I'm running a stock L98 block with just intake and exhaust done?
Assume 6500 rpm as ceiling (for if I add more to engine later)

 

Also, is anyone able to recommend a specific rebuild kit? The ones on Pro Built's website seem a bit pricey. Would something like this from summit have everything I need for a stock rebuild?
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-379000/overview/

 

If you're trying to save money I'd go with this one...http://www.ebay.com/itm/261401753718?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITYou better inspect all the hard parts carefully ESPECIALLY the sun shell.

 

Is there something that makes this better than the summit one?
Also a friend said that these kits would be overkill. What would he be referring to?

 

Everything in this one makes it better than the Summit one. The one from Summit only comes with half this stuff! Don't listen to your friend. You need a kit like this to rebuild a 700r4 correctly and make it live.

 

I've rebuild a couple 700r4's and a 4L60E for my own use and have learned a few things along the way. For stock, or near stock power levels, a basic rebuild kit with basic clutches should work fine. I would save the money on the fancy clutches and instead spend it on a new GM hardened sunshell, a NEW reverse drum (very important and underestimated) and a Borg Warner band and 3-4 clutches. A basic transgo kit is also a good idea. Look at all the 5500lb trucks that run a 4L60E that tow and go for 200k+ miles. With conservative HP levels (under 350) having new stock components with the exception of the sunshell should be fine. But all it takes is one leaky seal, accumulator piston or gasket to cause something to slip, then it gets hot and it snowballs from there.
Dana at Probuilt Automatics is a great guy and knows these transmissions better than pretty much anybody in the world. If you are willing to spend a bit more, I highly recommend his setups.

 

I went with this same seller about 2 years ago now when I decided to rebuild the spare 1991 700r4 for my '85 S-15.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/TH700R4-4L60...4AAOxybi9Re4Oz


I ended up getting this kit, (I think), but for a cheaper price since I was buying a shift kit, Corvette servo, pump boost valve, 13 vane pump kit, new converter and a beast sun shell. I think all told was about $475 shipped.


Finally decided during this past Christmas break to do the rebuild and get in it the truck.


As it stands, it's running good. Your mileage may vary.

 

Use the Borg Earner Hi-Energy clutches in the 3-4 (7 or 8 clutches here, not 6) and the BW Hi-E 2-4 band. DO NOT use the Red Alto clutches in the 3-4 clutch pack. Everywhere else use the BW type oem clutches. DO NOT use a 13 vane pump in the 700R4 it will cut down on the volume. The back half of the pump needs to be modified to use the 13 vane setup. The Heat Treated GM Sunshell is a good idea, and they hold up very well (3,000+ passes in a mid 9 second 1996 Firebird). If the band was in good shape when you tore down the transmission, then the reverse/input drum is fine. If it was burnt, then the drum will need to be replaced. If you are not sure check it with a straight edge. Replace with a oem GM drum only.

 

Major bump.

Getting this shift kit: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/trg-700-2-3
And for clutches/seals would this work? http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....251414&jsn=559

I should mention that my goal isn't to build up the trans by any means, but I can tell it needs a refresh. Looking to do this the most inexpensive way I can while still getting results.

 

I'd add one of these:

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....jsn=__GIX__3__

And a stock replacement torque converter:

http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/4L60-700R4tc.html

I'd also consider a cooler:

http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/tru-cool-lpd.html

None of the links are supplier endorsements. However, I did buy bunch of miscellaneous parts, cooler and a converter from Makco to finish off a rebuild I did with a Pro-Built kit.

 

Thanks for reminding me about the sunshell.
What would be a good stall speed if only mods to the engine are short ram intake and full exhaust?
And would the lowest level cooler there probably be enough?

 

I can't speak to a different stall speed converter. The only car I've ever driven that had a different than stock stall speed converter was a '77 Z-28. IIRC, headers were the only mod. That thing was a slug on the street. Converter wasn't sized properly, no doubt.

It's probably wrong, but I would size a cooler like this:

1. Check the sticker on the drivers size door and look for the GVWR:



In this case, it's 4,249 lbs. This is the weight of the car and passengers. If you're towing, add the weight of the trailer to this number.

Pick a cooler that exceeds this total weight.

 

So right now I would have
Shift kit: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/trg-700-2-3
Rebuild kit: http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....251414&jsn=559
Sun shell: http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....jsn=__GIX__3__
Trans cooler: http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/4451.html
And a new torque converter. Anything else?

 

Removing and replacing the transmission is one thing. Putting in a rebuilding step in between is a big jump.

IMO, I would strongly suggest you buy these two books (read them carefully) and honestly assess your abilities before investing in rebuilding the trans yourself.





You will be investing a lot of time and money doing it yourself with no guarantees that when it's all back together it's going to work the way it should. IOW, this can turn into a money pit real fast.

 

The ATSG books are THE BEST. Far better than the factory manual in most cases. Gotta remember, the factory manual was intended for use with FACTORY parts, as they were available AT THE TIME; doesn't take into account anything we've learned since, changes in the parts (clutch thicknesses for example) that have occurred since, etc.

Watch the videos I mentioned above. The guy shows all the parts & pieces in detail, shows the "special tool" he made to compress clutches, etc. Definitely informative.

 

I'll consider getting the books but I'm not doing it myself. I have a friend that has bullet proofed a few for his mud trucks that's going to help me with it.

 

Can anyone confirm this is all I should need?

 

Bump.
Also, did these come with a trans cooler from the factory?