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What is the best place to get a 700R4?

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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 09:31 AM
  #1  
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From: Altus, Oklahoma
Car: Dad's 87 Bird (Org Owner)
Engine: Vortec 350 Crate Motor
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi
What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Looking for recommendations of companies to get a Level 2 700R4.

I have researched and it seems that Maddog and Monster are off the list. Too many negative reviews.

Thanks.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 02:04 PM
  #2  
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From: LONDON, KY
Car: Camaro
Engine: Carbed L98
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Most people on here are going to suggest Dana at Pro built Automatics.
I bought a kit for my TH350 and he was very helpful.
Its also a plus that he is a member here.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 02:28 PM
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Maybe FTI?
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 03:19 PM
  #4  
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Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

FTI is great!
They do not offer a THM700-R4 though.

Pro-Built Automatics (Dana) is great for THM700-R4 Builds (he is in California).

Since you are in Oklahoma, I will also recommend someone closer to you.
Farrer Out Transmission in Iowa (Grady) is awesome!

PM me if you want his Contact info.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 03:34 PM
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From: Jackson NJ
Car: 1984 T/A
Engine: LQ4
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Ford 8.8 4.10 gears
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

summit?
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 04:15 PM
  #6  
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From: Colorado USA
Car: '83 Firebird (T/A Clone)
Engine: 350 with L-69 components
Transmission: 700R-4, 2000 RPM stall converter
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt/3.73 ..
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

TCI ?...
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 06:39 PM
  #7  
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Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Don't go Summit for THM700-R4 Transmissions.

Both the THM700-R4 and THM200-4R are considered to be specialty Transmissions among GM Transmission Builders.
Many builders do not want to deal with their Throttle-Valve Cable/ System...
and it takes some very fine and little-know information to make these Transmissions work and last.

Most Businesses don't want to invest the time to learn what makes these Transmissions successful.
There are less than 10 Shops in the Country that can actually Build these Transmissions to their potential.

I actually would completely stay away from TCI and B&M (except for the topic of Oil-Coolers).
B&M puts their name on another Companies Oil-Coolers (Long Manufacturing)...
and they are very good, but about double the retail price of the original product (Long Manufacturing).

Here is a Post that I made on LS1Tech, regarding this topic:

Originally Posted by vorteciroc
A few short notes to add:

1. The B&M oil cooler... while operating quite well, is a over-priced re-branded product.
It currently sells for aprox. $130 through Summit, Jegs, and others...
For example:
Summit sale link
The same product can be purchased as "Long Manufacturing: LPD4711" or "True-Cool: M7B".
Pricing is usually $70 - $80. Do not pay more than this...
For example:
Amazon sale link

2. Those of our cars and vehicles that are older and did not have OEM 3/8" diameter transmission oil-cooler lines installed...
Really should have the smaller 5/16" lines upgraded to 3/8" hard-line or -6AN hose.
This simple upgrade/ change actually had a great beneficial impact on the transmission oil cooler circuits and torque-converter charge circuits.
Life expectancy is increased from just the increase in cooler-line size (flow and temps here are improved).
GM made the change to larger transmission cooler-lines across the entire portfolio of vehicles... this is how beneficial the effect was!

3. Be carefull with any "Summit" or "Jegs" branded fittings/ hose-ends for AN lines.
They are generally perfectly fine for "One-Time" use. Meaning installed and never removed or altered.
These tend to strip the threads/ become damaged once taken apart for reuse.
If you plan on ever servicing/ disassembly of the AN lines; spend the money for a name-brand product such as "Earl's".
Lastly Holley purchased control/ distribution rights for B&M Oil Coolers... they are being phased-out for Holley/ Earl's Branded Oil Coolers.
Holley like Federal-Mogul (and the now growing Edelbrock Performance Group), is now the second largest Aftermarket Performance Parts Company in the World.

The B&M Oil-Coolers should be purchased as the Long Manufacturing Product as the B&M versions are less and less available.

The Holley/ Earl's Oil-Coolers are absolutely amazing!!!
But they are also all very expensive.

Last edited by vorteciroc; Oct 26, 2021 at 09:00 PM.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 07:33 PM
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by vorteciroc
FTI is great!
They do not offer a THM700-R4 though.

Pro-Built Automatics (Dana) is great for THM700-R4 Builds (he is in California).

Since you are in Oklahoma, I will also recommend someone closer to you.
Farrer Out Transmission in Iowa (Grady) is awesome!

PM me if you want his Contact info.
https://ftiperformance.com/Turbo-700...-2-700R4-2.htm

did they change??
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 08:59 PM
  #9  
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From: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by Orr89RocZ
Sorry about that... I was thinking of the 4L60E Transmission.
Thank you for the correction.

On that note; I would pass on FTI for a THM700-R4 Transmission.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 10:47 PM
  #10  
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From: Bismarck, ND
Car: 1982 Trans Am
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

I bought one from bowtie overdrives a few years back. They were great to deal with and had them adjust shift points to 5500 rpms and it was dead on. Shifts nice and firm best shifting 700r4 I've ever had to be honest.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 11:10 PM
  #11  
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From: cut and shoot texas
Car: 1980 Z28/1991 Z28
Engine: 305 / 350
Transmission: 5spd std/ th350
Axle/Gears: 3.42/ 3.42
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

tci or jasper
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Old Oct 27, 2021 | 01:29 AM
  #12  
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From: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by tcntx
tci or jasper
Maybe for relatively stock performance...
But absolutely not for any high-performance/ high power use.
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Old Oct 27, 2021 | 08:16 AM
  #13  
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Car: 88 gta
Engine: 5.8
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73 POSI
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

just my 2 cents but i have a monster built trans in my car for over 6 yrs an NEVER had any issues .an i race every other weekend track days autocross spectator circle drag an its shift just as hard as when i first installed it.also have multiple friends that have the same trans one had an issue an it was taken care quick.
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Old Oct 27, 2021 | 09:21 AM
  #14  
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From: Colorado USA
Car: '83 Firebird (T/A Clone)
Engine: 350 with L-69 components
Transmission: 700R-4, 2000 RPM stall converter
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt/3.73 ..
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

What's wrong with TCI? 'Just curious...
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Old Oct 27, 2021 | 01:27 PM
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by vorteciroc
Sorry about that... I was thinking of the 4L60E Transmission.
Thank you for the correction.

On that note; I would pass on FTI for a THM700-R4 Transmission.
heard nothing but good things about FTI and their th400’s and glides....i would feel confident in their 700r4

else sell it and go th400 or 4l80e if you want a strong trans. Basic rebuild on those works wonders.
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Old Oct 27, 2021 | 11:01 PM
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Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by T.L.
What's wrong with TCI? 'Just curious...
TCI (like many other big name Automatic Transmission Companies) has felt that investing the time to learn what makes a Throttle-Valve Transmission work, to be a waste.

Instead of Increasing Line-Pressure apropiately, setting Clutch or Band clearance to a fine/ critical measurement, and sizing the appropriate Orifice, for a particular Shift to be firm and positive feeling...
They do what many uneducated people did in the 1970s and 1980s...
Shim an Accumulator, so that it is physically blocked in place.

That is how hard-parts break/ fail from improper, overly-harsh, bang-shifts.
They are way behind on technology and to this day still implement modifications that only harm the Transmission.

Most Transmission businesses today can build a Stock THM700-R4, or even a mildly modified THM700-R4 with great results.
The information needed to accomplish this is very well known.

However, there are roughly 10 Shops across the country that can properly build a THM700-R4, THM200-4R, and also the 4L60E, for reliable 600 to 1,000+ HP.
I know them all quite well, and have passed on some of the critical minutia that allows for such Transmissions to be built.

FTI is absolutely Great!
I love the Guys there (Dalton is the Man over there) and I love their Torque-Converters!
I recommend them on a daily basis... any of you can ask Dalton about me (Just refer to me as the GM Engineering Guy on LS1Tech).
They have some great THM400s and PowerGlides! Not state of the art, but that is not what they are claiming to offer anyway.
If anyone here needs to find a shop for a 3,000 HP THM400... I know the right places to send you!

If a mild or stock THM700-R4 is what you want... FTI will take great care of you.
However, I would pass on FTI for a more serious THM700-R4.

Last edited by vorteciroc; Oct 27, 2021 at 11:06 PM.
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Old Oct 28, 2021 | 12:33 AM
  #17  
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From: armpit, florida
Car: 92 RS 25th Anniversary Edition
Engine: treefiddy
Transmission: 700R4
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by vorteciroc
I know them all quite well, and have passed on some of the critical minutia that allows for such Transmissions to be built.
care to shate this critical data?
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Old Oct 28, 2021 | 01:08 AM
  #18  
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Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by classicgm
care to shate this critical data?
Sure!

How big is your Checking account?
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Old Oct 28, 2021 | 06:49 AM
  #19  
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

If a mild or stock THM700-R4 is what you want... FTI will take great care of you.
However, I would pass on FTI for a more serious THM700-R4.
what do you consider more serious? I wouldnt be using one for over 500 whp anyway and it doesnt seem to take much to get one to live for a while in the 400 whp range most heads cam serious na builds end up at. I had a local shop do mine and it wasn’t anything special that i know of. Worked fantastic at 400 whp plus 150 shot for a bit. Just put a good cooler on it
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Old Oct 28, 2021 | 03:34 PM
  #20  
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From: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Around the 500 HP Mark depending on vehicle weight, and use of power-adders.

Dana of ProBuilt Automatics is one of the Guys on my list of 10 Shops...
and he will only offer support for up to 650 - 750 HP at the Crank.
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Old Oct 28, 2021 | 06:31 PM
  #21  
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From: Altus, Oklahoma
Car: Dad's 87 Bird (Org Owner)
Engine: Vortec 350 Crate Motor
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Thanks everyone!!!
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Old Oct 31, 2021 | 08:01 PM
  #22  
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Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

O yeah!
Just another option, if you do not use Dana of Pro-Built Automatics in California.

Grady of Farrer-Out Transmissions in Iowa is just as good (he is also on my List of 10-Shops, like Dana of PBA).

Good luck, and have fun!
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Old Nov 14, 2021 | 11:56 AM
  #23  
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From: Alexandria, VA
Car: 91 Caprice Wagon
Engine: 350 L31-R
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

What do folks think about Gearstar?
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Old Nov 14, 2021 | 06:57 PM
  #24  
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From: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: What is the best place to get a 700R4?

Originally Posted by bluedart
What do folks think about Gearstar?
Gearstar offers some good stuff.
But they do NOT make my Top Ten List.

As far as I know, they do not engineer or produce "In-House" Parts or "Shift-Kits".
They use well known Parts from Sonnax and TransGo.

I also do not recommend them for a Throttle-Valve Transmission (THM700-R4 or THM200-4R).
However, the other Model Transmissions that they sell are decent.

Honestly, with Dana (Member: "PBA") of Pro-Built Automatics being on the Forum...
I would make him your first choice for a THM700-R4 or 4L60E Build!

Anyone that is looking for a THM200-4R, THM400, or 4L80E...
should take a look at Jake's Performance Transmissions, over in Texas.
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