I Picked up an '85 700r4 from a Z for a song.
Then learned the newer 700r4s are built better.
Should I buy one of dana's kits and build my 85?
Or toss it and seek a newer model to build?

Really trying to not waste precious funds.
TIA.

 

I would contact Dana and see if he has the parts to make yours a good one.

 

'85 model T700s were much improved over the bad-rep early models: I'd just check over a few things on that '85 tranny,slap a shift kit in,install and see how it works Does the tranny you bought come with the torque converter ?

 

Yeah, it has the factory converter, driveshaft, and dipstick which is a bonus.
note: this will be going behind a stock LQ4 6.0l swap

 

In that case,swapping engine type, I would look for transmission closer to technology era of engine-say late 4th gen tranny.

 

Due to the LQ4 being a 99 long crank, I'm limited to a matching 4l80e or a beefy 700r4. I'm not sure any of the 4l60e will work, unless maybe an LT1 would, but I'm under the impression they were pretty weak.

 

I really think that the 4L60 would be a much better choice behind an LS engine.
There are conversion torque converters to work with the long crank 6.0s.

 

There are plenty of hard hitters with a 4L60. The modifications just have to been done in the right places.
Here's an example of what went into mine.



The above is a match for a GearStar Level 3 or Level 4 which is rated 500/500 HP/TQ, 650/600 HP/TQ respectively.
Just be sure that if you attempt this yourself, you get all of the details regarding the nuances of the upgrades.
I've links to other discussions here and on other forums if there are further questions.
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700-R4 IS 4L60. They just changed the "official" name, in around 89 or so.

The transmission that would have come with an engine similar to the LQ4 (though not the LQ4 itself) would be the 4L60E, which is mechanically almost identical to the 700, but has electronic controls instead of the governor etc. Pretty sure there was not a version of it available, stock, with the long-crank LQ4, though as said, there are aftermarket solutions.

The 5-planet carriers can be found in the 4L65E. Look around for label codes xKZD, where x is the year. They came in Avalanches, Escalades, maybe Denalis, maybe 02 - 06 or so.