I feel I have dumped my tranny

My tranny options are-
Change to fresh tranny fluid
Why I like this option
As my car cools (let sit over night or for several hours) down the shifting erratic problem goes away.
It take about 15 or more miles for the tranny problems to appear.
Can changing fluid help me stretch out current tranny for a few more weeks? OR will it toast it quicker (Craps!). I haven't changed fluid for about a year or so.

I got a 1990 700R4 to rebuild or run as is. I understand it's good. And also good for rebuilding!
I HOPE THE "OWNER" WILL INSTALL TRANNY FOR ME
as I burnt my wrist doing radiator fluid swap to keep car running cool enough.

CaliCamaro you out there? Please give a shout cause I'll be by for that tranny now!

What would you guys do?
Fresh tranny fluid (money & short down time & big HOPE!)
or
Spend big money & rebuild/install the 1990 700R4 (WHICH IN END IS CORRECT, too).
I only need several weeks of time to buy. Before best answer is truly possible!

Let's Play Craps Now!

 

You've got mail.

 

From what I have read you can risk making things worse if you drain your current fluid. If there's metal and crap in there and you take it out it might just worsen the problem... If you think it's heat related get a cooler and throw that in, not the cheaper route but it might help and you can use it on the new tranny when you get that in.

 

The cooler idea isn't a bad thought
BUT
The above reply from CaliCamaro may be the winning answer.
I do have a cooler that is from a cycle & is about size of a Hot Rod magazine.
I DO AGREE ABOUT
the metal floating & such! Been there & your response does kinda confirm the bad memories....

 

I had that problem on my old Mazda way back when and I caed the fluid and fite hpi to fix it. Didn't really work. I still had a shifting problem into 3rd gear, so I doubt that a fluid change and cooler is going to help. Personally, I would go ahead and just have the "spare" rebuilt and toss that in there. A good shop'll be able to rebuild it in about a week (if that) and from what I remember, you have the hook ups on all the shops. This way, you don't have to worry about anything happening in the future and haveing the trans totally crap out on you while you're driving.

 

Sounds like its too late for a larger cooler. Seems like the damage is done already.

 

Autozone has some stuff in a bottle called TRAN-X i belive it is susposto firm shifts stop leaks etc. My friend used it in his car and it seemed to helt the tranny some. It was like 4bucks a can i think.

 

I'd definately put the '90 trans in. The fluid pump on your '85 probably wore out & ran dry, and the metal pump gear ate into the aluminum pump body, and shot metal filings thru everything.

When you take the '85 out, I'm assuming you'll drain the fluid first? If so, take off the filter, and cut it open with pliers/screwdriver/angle cutters- unfold the filter medium. I bet there's a ton of metal inside that filter- more than would be on the pan magnet.

When my first trans died, I tried changing the fluid, too- it didn't help. And I've heard that changing the fluid on a shot trans will kill it all the way; supposedly a shot trans runs better on old fluid because the old fluid has clutch metal floating around in it.

 

I guess it is up to you. Sounds like your trans goes to crap when it gets hot. I know a fellow who had his trans slip in a chev celebrity once it was hot. He installed a transmission cooler, and it worked fine from there on. When he sold the car he took the cooler off to save it for when he would need it next. The guy came back and said the trans was slipping. So he gave him the cooler.

But it is a Pre 87 700R4?!? So if the price is right go with Tom and put in the 90. Better components, plus a rebuild would result in a better transmission life this time.

 

its near the end of its life. The clutch bands in an automatic transmission are DESIGNED to run out, they are wear items just like brake pads and manual transmission clutchs.

The tranny in my BMW was going out and i changed to F-Type fluid (has less "slipperieness" stuff in it) and i added a bottle of brake fluid. The brake fluid helps expand rubber parts and the clutch bands, sometimes helping them catch easier. The tranny lasted another month before finally it would not shift into 2nd gear.

Either way, your tranny needs to be rebuilt, or you need to have another one put it, which prefferably should be rebuilt too.

 

HI All
I have no choice but to rebuild the 1990 700R4
Willing all good things, and it's to be a great job, too.
Right now I get 1-2 shift at 30-MPH, 2-3 at 50 MPH
IF lucky then 4th.
Yeah it's toast
I won't bore ya with the loads I've beeen lately carrying (try 10 sheets of cement flooring, bags of cement, tile, dirt).
Man, that hatch back is one crazy pick up truck tailgate!
Thanks for the good thoughts, tho!

UPDATE!
Great feedback about help and the 1990 Tranny rebuild.
Details soon to arrive to me.
All I'm after is a great tranny rebuild that'll hold up to a 3.4 mill with headers! Not a rip out the U Joint shifting monster.

 

All great news coming to me about the tranny surgery
It's Penciled in....
IF outside air temp is cool enough, the tranny operates "normal".
Bummer is not using the AC to cool off, so I also keep engine temps down, which contribute to cooler tranny fluid temps, too.
Securing great prices and expert help, is best deal and biggest help.
Gonna try a few tricks that may contribute to better tranny operation, this time.
Not a "shift kit".
3.4s are powerful engines, I seek more 3-4 clutches, this time
Tranny temp gauge, too.
IF I find fittings, maybe a another idea.

 

If my TH-350 would of fit your car woulda sold it to ya cheap. As of this comming saturday its on its way to storage.

 

Plus, the 83-84 builds, and the 85-86 builds, had inherent problems that were fixed with later models of the 700r4. In general, the newer the 700r4, the more bulletproof GM made it.

 

This is the little goodie I hope can be easily added into the tranny swap mix.

 

The 90 transmission will no doubt be alot better. Just make sure to flush or have who ever swaps her in for ya flush the radiator trans cooler out. If you still plan on using your car for those trips to the home improvment centers you might consider a perma cool maxi cool fan cooled unit. If you really want to keep that 3.4l combo happy and nice dual oil/trans cooler would be my choice. It made a huge difference back when I had the 700.

 

I know my Firebird 'wasn't made" for those trips.
But that damn hatchback makes one sensational pick up truck bed.
I get 4x8 sheets in there!
No I do not stop suddenly!

 

I had 8 or 9, 80lbs bags of cement in my bird before she dident even squat too much. I guess thats why GM make the rear seat fold down so nicely and reinfoced it with a steel plate.

I do know with 6 bags my old S10 4x4 blazer would be scraping the tires on the fenders.

 

I ordered my Torque Convertor today. It's a "Blazer unit", so a bit more HD & more reinforced brazing of fins.
Worst so far had been the multiple boxes of ceramic tiles. 12" ones, quantity of 15 - 20 plus the cement.
I was scraping & I was praying!
My Blazer can handle this heavy stuff with ease, tho.
Only wish I had the time to have made Blazer run but money & work talks, projects can "rest".
I can't wait to repay this Firebird in 4 new coils, new steering linkage and subframe connectors, then add the disc brake rear set up along with the newer rear suspension stuff.
THEN install the PaceSetter Exhaust system.
I'm real thankful for the help I'm getting in this Tranny Surgery!CaliCamaro:hail:

 

Karl, Karl, Karl (To all that don't know- Karl and I are aquaintences- and I am a professional tile setter)
You know I couldn't let this comment go without acknowledging you are nuts- You are going to kill that car.

 

NAH!
I'm doing things I never imagined!
Ya shoulda seen the Corvette with the wood trim sticking outta the roof!
Kill the car, MAN I'M GIVING IT A GREAT LIFE!
Think of the rewards it'll bring!
New car parts!
Luckily this mission already has had me deliver the tile. Jeeze, like 5 boxes of 12" tile, what a wimp load!
Honest I can't wait to reap the rewards and install all the new parts I already have & will be getting!
I THINK HOW MUCH SPACE AT HOME I'LL GAIN!

 

What goes on the tailshaft of the 1990 700R4 tranny
so my 1985 mechanical speedo operates.

 

Mine is a electronic speedo. I dont know what the mechanical speedo looks like.

 

A cable driven gear assembly. Make sure you have the proper driven gear on it so your speedo is accurate. There's a chart on the TGO info section that tells the different driven and drive gears needed based on rearend gears.

Call me if you need more info, or need me to explain it more understandably.

 

FastRS
Think 1968 Firebird!

 

By installing teh NEW Speedo cable & its' housing, I've been able to spare the tranny swap for about 2 plus weeks.
My mission is to now discover which tube from radiator to tranny I should install the cooler I plan on using. The top one or the bottom one?
Once I get all this other stuff hooked up & installed, then new tranny is ready for long perfect undercar cliamte.
Sucks driving around with out using AC

 

Mission complete- top one out (hot fluid), bottom one in (hopefully cooler fluid) The inlets on the tranny coincide with your typical radiator inlets as for temps go.

 

I use the bottom radiator tranny fluid line to cut, install the little cooler I plan to add?
Due to installation of new speedo cable & housing, what a treat to use a feather to throttle this car. My gas mileage will increase so much!
Now to figure out new wiring for that gauge dash!