As it is known I blew my tranny,What should I do. Pick up a used Tranny from the wreaker's Or get a completely new one. I want a new one right!? but.. Which one Where to get it and how much and if im puttin in a new tranny I need a shift kit too. How Much is that? Its endless...

 

Honestly,
Go to the tranny section and ask this.
I learned SO MUCH from those guys.
AND I am picking up a used tranny and I recently got my bad tranny rebuilt.
Check out all options.
PS, I'm having one sent to me from Wisc to LA!
Got a crate???
Where ya live?
IF in LA area I know a great tranny shop!!!!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

(oops, double clicked my own mouse)... er, (cough)


[This message has been edited by TomP (edited September 19, 2001).]

 

New's gonna cost you; in fact, do they make new 700r4 trannies anymore?

A rebuild's gonna cost you, too. I paid $1400 for my rebuild from Lee Myles.

A junkyard one would be your best bet; but you don't know what it's been through before you buy it. Check the fluid; make sure it's red and feels "slippery", not brown and feels "gritty". Check the mileage. Also, the trans build dates go something like this:

1984 : (83-84 for v8's) Sucked, first design
1985: A little better, still had problems
1987: Most problems were fixed in this design!
1990-ish: Best design

So if you went to a junkyard, and picked out a 700r4 from a 1992 3.1l Camaro, you'd probably be very happy. (What year is your car??) If you got a 700r4 from a 1984 2.8l Firebird, chances are the trans is near (or on!) it's deathbed already.

Try not to get "less than" a 1987 trans. You can tell '87-up f-bodies easily enough. 1982-1985 f-bodies had no 3rd brake light. Starting in '86, the DOT was requiring 3rd brake lights, so GM put them on the outside of the glass, near the top of the window. It was a bad design; the bulbs would blow out because of vibration, so after 1986, you WON'T find a 3rd brake light on the OUTSIDE TOP of the hatchback glass. You'll see them as part of / under the spoiler (87-89), and INSIDE the hatch glass (90-92).

A shift kit can be put in at any time. A shift kit is $20 for B&M, and $120 for the much better one (TransGo). They're easy to put in, but if you don't think you can swing it (it is a little scary; I did it to my car), a shop will probably charge an extra $100-$200 to do it for you. The TransGo kit actually comes with a video; you could watch it, and determine if you want to install it yourself. The B&M kit was really easy; I hit a few hard spots, but I can send you that info if you actually want to do it yourself.

Are you going to put the trans in yourself, or will you have a shop do it? (I've done both...) In case you can't tell, I'm on my 2nd rebuilt trans (3rd total), so I know how you feel.

You can buy a transmission from GM, complete with an awesome warranty, but that'll really cost you- however, it would be of their newest "design", so the thing should be pretty damn bulletproof!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

If my tranny were dead at this point I would spend 2500. Get a LT 1 and tranny with all accessories form Billy Ghram Salvage yard. Spend another 1000 and have it professionaly installed and reap the benefits of one of the baddest engines ever made.

 

I don't know If I just got a really good deal or what? But It only costed me $500.00 2 get my tranny rebuilt with a b&m shift kit. It does save you about $200.00 if you pull the tranny and install it yourself.

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Bad A$$ Boys Drive Bad A$$ Toys

 

How did you get to the top bellhousing bolts to remove the old tranny ??...

 

If you have small hands you can tilt the engine back and get at them from there. If you have a few extensions you can get them from going behind the tranny.

Dale

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1986 FireBird
2.8L MPFI
1/2 CAI
Gutted Cat, No muffler
Was 700-R4 --> Now T5

Great cars aren't bought, they are built

 

Do a little looking around, I found a 92 4l60 in the classifieds here less than an hours drive away, made the deal for $200, the seller even let me make payments. I was leary of using a used tranny from an individual I didn't know, but I was desperate to get the car running. I made the drive got the tranny and put it in over the course of the weekend. Its worked great for me since I've gotten the engine running right.

Check classifieds, etc... 60* 4l60's are a dime a dozen. No body wants them, hence why I have a core in my garage that I can't hardly give away.

ps: Thanks again Milt.

 

I reached the top bolts of two f-bodies' 700r4's, both with 2.8's, from underneath the car. I used the following equipment, assembled in the following order:

Socket, universal (swivel), 24" extension, 7" extension, breaker bar.

All tools were 1/2" drive, not the thin 3/8" you usually find in a socket set. The thin 3/8" drive extensions "twist", and soak up the torque you apply thru the breaker bar.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

two bolts on my manual tranny.... 30 Inches of 1/2 inch extension and an air gun. 5 seconds later both bolts out. from under the car of course.

 

well, i got my 700R4 rebuilt for 900, that included some cheap shift kit (for free) and a corvette servo, they also boosted the line pressure, all in all, i've got a tranny that'll shift like hell, chirp second gear, break tranny mounts all day long, and still isn't a time bomb. I'd highly advise the shift kit and vette servo, that'll reall get your car moving as far as firm shifts, and if u like kick in the glass when u hit second gear, you'll love the back breaking, tire chirping power, that a little boosted line pressure, and a servo will do.