700R4 Tranny Question

[wwotr]

I currently have a Turbo 350 in my 72 GMC Short/Fleet.
No Overdrive and it tachs about 2300RPM while doing about 60 MPH.
My Gas Mileage is not where I'd like it either.That's not that BIG of deal, but I believe currently I'm getting around 8-10 and would like to be at least around 12 MPG.
The current engine blows a little smoke on Start-up and seems to be getting tired and the $$ are not in for a new engine ....(yet).

So I figured I'd get a quote from a Local Tranny guy, who come highly recommended by my Mechanic and 2 other "Hot Rod" shops in my area.
I explained to him that I wanted a Tranny without any Shift Kit, that would except my Tired 350, and a NEW 350, that would be in the 300-375 HP range.

I asked him for a "Ballpark Figure" on a 700R4, Rebuilt,
and (if need be) the Drive line shortened Drive it in....Drive it out.

His "Worst Case Scenario" was $1500.00.

I thought that was an EXCELLENT price.
I was wondering what the Forum Members here thought.

Just an FYI...No I'm not a mechanic and Barley Posses,
"Shade Tree Mechanic skills", so doing it myself is out of the question.
Besides I don't have the room.

[68GMCCustom]

I bought a 200-4r and 2500rpm stall converter built for 500+hp from my tranny builder...it was $1050. Thats w/o install or driveshaft changes.

[oldgold70c10]

I've been doing just that on my burb, but going from 4 spd manual to 700r4.
For what's involved, that's a hard price to beat for a turn-key job.

[cparman]

there are RPM calculators on the web, that will allow you to figure out what the end result will be before you spend the money to do the 700R4 change. I will tell you that I am a big fan of that conversion, and I would think that if you did a search on this great site you will find several posts from me and others that will help you do it the right way.

RPM calculators will ask;
tire size
MPH
and gear ratio

You will need two of the three to figure out the last. This is very helpful in being satisfied with the end result

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by cparman

there are RPM calculators on the web, that will allow you to figure out what the end result will be before you spend the money to do the 700R4 change. I will tell you that I am a big fan of that conversion, and I would think that if you did a search on this great site you will find several posts from me and others that will help you do it the right way.

RPM calculators will ask;
tire size
MPH
and gear ratio

You will need two of the three to figure out the last. This is very helpful in being satisfied with the end result

Thanks for the suggestion.
I did a Google Search and with an OD Transmission,
(based on Tire Heigth, Rear End Ratio)< I would DECREASE the Engine RPM from approx 2300 RPM , Down to 1787 Rpm.
That would be VAST IMPROVEMENT over the current RPMS!

[deanos69]

I was qouted 1300.00 to 1500.00 on the same install from the best tranny shop in town.

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by deanos69

I was qouted 1300.00 to 1500.00 on the same install from the best tranny shop in town.

Thanks Guys.
So far I'm not feeling "Taken Advantage of".

Back in 2004 when I had my 67 C-10, it had a stock Turbo 400 in it.
Well I had the GM ZZ383/425 HP Crate Motor put in.
Blew out that Tranny in about 3 weeks.
Had it towed to a "Custom Tranny Shop" in the next County.
Paid $1800.00 for this High Performance, Heavy Duty Bands, Shift Kit Tranny.
Had to have an Aftermarket Locar Down shifter put on it, and he played with the "Counter Weights" until he got some out of a Ford Falcon,
(or some **** like that). It was a great Tranny but what I regret, ids before that, I had the 3:73 Gears replaced with 3:08.
Thing was a DAWG from Stoplight to Stoplight (Gear ratio wise).

I think I'm going to be much more satisfied with THIS setup!

[Hubscrub]

i paid $1,000 for my 700r4 rebuilt trans with a converter and the other little stuff to put in my 71 myself so i say that is a good price

[dougo]

I'd like to do this conversion too.... and to me -it does not sound like a bad price. Several years back I paid a lot more for a new transmission for my '84 K5 Blazer that was bullet proof.

[gferris5]

yeah, and you can't beat the 700-r4's first gear, nice and low. 1500 for the out the door price is good--as long as "out the door" also includes the converter, stall lock-up kit, tv cable, etc... My TCI streetfighter with all that stuff was much more that that just for parts and no labor.

supposedly the 200-4r is a bit stronger, IIRC, but anyone out there have any idea?

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by gferris5

yeah, and you can't beat the 700-r4's first gear, nice and low. 1500 for the out the door price is good--as long as "out the door" also includes the converter, stall lock-up kit, tv cable, etc... My TCI streetfighter with all that stuff was much more that that just for parts and no labor.

supposedly the 200-4r is a bit stronger, IIRC, but anyone out there have any idea?

Well, as it gets closer, I told him I'd bring the Truck by and we'd "Finalize" the price. Hell to replace the Tranny on my 96 Chevy Tahoe 4X4 was $2200.00 !


We lightly touched on the 200R4 and it was HIS opinion that the 700R4 was a much stronger Tranny.
What is a "Stall lock-up Kit"?
Also, whats up with a "High Speed Stall Torque Converter"?
Is it more of a "Racing" application?
I'm looking for a Smooth Shifting/Reliable Tranny.
My days of "Neck Snapping shifts" are over.

That Tranny I spoke of in my Tahoe had a Kit in it.
EVERYTIME it shifted from 1st to 2nd, if I was drinking a can of Soda and it was more than 1/2 full, I'd have Soda all over my Center Console.

[sleepertruck72]

I paid $1200 for my rebuilt 700R4, with torque converter, flexplate cover, T.V. cable, dipstick/tube. I paid $300 IIRC to have my driveshaft shortened and U-joints replaced. I installed with the help of a friend. I would say you're getting a good deal especially since it's all done at the same shop. I had trouble with my driveshaft people You will get better mileage, I just dont know if you will get better than 12-14 mpg, at least I dont. Maybe if I didnt drive 80+MPH on the freeway

[gferris5]

Yeah, the converter lock-up is important, that basically is a way of locking the converter so there is no slip, so there is no power loss. Typically it is installed with a vacuum switch so that when you are cruising around with a full 20'' of vacuum, the converter will "lock" so that you get the most efficient power transfer, then as soon as vacuum drops--from pushing on the gas pedal, the converter will unlock and allow some slippage--thus avoiding transmission burn out. It is not hard to do, but I think it is one place where these transmissions can fail. This won't have any bearing on your shift firmness. Check out bowtieoverdrives.com, they have a ton of great information. You may have already known all that...

good to know about the 200-4r, wonder where I heard that originally...oh well.

[profe56]

I really want to say thanks to all the members that shared with me, your experience and knowledge on the last months, in order to swap 700r4 tranny on my truck. I'm not a mechanic but I've a friend He is and He also gave a lot of support I think I could pay to do everything but I feel this more than a hobby.I started to look the transmission in junkyards with the idea to have a core to be rebuilt and I found a transmission that seems was just rebuilted.
This is what I paid:
transmission $63.00 including fare for core
converter 9.00
flywheel 9.00
starter 23.00 I think expensive to be used
tv cable (new) 17.00
shifter cable 8.00
shifter 13.00
crossmember 27.00
driveshaft cut 25.00
Plus some tools
I woul probably spend about three hundred.
Truck is running perfect but still need to fix some things.
Emergency brake cable was damaged
manual trany crossmember needs to be removed in order to install the converter cover
need new speedometer cable
bracket for brake pedal w/out clutch pedal
after everything is done I'll start to convert 6 to five lugs rear end.
Thank you again