manual to auto conversion - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Carl 70 lwb · 06-11-2002, 09:29 AM

hey guys
I have a 3 speed manual trans with 3.73 rear end i would like to put in a 4 or 5 speed all i can find is a 700r4 for 350.00 i was wondering how much trouble is it to do this swap. also what car or truck can i get a steering column from for the shifter?
thanks Carl

big blue 72 · 06-11-2002, 09:50 AM

I'd like to do the same to my 72 GMC. any help gang?

mtdave2 · 06-11-2002, 09:55 AM

goodnees, dont do the 700r4. unless you have a trany guy that really, and i mean really knows what he is doing. the things have to be perfect or they wont last long.. i hate the dam things..

just find a doner truck and put in a th400 or 350. its not a hard thing to do. the shifter is the only major pain, but i used the locar shifter and now wouldnt use anything esle. other than that its just a matter of changing the trany x member, shorten the drive line. running a trany cooler.

breeh · 06-11-2002, 11:14 AM

I know that this 700R4 has been debated to death but I would strongly recommend one. I have one in my big block Camaro and I love it. I am also going to put one in my truck now. The combo of a low first gear and a 70% OD gives you the best of both world.

busterwivell · 06-11-2002, 12:32 PM

I'm doing the same thing now. Looking for a bulder 700R4, which I will have my tranny guy build and install. He did such a good job on the Studebaker and it made a BIG difference! He told me to get a column, a core and drop it all off and he'll take care of the rest.

Carl 70 lwb · 06-11-2002, 01:19 PM

anyone know what kind of vehicle i can find a steering column with shifter that will fit my truck. Also what is it going to take to do this besides shortening the drive shaft and moving the cross member
someone please help thanks Carl

bigvinnie · 06-11-2002, 03:00 PM

you'll need the trans, converter and an auto flexplate.... then you'll need a speedo cable from a truck with an auto, the 3 speed one is too short. You'll need an auto xmember and you'll have to drill new holes for it...

just bolt the trans up to the motor (support it with a jack), then bolt the xmember to the rear trans mount and make some marks for drilling the holes... steering column and linkage can come out of any 67-72 auto truck.... you'll need a tv cable bracket that bolts onto the intake, new from summit or from a junkyard.

You'll definitely want to install a trans cooler.... I run my lines thru the radiator tank and then to the cooler, but you could just go with a cooler if you don't want to change radiators.

driveshaft length may have to be altered, mine didn't... then it's just a matter of hooking up the wiring for the lockup solenoid, you can get a kit from summit or find one in a junkyard, there are several ways to wire it depending on how you want the trans to go into lockup.... make sure the tv cable is set properly and you'll be in good shape

Probably forgot something, but that will get you started....good luck...

this really does need to go to a FAQ page cuz it's definitely asked frequently!

tom hand · 06-11-2002, 03:16 PM

700r4's are good tran's they just have a bad rap. 90% of them that fail right off the bat are because the TV cable is not adjusted correctly. If you install one yourself learn the correct way to adjust the cable or have a professional do it.

**Smitty** · 06-11-2002, 08:45 PM

And remember it should be an '87 or newer 700. It has all the bugs worked out that the early ones were plaqued. Have had one in my '71 for close to 40,000 and no problelms. TV cable adjustment and a BIG aux cooler are a necessity. By the way mine was a conversion from 3 on the tree also. Any specific questions feel free to e-mail and will try to pick my memory. Also use self locking nuts when you install the crossmember. Because in time bolts with locknuts will work loose.

06-11-2002, 09:29 AM	#1
Carl 70 lwb Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Morven, NC Posts: 48	manual to auto conversion hey guys I have a 3 speed manual trans with 3.73 rear end i would like to put in a 4 or 5 speed all i can find is a 700r4 for 350.00 i was wondering how much trouble is it to do this swap. also what car or truck can i get a steering column from for the shifter? thanks Carl __________________ 70 lwb w/68 front end, tube grill, shaved drip rails, power steering, 350 4 bolt main, street dominator high rise intake, holley 650, Crane Cam, accel HEI, 3 on the floor & 3.73 posi

06-11-2002, 09:55 AM	#3
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,526	goodnees, dont do the 700r4. unless you have a trany guy that really, and i mean really knows what he is doing. the things have to be perfect or they wont last long.. i hate the dam things.. just find a doner truck and put in a th400 or 350. its not a hard thing to do. the shifter is the only major pain, but i used the locar shifter and now wouldnt use anything esle. other than that its just a matter of changing the trany x member, shorten the drive line. running a trany cooler. __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

06-11-2002, 11:14 AM	#4
breeh Recovering 67-72 Addict Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Bend, WA Posts: 1,788	I know that this 700R4 has been debated to death but I would strongly recommend one. I have one in my big block Camaro and I love it. I am also going to put one in my truck now. The combo of a low first gear and a 70% OD gives you the best of both world. __________________ 68 Short Fleet 4x4; 427; BTO Level 3 700R4; NP205; Dana 60 front and rear; 4" lift with 35's; Disc brakes; AGR variable ratio steering; factory bucket seats; factory tach and tilt. "Friends call me cruzer cuz I like fast cars and fast women" Last edited by breeh; 06-11-2002 at 01:16 PM.

06-11-2002, 12:32 PM	#5
busterwivell Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sahuarita, AZ USA Posts: 2,033	I'm doing the same thing now. Looking for a bulder 700R4, which I will have my tranny guy build and install. He did such a good job on the Studebaker and it made a BIG difference! He told me to get a column, a core and drop it all off and he'll take care of the rest. __________________ Bill - Tucson, AZ 47 Chevrolet 2 dr sedan 56 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan 66 Chevrolet Malibu 2 dr 4 speed 71 Chevrolet C30 Longhorn 86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (Sold) 01 Chevrolet Tahoe IM - BUSTERWIVE@aol.com

06-11-2002, 01:19 PM	#6
Carl 70 lwb Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Morven, NC Posts: 48	anyone know what kind of vehicle i can find a steering column with shifter that will fit my truck. Also what is it going to take to do this besides shortening the drive shaft and moving the cross member someone please help thanks Carl __________________ 70 lwb w/68 front end, tube grill, shaved drip rails, power steering, 350 4 bolt main, street dominator high rise intake, holley 650, Crane Cam, accel HEI, 3 on the floor & 3.73 posi

06-11-2002, 09:50 AM	#2
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	I'd like to do the same to my 72 GMC. any help gang?

06-11-2002, 03:00 PM	#7
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	you'll need the trans, converter and an auto flexplate.... then you'll need a speedo cable from a truck with an auto, the 3 speed one is too short. You'll need an auto xmember and you'll have to drill new holes for it... just bolt the trans up to the motor (support it with a jack), then bolt the xmember to the rear trans mount and make some marks for drilling the holes... steering column and linkage can come out of any 67-72 auto truck.... you'll need a tv cable bracket that bolts onto the intake, new from summit or from a junkyard. You'll definitely want to install a trans cooler.... I run my lines thru the radiator tank and then to the cooler, but you could just go with a cooler if you don't want to change radiators. driveshaft length may have to be altered, mine didn't... then it's just a matter of hooking up the wiring for the lockup solenoid, you can get a kit from summit or find one in a junkyard, there are several ways to wire it depending on how you want the trans to go into lockup.... make sure the tv cable is set properly and you'll be in good shape Probably forgot something, but that will get you started....good luck... this really does need to go to a FAQ page cuz it's definitely asked frequently! __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

06-11-2002, 03:16 PM	#8
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	700r4's are good tran's they just have a bad rap. 90% of them that fail right off the bat are because the TV cable is not adjusted correctly. If you install one yourself learn the correct way to adjust the cable or have a professional do it. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

06-11-2002, 08:45 PM	#9
Smitty Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Spring Valley, Ca. Posts: 1,137	And remember it should be an '87 or newer 700. It has all the bugs worked out that the early ones were plaqued. Have had one in my '71 for close to 40,000 and no problelms. TV cable adjustment and a BIG aux cooler are a necessity. By the way mine was a conversion from 3 on the tree also. Any specific questions feel free to e-mail and will try to pick my memory. Also use self locking nuts when you install the crossmember. Because in time bolts with locknuts will work loose. __________________ Smitty '71 Short Fleetside Spring Valley, Ca. Last edited by Smitty; 06-11-2002 at 09:01 PM.



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