700r4 in TF Truck

[youngerestorer]

Hey guys,
Just thinking out loud, but have any of you ever put a 700r4 in TF series. What modifications did you have to make, was it relatively easy? I just thought at some point it would be nice to ditch the Muncie 4 speed, with a 700r4. Thanks for any input.

[Daze57]

I am runnin one in my 57
They are a couple inches longer than a 350 th.
Moving bk a 350 trans crossmember towards the back a couple of inches is about
All ya need and maybe some minor adjustments.
V good trannys.
Get a 89 or newer to use.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Daze57

...Get a 89 or newer to use.

Just curious, why?

Do you have it set up to kick into overdrive automatically or do you use a manual switch?

[yossarian19]

I put a 4L60E in mine.
I had to chop out the old trans I-6 & SM420 cross member & put a new one in a bit further to the rear. I was *just* able to get the trans in place while it was bolted to the engine, but I couldn't set the output shaft angle correctly & it would never have come out without removing the engine, too.
I used CPP cross members and wish I hadn't. Utter garbage.

[Daze57]

dan

before i got my 700r4 i did some reserch - it seems that when the 700r4 first came out they had a bunch of problems internally. sprags failed clutchs wore out fast and other things . i have a 30+ year trans buddy who had told me all this and had said from 89 forward they (GM) had gotton all the probs fixed hence the reasoning .
My trans came out of a 91 caprice - when it was taken apart - trans guy said it had a hard life but nothing was broke or burned up . i used the stock crossmember -just moved it back about 3 inches .
i had it completly gone thru and it is set up to kick in overdrive automatically .
also i had corvette internals installed - it does haul !!!!!
hope some of this helps

[DransportGarage]

X2 on getting an '89 or newer. Major improvements that I am aware of are:
1) the 30 vs. 27 input shaft spline (changed 1984)
2) better valve body, addition of aux valve body and deeper pan (changed late '86)
3) better oil pump housing and 10 vs. 7 vane front pump rotor.
4) better input sprag

After installation, read up on the adjustment of the TV cable before you drive even one mile. It would not be a bad idea to hook up a pressure gauge for your maiden voyage to make sure your TV cable adjust is correct. Pressure specs are readily available on the internet.

I've torn apart two "good" Craigslist used 700-R4s recently. One had delaminated pieces of 3-4 clutch plates floating around and the other had the external gear sheared off on the sunshell. I don't want to discourage you, but using a used trans is truly a pig-in-a-poke. If you're interested in doing your own rebuild, see my rebuild link below.

[NEWFISHER]

Look for the MD8 case. It's clearly embossed on the bell housing area on the left side. TCI 4th gear lock up kit with vacuum switch is plug and play. You can get a B&M system for a couple hundred that allows you to " dial in" the 4th gear lock up or you can spend $3 on some wire and connectors and wire it up yourself so when it hydraulically shifts into 4th it will automatically lock up. the TCI kit also allows for a stand alone switch as a bypass and you can lock up in 3rd for towing. Mine works great

[Dan in Pasadena]

All very interesting. I've got a 350TH behind my 283. It SEEMS to work fine with the exception that it hunts between 2nd & 3rd sometimes but I think the problem is related to my accelerator pedal hanging up. I haven't figured that out yet. It doesn't want to entirely return to idle and I think; after all my disassembly, clean, lubing of the linkage it is the shaft on the carb - UGH!

If it turns out to be the tranny, I'll be in a rebuild vs replace decision. Anyone know current prices? I will NOT rebuild myself.
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[_Ogre]

if you have the stock mounts with front and bell housing mounts
first you need to add side motor mounts to your truck frame and add a x-member to support the rear of the trans
easiest way is to leave your motor where it is with the exhaust hooked up
bolt some motor mounts on the side and weld in brackets to the frame

these are some parkwood fabbed up



if your motor is a stock 283 there are no side motor mount bosses on the motor
your screwed

like others have said, you need to add a lockup kit and tv cable mount to the throttle linkage

[Daze57]

Dan
If I were you and its trans time + I would seriously look into a 700R4 if you find a good core have it gone thru you will not be sorry.
But make sure you get good upgrades - Corvette servos are a bit more $$ but they will last and the new sun shell and clutches will last a long time..

[Dan in Pasadena]

How does that compare to buying an "off-the-shelf" rebuilt 700R4 - assuming its a "name" reputable rebuilder?

[_Ogre]

i bought mine from http://www.phoenixtrans.com/
been pleased as punch with it