700r4 What Temperature to worry
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Wamego Kansas
700r4 What Temperature to worry
I have a Bow-Tie 700r4 in my 77 and on 100 degree day I have trouble keeping the temp down to 180 , especially in town. The motor will stay below 200 even with the AC on. New brass radiator with elect. fan and water pump fan. Also running an auxillary transmission cooler with a fan on it. On the road when the lock-up convertor is locked there is no problem but in town or when it is at a stand-still at a stoplight the temps creep to 200 or better. Bow-Tie recommends to keep temps at 160 . What temp should I get worried at ? Forum members with 700r4 transmissions , what temp are you seeing ? 
Thanks for any replies.
Thanks for any replies.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
ON a GOOD day about 180f, but then when i'ts very hot, and running trafic stop/go crap....well over 200f, and I don't see how to get better than that....
the 700, so I read, suffers from an inherant problem of the 3/4 clutch pack failures, there seems to be it running at super high temps because of inadequate cooling...maybe poor oil circulation, but it's in the design with no known bullet proof mods to make it live....look at the sites, there are more changes for that damn 3/4 clutch pack than any other part of the tranny.....seems like about 1/2 dozen tricks involving that sub assy, and apparently, from reports and my own experiences....there is no final cure....
the 700, so I read, suffers from an inherant problem of the 3/4 clutch pack failures, there seems to be it running at super high temps because of inadequate cooling...maybe poor oil circulation, but it's in the design with no known bullet proof mods to make it live....look at the sites, there are more changes for that damn 3/4 clutch pack than any other part of the tranny.....seems like about 1/2 dozen tricks involving that sub assy, and apparently, from reports and my own experiences....there is no final cure....
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Mine never goes over 160 with a plain jane external cooler. Usually it's around 140. I used 5/16 brake lines to run to the cooler. Next time I'm under the car I'm going to disconnect the temp guage wiring and take it out since it's not something I'm worried about.
A couple of thoughts. Make sure there are no restrictions in your cooling lines. Also, what stall are you running? The higher the stall the warmer the tranny will run. I run a 2400.
A couple of thoughts. Make sure there are no restrictions in your cooling lines. Also, what stall are you running? The higher the stall the warmer the tranny will run. I run a 2400.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
ive got the bowtie 200r4 w/external cooler(no fan) also and temps today were around 100 & humid & did the telegraph cruise today & top tranny temp got to 180, i normally run at 150. i don't know what the danger temp is for the auto 4speeds either. i know fluctuating temps is normal but to what degree? somebody will divulge the info
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Originally Posted by rosslato
ive got the bowtie 200r4 w/external cooler(no fan) also and temps today were around 100 & humid & did the telegraph cruise today & top tranny temp got to 180, i normally run at 150. i don't know what the danger temp is for the auto 4speeds either. i know fluctuating temps is normal but to what degree? somebody will divulge the info
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Wamego Kansas
From the post , it sound like the 700 runs hotter than the 200.
I do have a 2200 stall convertor but would think with a aux cooler and fan it should handle the heat.
Someone makes a high heat transmission fluid. Will put it in and see how long the tranny will last.
I do have a 2200 stall convertor but would think with a aux cooler and fan it should handle the heat.
Someone makes a high heat transmission fluid. Will put it in and see how long the tranny will last.
Last edited by Old Mo; Jul 29, 2006 at 11:07 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
I put the TH700R4 in my jeep with a 350 (my 71 is a manual, so go with what you know) and I put a tranny temp guage in when I made the swap. I am running the fluid through the radiator and a cooler in front of that. During the summer, and it has been over 100 most days this August, it will run a bit over 200 in traffic. Drops to about 180 when I get back on the highway. I did a lot of research before using it and found a site with temperatures and times. I just remember some key points from that chart. Obviously cooler is better, to a point. For example, it has to be over 100F for the torque converter to lock up. 180F is well within the normal temperature range, but if you get much over 220F or it stays there for long I would shut it down.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
My 200-4R runs about 160 most of the time running around town and 140 on the highway with the convertor lock-up. But if I get into stop and go traffic with A/C on it will climb to 210 along with the engine temp. Once I start moving it drops back down quickly. I also run through a trans heat sink mounted up front and the radiator.
