700 r4 rebuild or replace?
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola FL
700 r4 rebuild or replace?
Mr. Tranny, $1200. Speedy trannys $700. AAmco $1000. Dealer-$1200 for an off the shelf- they do not rebuild 700r4s anymore. I want to stay original. So my questions are: 1) Does rebuilding make more sense than putting off the shelf new or aftermarket on? Would it make a difference when (if) I take it to show? 2) Are these fair prices? 3) How can I be sure the parts going in are high grade parts vs inferior parts? No one in the 6 places I visited today knew or could verbalize the quality level or the design year of the parts but they all did offer warranties of up to a year. I know I want all the parts to be for an 88 to 93 as they were better parts. Just gathering information. This is in the Pensacola, FL area. Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola FL
700r4
I spent the night looking at 700r4 rebuild kits and do it yourself guides on web pages. Everyone says to put parts in the 82 from an 88 or better tranmsission. My question is do I order the 88-93 kit or the 1976-82 kits? Will the 76-82 kits have the updated and better engineered parts in it? I have had problems with my vette since I took it to the shop you mentioned and was charged 700 for a transmission pan, gasket, and two floor mats. My pockets are not that deep.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
The 700 first appeared in the vettes in '82, and from '82-87 was the early design, less desirable unit, the way I hear there is another valve body added to the unit in late '87, and that is supposed to increase reliabliity.....if you want MY opinion, I would junk the unit, and buy a core 200 4r for about 60 bux, and then get all the parts for it, and use that one, it's a LOT easier a unit to work on, lighter weight, and more durable too....now some guys will give me 
over that statement about reliability, but I have had a 700 in my '72 for some 7 years and 2 rebuilds and it never acted right, shifting was always too premature out of 1st and it never liked WOT in 4th, insisted in downshifting.....PIA to drive....
the 200 4r I did here n my garage bahaves lots better, and I used a TRANS GO shift kit, accept NO OTHER....in the rebuild, new 10 vane pump, and converter and soft parts kit with shift kit....total came to some 500 bux......that was 3+ years ago....
the road manners are FAR superior....
over that statement about reliability, but I have had a 700 in my '72 for some 7 years and 2 rebuilds and it never acted right, shifting was always too premature out of 1st and it never liked WOT in 4th, insisted in downshifting.....PIA to drive....the 200 4r I did here n my garage bahaves lots better, and I used a TRANS GO shift kit, accept NO OTHER....in the rebuild, new 10 vane pump, and converter and soft parts kit with shift kit....total came to some 500 bux......that was 3+ years ago....
the road manners are FAR superior....
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Tampa by way of MIAMI! FL
I've had 700's in several vehicles all 88 and later though. IMHO when I need a new transmission I am going to go with either FLT or Performabuilt, from what I've read on ls1tech.com (I believe a sister site to here) I would go with Performabuilt. Go there and do some research and make a few phone calls and see what you figure out. But most of the local rebuilders are a bunch of mutts. I had one vehicle that the tranny got rebuilt 4 times and ended up with 2 builders before it was right inside of 6 months. People need to understand the 700 to build it right.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
Likes: 19
Mr. Tranny, $1200. Speedy trannys $700. AAmco $1000. Dealer-$1200 for an off the shelf- they do not rebuild 700r4s anymore. I want to stay original. So my questions are: 1) Does rebuilding make more sense than putting off the shelf new or aftermarket on? Would it make a difference when (if) I take it to show? 2) Are these fair prices? 3) How can I be sure the parts going in are high grade parts vs inferior parts? No one in the 6 places I visited today knew or could verbalize the quality level or the design year of the parts but they all did offer warranties of up to a year. I know I want all the parts to be for an 88 to 93 as they were better parts. Just gathering information. This is in the Pensacola, FL area. Thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
Likes: 19
I spent the night looking at 700r4 rebuild kits and do it yourself guides on web pages. Everyone says to put parts in the 82 from an 88 or better transmsission. My question is do I order the 88-93 kit or the 1976-82 kits? Will the 76-82 kits have the updated and better engineered parts in it? I have had problems with my vette since I took it to the shop you mentioned and was charged 700 for a transmission pan, gasket, and two floor mats. My pockets are not that deep.
Buy the best reman you can afford with the best warrantee.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Kelowna, B.C. Canada
I did the same research as you. In the end I found only two reliable options.
1) Get an 88 or newer 700r4 core and have it rebuilt.
2) Get the off the shelf unit from the dealer. This one should have all the updates to the post 88 tranny.
Unfortunately your 82 is not going to last very long even after a rebuild. The parts are simply to out of date. I did try to have the 88 parts put in an 82 case, but the cases are slightly different and my not be worth the time or money.
1) Get an 88 or newer 700r4 core and have it rebuilt.
2) Get the off the shelf unit from the dealer. This one should have all the updates to the post 88 tranny.
Unfortunately your 82 is not going to last very long even after a rebuild. The parts are simply to out of date. I did try to have the 88 parts put in an 82 case, but the cases are slightly different and my not be worth the time or money.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Go to a reputable tranny shop.
I took mine to a local drag racer that owns a tranny shop. He built an 88 700r4 for me, with all the strong goodies in it for less than Gearstar or TCI. he said it would handle 500 HP, but the old Crossfire only puts out about 275 HP with the upgrades I am doing to it.
The car drives and shifts great. I went with a 2400 RPM stall converter and a little firmer shift from stock.
If you can't find a good honest shop, buy one from Gearstar with a warranty. Pick the street package, it is relatively cheap.
You can swap the tranny out in about 4 hours. I put my car on 6 ton jack stands and bought the cheal $50 tranny jack from Harbor Freight. It was a great investment.
I took mine to a local drag racer that owns a tranny shop. He built an 88 700r4 for me, with all the strong goodies in it for less than Gearstar or TCI. he said it would handle 500 HP, but the old Crossfire only puts out about 275 HP with the upgrades I am doing to it.
The car drives and shifts great. I went with a 2400 RPM stall converter and a little firmer shift from stock.
If you can't find a good honest shop, buy one from Gearstar with a warranty. Pick the street package, it is relatively cheap.
You can swap the tranny out in about 4 hours. I put my car on 6 ton jack stands and bought the cheal $50 tranny jack from Harbor Freight. It was a great investment.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
When I was shopping for 700Rs a few years ago I was about to purchase one from BowTie Overdrives. They seemed to have some well built trannys for a good price. At the last minute I decided to spend the extra money and get a TKO 600 so can't vouche for them but my plan is replace my '82 700R with one of Bow Ties trannys when it goes. I wouldn't waste time or money one rebuilding these early 700Rs when you can upgrade for not much more. If you want to retain originality you can always toss the crappy 700R behind the shed just in case it matters later. 200Rs are also nice but then you're going to also get a new drive shaft or have your current one modified and also the mounting location will be different so it's not a plug & play swap.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
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From: pasadena in the great state of TEXAS
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
to bad you guys arent in the houston area, i had a guy that ownes his own shop rebuild a 700 for me for my 70 truck. i bought a 91 trans from the junk yard and he rebuilt it with all of the good stuff. works great. got the same plans for the vette in the future. he did a great job! he is also a quadra jet expert, that was his job back the n the day at a local gmc dealer. made that old truck purr like a kitten. i have only had the 3c a month but soon i will have him tweek the jet in it.
Last edited by hdff; Dec 29, 2008 at 11:05 PM.
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Pete
Whats your opinion on TCI trannys?
Thanks
Corvette Mike
Thanks
Corvette Mike
