Occasionally, my transmission doesn't want to go into first. It'll be in gear (doesn't matter what the selector says - 1, 2 or 3, it still does this), but it'll act like it's in neutral and the engine will just rev freely. Then, it will suddenly drop into gear.. It seems to like doing this after it's been reved up fairly high, which I know isn't helping the life of the tranny any. So, I'm looking around for replacement options. Here's what I've narrowed things down to:

Get another auto tranny out of another corvette. Simple, painless.

Use the spare 700r4 I have lying around. (Okay, so actually it's in my camaro, but the camaro doesn't have a fuel pump right now so it's not like the tranny's being used.) This would require some mods, but the tranny, which I'm thinking is the most expensive part of all of this, is free.

Or, I could get a manual tranny out of a c3 and convert my auto to a manual, something I was planning on doing at some point anyways. While I understand that prices of autoparts change from location to location, what's an average asking price for tranny, clutch, pedals, linkage, etc... all that I would need to do the job? Also, how hard is the job? I"m fairly mechanically inclined, and have swapped auto trannies for auto trannies before, but never an auto to manual, and never on a c3.

 

You might want to take it to a transmission shop that can see if the problem is repairable with out taking the tranny out. I had a simular problem and it was repairable for under 100.00.

Good luck

 

I don't recommend a stick shift changeover....too much complicated to consider, and there is a missing bracket on your frame there for the ball crank to pivot on....probably......changing out that pedal assy up top there will make a saint swear....forgetaboutit...unless you got months for the project to extend over......I would not monkey with it....
a 700 conversion is much more desirabel, assuming you do much freeway driving, otherwise forgetaboutit.....the lack of durability on the 700 ain't worth the swap, unless you really really need the overdrive....

GENE

 

The 700r4 is not a plug-n-play swap with the TH350/TH350C. You need a special crossmember, along with other assorted bits 'n pieces. Oh, and the driveshaft would have to be cut.

So unless you're serious about it, just get the tranny you've got in there repaired.

 

Or get a 200-4R :D
I have to get off my bum and call BowTies....

 

The simple questions:

Enough Fluid?
Not Overfilled?
Fluid Looks Good (not burnt, foaming, etc.)?
Modulator rubber tubes (at the trans & the manifold) intact & not cracked?