Brand new 2004R Catastrophe
04-09-2019, 11:18 AM
#21
Blueprint 383 and BT 200-4R - pretting much where I plan to go with my '80. Definitely interested in how this ends up. Concerning what blows a tranny, my recollection from the 70's on my cousins '74 vette with TH400 and brother's '74 Camaro with the TH 350 was they tended to behave themselves, even to the point that if running at 60 or 70 mph and coming off throttle and simultaneously dumping them into first they would only drop to second until they wound down to maybe 30 mph. Unfortunately for my cousin, a shift kit he installed changed this. First time he dumped it from third to first at something over 70 it was happy to do it, thus ending that transmission's useful life.
04-09-2019, 11:31 AM
#22
Forensics.
Drop pan. See what’s in it and if pickup is still in place.
Drop pan. See what’s in it and if pickup is still in place.
04-15-2019, 12:43 AM
#24
Melting Slicks
I have just installed a brand new Bowtie Overdrives stage 3 2004R in my 1977 Corvette with a blueprint 383 and a brand new 3.55 differential. I just got everything installed and the TV cable was perfectly calibrated, verified visually by watching the travel in the pan and by pressure gauge. I took it for a spirited drive today and tha car performed phenomenally. I did a few full throttle runs starting in 1st gear with out a hitch, it when ever I dropped from 4th gear to 2nd on a full throttle run, I heard a loud bang and then the engine revved high. I then had no gears, forward or reverse. What could cause this? It's a stage 3 build dyno tested to 600hp. My engine dynoed at 436hp at the crank. What could have happened?
04-15-2019, 12:59 AM
#25
Melting Slicks
The 4-2 wot downshift is the killer of many OD transmissions. It likely broke the band. Out it comes and back to Bow Tie. The trans “should” be able to handle WOT downshifts, but it’s NEVER a good idea to do a full throttle 4-2 shift. It’s best to take it out of OD manually, then either put it in 2nd and nail it or let it down shift from 3-2 at wot.
Either way Bow Tie should stand behind this.
Either way Bow Tie should stand behind this.
Not Corvette, but fully loaded Chevy cargo vans(HVAC tech), I floored them often, 4L60e, 4L80e, 6l80e. 350 Vortec engines, 4.8, 6.0
Back in n 1999-2000 drove a 1987 Chevy truck with 700-R4, it did only have a throttle body 305, but I floored it all the time.
Never once had any issues.
I have never heard of having to manually shift down when you tromp it to protect the transmission?
Looked at Bowtie Overdrives once years ago, and read some smart *** thing like "warranties are earned, not given" ?
It rubbed me the wrong way, and gave me the gut feeling they have a lot of broken transmissions and want to find ways to get out of fixing them.
Last edited by 1999corvettels1; 04-15-2019 at 01:01 AM.
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70LQ4 (04-17-2019)
04-15-2019, 09:23 AM
#26
I had an 87 GN in 1991. Hearing the phrase 2004R is not pleasant. I had MH Racemasters on the car and the trans didn't like it (12.99s). I am sure things have changed a lot since then in regards to stronger parts etc. On a different note I took out the 200 w stock stall lock up converter and put in a th350 with a 10". Never broke the trans again but the car dropped to 13.10-13.20. If you were going by seat of your pants you would have thought it was a 12.50 with the aggressive holeshot of the 10"
04-16-2019, 02:08 AM
#27
Advanced
Thread Starter
I told BTO of the incident and they are going to cover the shipping and rebuild. I told them when I ordered it that I wanted the baddest transmission they offered. I then hear that they offer billet internals which were not mentioned in the stage 3 build. I will see if these can be installed when rebuilt at little or no cost as I am out time, labor and money. We'll see what the teardown reveals. It ships back tomorrow. I did notice that the spline in the back was not centered in the rear seal and I could wiggle it around quite a bit.
Last edited by Crm318; 04-16-2019 at 12:17 PM.
04-16-2019, 11:46 AM
#28
Safety Car
Why not spend a little more and put a 4L80e in the car ? Yes you need a controller , a TPS and banjo line fittings . But you end up with a transmission that will laugh at 600 hp. My 4L80e sure does. And I have done countless 4-2 wot runs when roll racing. and It holds second to 97 mph .
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70LQ4 (04-17-2019)
04-16-2019, 01:14 PM
#29
Drifting
Why not spend a little more and put a 4L80e in the car ? Yes you need a controller , a TPS and banjo line fittings . But you end up with a transmission that will laugh at 600 hp. My 4L80e sure does. And I have done countless 4-2 wot runs when roll racing. and It holds second to 97 mph .
04-16-2019, 09:55 PM
#30
Racer
04-17-2019, 01:06 PM
#31
Burning Brakes
Why not spend a little more and put a 4L80e in the car ? Yes you need a controller , a TPS and banjo line fittings . But you end up with a transmission that will laugh at 600 hp. My 4L80e sure does. And I have done countless 4-2 wot runs when roll racing. and It holds second to 97 mph .
04-17-2019, 11:20 PM
#32
Safety Car
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Motorvation (05-10-2019)
05-09-2019, 01:13 PM
#36
Team Owner
Just curious....
Exactly why would someone need to make a full-throttle downshift from 4-2 with an OD auto transmission? Accidentally, I assume?
For discussion purposes, I would highly recommend that anyone doing full-throttle activity with an OD auto transmission first disconnect power to the OD clutch. Why would someone need OD during a WOT run? IMO, every OD auto system should have a disconnect switch placed in the system between the power coming from the brake light circuit and the transmission. That way, the driver can selectively disconnect the OD clutch to prevent damage during any "performance" activities.
Exactly why would someone need to make a full-throttle downshift from 4-2 with an OD auto transmission? Accidentally, I assume?
For discussion purposes, I would highly recommend that anyone doing full-throttle activity with an OD auto transmission first disconnect power to the OD clutch. Why would someone need OD during a WOT run? IMO, every OD auto system should have a disconnect switch placed in the system between the power coming from the brake light circuit and the transmission. That way, the driver can selectively disconnect the OD clutch to prevent damage during any "performance" activities.
05-10-2019, 07:51 AM
#37
Burning Brakes
The 4-2 wot downshift is the killer of many OD transmissions. It likely broke the band. Out it comes and back to Bow Tie. The trans “should” be able to handle WOT downshifts, but it’s NEVER a good idea to do a full throttle 4-2 shift. It’s best to take it out of OD manually, then either put it in 2nd and nail it or let it down shift from 3-2 at wot.
Either way Bow Tie should stand behind this.
Either way Bow Tie should stand behind this.
OP, good luck getting your trans back and the car running. I hope that it works out great!
Last edited by PainfullySlow; 05-10-2019 at 07:51 AM.
05-26-2019, 09:28 PM
#38
Advanced
Thread Starter
I finally got the time to put the transmission back in the car and get some pressure numbers. For whatever reason, they were 10 psi lower across the board, however, I BTO said it was still within spec. In the few test drives I've been on, everything seems to check out. I did have an overfill issue. I put 6.5 quarts in (after checking TV travel) and I think its puking out of the vent tube. I have to give a shout out to Nikki at BTO. Her service and support was exemplary. I would say they did right by me. More test and tune to come.