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Hi,
82 CE with a 325HP Blue Print crate, stock rear, the trans is either a replacement or rebuild, don't have the history. I got the car a few months ago and it had this homebuilt/jury rigged Throttle/TV cable bracket..They took a cheap one (cant remember the name) cut and welded it back together. Tried adjusting it but had stacked shifts and some slipping, trans pan was also leaking. Took it in to a well know Corvette place here.
They put the bracket\cable kit from Bowtie Overdrive, replaced the pan and serviced, he said there was a good amount of metal on the magnet which is not good news. It shifts much better but still not right, It works well under medium power, and downshifts very firm, here are the issues:
1) It is out of 1st @12-15, if I stomp on it it gets to 25 but the upshift is less than firm, kind of mushy..
2) It's only done this once, maybe twice..(200miles). when shifting from 2nd to third under light throttle it sort of forgets to shift and revs..major slip.. let off the throttle and resume and its fine.. both times it was when I was turning and judging traffic-probably on and off the throttle quickly... Normal driving to light aggressive it's fine..
Yes it has a Holley on it and the cable kit if the proper one for the model carb...
I kind of figured it was on the way out, so driving it is not a good idea I guess, I have never had an issue with an automatic so not sure what to expect.
Should I rebuild or Replace?
I'm kind thinking on replacing, this car has a ton of new stuff but much of it was not set up right, including this trany and I'm not sure its even for a corvette. I can get one for Bowtie for 1500.00, do I need to replace the TC, I'm not up on how they work or are mated to the trans. I think a rebuild is 1500 P&L so I woulld just have to add the installation costs to the replacement..
What do you think, anything else I should do?
If your tv cable is way off you can trash a tranny in a very short period of time. magnetic metal dust is common ware, but if you have aluminum metal flake the tranny is eating it's self up
The only transmission I would buy rebuilt is from probuilt automatics (700r4l60e.com)
and the only converter I would use is a Yank
Together thats around $5000 ish. Thats the only option I would recommend, period.
Any other transmission place you have build a 4l60e is going to be a disaster in progress.
A cheaper option would be a low miles, used unit with a self-installed(diy) trans-go shift kit but they are impossible to find low miles in good shape these days.
Stacked shifts could also be caused by a stuck Governor. Both the TV system and Governor can cause early shifts .
Sometimes the Governor can be unstuck by a good full throttle tromp from a dead stop with manual 1st to 2nd gear change under full throttle..... or it can be removed easily and cleaned out with some brake cleaner
As for TV adjustments ( unless you have a crazy high ratio ) Trans -Go recommends a 3-1 downshift from a full throttle kick down between 25 to 30 mph , if it’s too loose of cable adjustment it will only make a 3-2 downshift instead of a 3-1 downshift
This is exactly correct and is about 90% of these issues these transmissions have is that everyone in this hobby who knows everything still doesn't believe or want to believe that TV adjustment is CRITICAL on these transmissions......think of it as the transmission pressure control cable.
I have been laughed out of the room by dummies when I tell them this is the reason their transmission quit. And it doesn't matter if you paid $500 or $5000 for one.....if the TV cable is improperly adjusted.....the trans will fail. If the adjustment is close....it will act funny.
The OP needs to get a correct bracket on it and have the geometry checked as stated......
The geometry of the TV cable is one of the biggest screw-ups people make with that transmission
There is great info and advice here, thanks all. I believe I now have the correct bracket and cable but it might be too late, the PO drove it with the wrong setup and I dont know how long. It seemed to run OK when I test drove it and I went a ways but I guess I missed the issues. The odd shift patterns are one thing, that major slip is I think another.. At this point, since it's not right I think I will get out some calipers and check the measurements, even if I do the transmission rebuild they still have to be right. I can get a gauge fairly cheap and after reading that link up above plus someone PMd me some good advice I'll take a shot at the preasures before I jump into a new trany.
I spoke with a guy I know who is well versed in cars and hot rods, he told me that all I need is a 350 or 400 with a manual linkage and forget about all the adjustments..Keep it Simple!
What do you think? I'm not really worried about gas mileage and overdrive...
I removed a perfectly good T400 from my '73 and had a 700R4 built & installed...
I'm much happier with the R4 over the T400
even though the shop that installed did an awful job on the change over.
I've got most of those issues resolved now, but
after reading this thread I did go out and verify the measurements and geometry of the TV cable just to be sure.
Again.. lots of great info in this thread.
Thanks to those who have shared their knowledge.
Jegs/Summit sell the linkage adapters for Quadrajet , Edelbrock and Holley , just specify carburetor its for …. I'm getting ready to remove a fine working T350 for a 700R4 myself
'82 was the first year for the 700-R4 and it began in the Corvette. There were some reliability and 'strength' problems in the first 2 years production of that transmission. There were improvements made and it was a pretty solid unit, thereafter. So, you need to check that data plate on that transmission to determine if it was produced in 1982 or if it is a later manufactured rebuild replacement. If a later build, keep it/rebuild it again, as you need. If it is a 1982/1983 production unit (trans production....not Corvette production), exchange it for another rebuilt unit (if the shop will even accept it).
egs/Summit sell the linkage adapters for Quadrajet , Edelbrock and Holley , just specify carburetor its for …. I'm getting ready to remove a fine working T350 for a 700R4 myself
Thanks, the brackets they sell did not work for an 82, the throttle cable is different because of the crossfire and retrofitting and earlier cable would be a jury rig. The bowtie overdrive setup was made for an 82 with a Holley carb, it's quite involved, uses escentric cams for adjustments. Almost seems to complicated to be good, if you know what I mean.. I had a shop do it while it was in for something else so I'm gonna take a good look at it later this week. I was an office equipment tech and well versed in the interaction of levers and cams...
700r4 issue, questions..
