I bought the entire Level 2 kit, with a 2200 stall. Bow Tie installed the wrong speedo gears, but they mailed me the correct ones. What a PIA it is to replace those things It wasn't realised when we installed the tranny, but the furthest aft pan bolt is over the crossmember which meant taking that loose and aft. When we replaced the pan we cut the bolt 1/8" short and now the pan can be removed without loosening the crossmember again.

The shifts are much softer than I expected. Normal around town driving, I simply cannot feel the shifts. Giving a little playful throtle then the shifts are felt, but again, softer than expected. The RPM's barely drop between shifts. Bow Tie said I should have firm shifts, but no explanation was given for how mine feels.

I might not have the TV cable adjusted perfectly because at normal townie under 40 mph driving it shifts into OD at about 25 MPH. I called Bow Tie on this and they said, it's a performance tranny and I should use drive 3 (1-1) around town and shift to OD for long stretches above 45.

Needing a trans cooler is yet TBD. The tranny temp gage they sent and insisted on installing for the warranty is temporarily mounted just forward of my ashtry. If I decide to keep one it will be an Autometer gage and in a pod.

Anyway, so far I'm not sure this was worth it. Over time I can give a better owners evaluation.

 

yeah, the tv cable sounds like it needs be to adjusted.

 

I never liked BTO and all their conditions that have to be met in order to honor a warranty. My 700r4 runs through the factory cooler and then an air cooler mounted on the radiator. Never had a problem with burn fluid or overheating. I leave my car in overdrive all the time. That is how the 700r4 was driven in all its OEM installations. I may not lock up the convertor until I hit highway speed but for around town I take advantage of 4th gear.

 

i got a 700r4 from BTO in spring 2000, i run it thru the radiator trans cooler and have had no problems. i ordered mine with firm shifts and it shifts as i requested, firm. i also didn't like all the required stuff to keep a warranty. as i recall i had to call them when i got ready to run it. well, i could never get thru to them when my time was right and they weren't too busy, i'm also 2 hours ahead of them here in western illinois. so after about 2, 3 days of trying the over the phone test, i just fired it up and drove it. luckily no problems. i figured that if i had a problem i would probably get it fixed locally instead of shipping it back and all the shipping charges, etc.

 

with that sloppy 2200 rpm converter, that tranny could be banging in gears so hard it's teeth rattle, and all the bump is taken out by that converter....which is why I like the truck converter, 800 rpm stall I have in my car NOW....I ditched the stockish 2000 vette converter for that exact reason....as I used to keep the thing in lockup while in 2-3-4 gears most of the time, with the converter locked, you will feel the shifts really nice...BUT the 3/4 clutch pack and the 2/4 band will also feel it......I changed them both out as a result....

GENE

 

I have a 2400 rpm convertor, no problem feeling the shifts. I get rubber on the 1-2 and 3-2 shifts. I can also throw the keys to just about anyone and let them drive it as its very docile under light throttle.

 

dman, yeh, under close to WOT, but in every day normal driving, don't feel a damn thing....but NOW wit the tight converter, I still get a pleasing bump, just like I used to get from my old 400's and 350's...

GENE