I am ready to rebuild the 700R4 in my '88. I know there are
tricked out 700R4's for street rods with .70 overdrives and
low low 1st gear ratios. I'd like to get my Vette tranny rebuilt
with these gears (better acceleration and better highway mileage).
Will this work with an almost stock car with a stock ECM?


[Modified by thunder1road, 5:35 AM 9/1/2001]

 

All 700rs have those gears. Don't think you could change them if you wanted to. The trick stuff is done to handle higher torque, firmer shifts etc.

You can get a Trans go shift kit put in when you rebuild if you need/want it.

 

I am thinking of getting a trannydoctor trans. He offers a good deal for the money compared to other 700r4 trans shops. check him at at http://www.thetrannydoctor.com

 

My A-4 failed at 78,000 miles. It cost me $2,000 by the time it was over. I think the cause was that the previous owner had it "beefed up" as he called it. It would shift at 5,800 rpm in all gears including the 1-2 shift! The result of this was that it would "skip" a little as it would just touch the rev limiter. Later this got worse until it failed.

The positive benefit at first was that this stock Corvette was very fast on acceleration. I was complaining that I needed bigger tires bla bla. Now that the $2,000 is gone and I can't afford new tires. I don't need them anyway as now it does not spin the tires like it did.

So go ahead and modify it. Speed costs money.

 

Get the OEM rebuilt unit from Jasper Engines and Transmissions (they have a calif warehouse) comes with 36k mile /3 yr guarantee.1-800-827-7455. Use the rest of the money on a performance torque converter and you'll feel that in the seat of your pants! Leave the 700R4 internals alone, the factory beefed them up in 88 and there's no further ground to be gained. If someone knows what Art Carr does that is different than just bring the earlier trans up to 88 specs , I'd love to know.

 

There are many things that can be done to the 1988 & later 700R4. Starting at the front pump (1) Teflon bushing, Trans-Go steel rings. .471 or .500 main boost valve, .296 intermediate/reverse boost valve. (2) In the reverse input drum, Turbulator "low drag steels". (3) In the input drum use the late Borg-Warner sprag, increase clutch count from 6 to 8 in the 3-4 clutches, use 8 Borg-Warner Hi-Energy (.080) clutches along with Kolene steels (.060) and two .128 pressure plates. Set clearance at .040-.060, install the Viton input/output shaft seal under bearing, and install the Trans-Go Hi-Rev HD springs in this drum. (It keeps the 3-4 clutches from getting into trouble to about 7,800 rpm) (4) Use the latest GM HD sunshell. (5) Install the late design Borg-Warner low/reverse roller sprag. (6) Install the BW Turbulator "low drag" steels in the low/reverse clutch pack. (7) Use the Trans-Go Performance Shift Kit. This kit can be modified to do more, it depends on how you drive as to what modifications need to be done. I carry everything that is needed to do this right.(parts, torque converters, transmissions, etc.) The 9.5" lockup torque converters from P.I. and A.C.T. are good ones to use. If you have any questions call me at 800 7763288 Mon-Sat 11-7 PST.
Glad To Help!!!

 

I had mine rebuilt by http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com for $1200.00 R&R plus towing and have been very happy for the last 30k with no problems. They are in Hesperia. I don't think that would be to far for you. Check out their website they have alot of good info. about 700R4's

PC

 

Since I'm on the East coast Level 10 is my performance tranny shop. I know they can beef up a stock 700R/4 as ProBuilt described.

These days my tranny is no longer as crisp as it was a year ago, possibly from abuse on the 1/4mi. I need a shift kit installed (have no facility myself) but not sure if I want to go the full route. The goal is about 350 HP or about 390 ft-lb at the crank.

 

I recommend ATO Racing Transmission, 2660 Mercantile Dr # E, Rancho Cordova, CA (outside Sacramento), 916-636-3283. They're also listed as Advanced Transmissions Operations.

I found them when I thought the tranny on my 89 had gone bad. Every high performance shop I called recommended them. ATO specializes in American autotrannies. The owner is an honest guy who has several patents and has been written up in magazines such as HOT ROD and others. The shop itself is very clean, like a lab. They could have sold me a lot of stuff I didn't need--that's what I came in for and I wouldn't have known the difference--but they were very honest about everything and told me all I needed was a minor adjustment. When the time comes to repair my tranny, ATO is where I'm taking it.

-WL

 

Thanks. That's an education. That's why I use the forum to try to separate the hype from the reality. I saved your post for my personal tech notebook. I will also call Jasper and discuss with them to see if they did any of these mods on my trans when it was built for a previous owner back in 99. :cheers: