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replacing the tranny
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
replacing the tranny
okay so after selling some stuff and getting some money together ive decided to fix the transmission in my vette instead of selling it. I know my way around cars and can normally parts change just about anything on one....however I very rarely work on my vette ( i have a good friend who use to own his own corvette shop). I plan on removing the transmission myself and having a local performance shop rebuild it. I was wondering how hard is it to take out and put back in and are there any tips or tricks i should know about. I am going to be doing this in my driveway on the week between christmas and newyears. Any advice would be cool.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
With some very good jackstands. Try to find a tranny jack. Will make the job a lot easier. The 700R4 is a handfull without the correct equipment.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Once you get the exhaust and C beam off, it's really not that much different than the average, older GM rear drive. The top bolts aren't too hard to get to once you can lower the rear of the tranny a little bit. A very long extension and 9/16" swivel socket will be helpful.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
The first time you do it, you tend to forget stupid things like the converter bolts... just work slowly, and you should have no problem getting it out. Took me about 5 hours the first time I did it... now I can get one out in about an hour and a half, and get it in in about 2 and a half hours.
DG
DG
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 873
Likes: 2
From: Whittier ca
Remember to remove the distributor cover and the the distributor cap and rotor. The probability of them hitting the firewall and cracking when the rear of the trans drops down is about 99%.
Good luck
Subman
Good luck
Subman
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
Thanks for the tip!!! also...do i need to replace my torque converter? and how would i know if its bad or not...if i do replace it i want to go with a better one something that would be a little more durable and give a little more fun. any suggestions? i plan on upgrading the clutches along with having the valve body reworked and the plates drilled. thanks again to everyone for the tips and advice
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
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Thanks for the tip!!! also...do i need to replace my torque converter? and how would i know if its bad or not...if i do replace it i want to go with a better one something that would be a little more durable and give a little more fun. any suggestions? i plan on upgrading the clutches along with having the valve body reworked and the plates drilled. thanks again to everyone for the tips and advice
Thanks for the tip!!! also...do i need to replace my torque converter? and how would i know if its bad or not...if i do replace it i want to go with a better one something that would be a little more durable and give a little more fun. any suggestions? i plan on upgrading the clutches along with having the valve body reworked and the plates drilled. thanks again to everyone for the tips and advice
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: O Fallon IL
I've had to take mine out 3 times in the last year!!! DO NOT FORGET TO DISCONNECT THE T/V CABLE!!! My first time I forgot and let it hang by it- now it likes to burn itself to death- Also, if you are having a shift kit put in ***BE SURE TO BUY A BIGGER VALVE BOOSTER- you can find them all over the internet- ebay looks like the best deal- search for it with ".500 valve booster"- this will back up your harder shifts with sufficiant fluid, if not- say goodbye to your 3-4 shift and expect to change your converter often!
I ended up finding this website:
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/highperf700r4.htm
However (shhhh) I found the same parts they were selling for cheaper on eBay
--Everyone else is correct too- tranny jack and lift the car as high as possible- lower the rear end of the tranny first and remove the bell-bolts- then while the tranny is sitting on the tranny jack you can slip it out of the yoke- you may need to unbolt the u-joint from the rear- also, sometimes taking the converter off while its still on the jack may help- *however very messy-it only helped me because my car wasn't high enough and I was laying on my back on a gravel driveway
Good luck
I ended up finding this website:
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/highperf700r4.htm
However (shhhh) I found the same parts they were selling for cheaper on eBay
--Everyone else is correct too- tranny jack and lift the car as high as possible- lower the rear end of the tranny first and remove the bell-bolts- then while the tranny is sitting on the tranny jack you can slip it out of the yoke- you may need to unbolt the u-joint from the rear- also, sometimes taking the converter off while its still on the jack may help- *however very messy-it only helped me because my car wasn't high enough and I was laying on my back on a gravel driveway
Good luck
Last edited by dukecebrelli; Dec 28, 2007 at 06:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
well so far im about 3hrs into it and have to stop and take a break to run to sears for some replacement tools.... 
oops.... but so far everything is going smooth...the entire exhaust is off and as with any exhaust i broke some bolts.... :o the cross member that fits around the driveshaft adn runs the entire length of the driveshaft from the transmission to the rearend...does it have to come completely off? alright well off to the tool store....check back in when i get back.
oops.... but so far everything is going smooth...the entire exhaust is off and as with any exhaust i broke some bolts.... :o the cross member that fits around the driveshaft adn runs the entire length of the driveshaft from the transmission to the rearend...does it have to come completely off? alright well off to the tool store....check back in when i get back.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 477
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville TN
10:00 pm est......tranny is out!!!!! only five hours...not bad for a first timer.... now to take it to the shop and wait....
i have pictures and will post at the end. thanks again for everyones help
i have pictures and will post at the end. thanks again for everyones help