700r4 died need your help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
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700r4 died need your help
My 700r4 died today :mad I was getting on the freeway when it failed. It would not shift from 2-3. I have 105000 miles on the transmission, so I'm not shocked it needs rebuilting, but I guess things happen in threes because I also been trying to track down an oil leak. I think the harmonic balancer slipped and rubbed a hole in the cam chain cover :mad oh and the third thing I need to replace front tires. Sorry so long. I need to know if I can use an F-Body 700r4. I found two '86 Camaros at salvage yard. I know 87 up is better choice, but I'd like to use my torqueconverter until I can upgrade my transmission. Also anyone in Sacramento area that can recommend a good transmission shop. Corvette Care recommended ATO transmission, but the guy quoted me $2,000.00 for rebuild and new converter. Found a used (68,000 mile) '89 Vette 700r4 for $650.00. Oh the '86 Camaro 700r4 costs $69.00 plus core charge. My Vette is my daily driver and need to get it on the road, can't wait 1-2 week for a shop to rebuild well my Vette sets for that time, that is why I want to swap in a Camaro trans until I can have mine rebuilt. Thanks for any help, again sorry so long.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,765
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From: na
Re: 700r4 died need your help (Rick86)
If you order it tommorrow a dealer will get it Friday and installed the next day.. If they work Saturday then you will have a new tranny for Saturday night. I had a "SRTA" put in my 92. That's a rebuilt from GM! Retail was about $1,400 but the discount price is about $250 less than that. A Chevy dealer can get on freight prepaid and the same on the core. So figure $1,350 from a dealer for the tranny and $250 labor to install it with some tax. Thats about $1,750 installed with a 3 year - 50,000 mile warrantee.
With a junk yard tranny it may fail in 50 miles and you eat the labor for sure.
[Modified by Don Martin, 11:05 PM 1/16/2002]
With a junk yard tranny it may fail in 50 miles and you eat the labor for sure.
[Modified by Don Martin, 11:05 PM 1/16/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: 700r4 died need your help (Rick86)
Don't give up your Vette trans for a Camaro trans. You won't get the upshift sleeve, the heavy servo, or a lot of things. If you give up an 87 for an 86 trans, prepare for a quick failure.
In otherwords, don't do it. Have yours rebuilt ( make sure it's yours you get back also, trans places know the value of the vette trans and will swindle you out of it if they can. )
In otherwords, don't do it. Have yours rebuilt ( make sure it's yours you get back also, trans places know the value of the vette trans and will swindle you out of it if they can. )
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
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Re: 700r4 died need your help (BBA)
Is my '86 trans a 27 or 30 spline transmission? I will R&R my transmission myself and may attempt the rebuild with some help from a friend who rebuilds 700r4s as a side job. Just need to know if 27 or 30 spline so I can order rebuild kit and new torque converter. Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
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From: Athens AL
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Re: 700r4 died need your help (Rick86)
86's are a 27 spline i believe, 87's were improved. I wouldnt get a rebuild, id buy a whole new one with a warranty.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Re: 700r4 died need your help (Rick86)
A couple of things that you need to do(physically) to make a Camaro 700R4 fit in a Vette are:
1. Cut the output shaft, the Vette is shorter than a Camaro.
2. Get a new tail piece so the Vette's torque arm can be installed.
The Camaro 700R4 will NOT bolt right in.
Also, you will lose all the Vette internals, no 3-4 full throttle upshift.
I would get the Vette Tranny rebuilt.
Vic
1. Cut the output shaft, the Vette is shorter than a Camaro.
2. Get a new tail piece so the Vette's torque arm can be installed.
The Camaro 700R4 will NOT bolt right in.
Also, you will lose all the Vette internals, no 3-4 full throttle upshift.
I would get the Vette Tranny rebuilt.
Vic
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 876
Likes: 9
From: Mooresville NC
Re: 700r4 died need your help (Rick86)
Stick with the newer core. Your 86 Converter will still fit and work better that a new converter. You have to go back futher than 86 before the inputshaft was different and the 86 converter has more stall than the 87 up. Also the Camaro core has a different tail housing and output shaft along with not having the ability to hold 4th or the better holding 2-4 servo.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Re: 700r4 died need your help (LT401Vette)
Thanks for all the replys. Here is an update. Local Chevy dealer wants $1,300.00 plus $250.00 core. Found one place that will rebuild mine for $1,100.00 including TC and another place that will charge $800.00 plus TC. Master rebuild kit plus TC $237.00. I think I'm going to gamble and do the rebuild myself, after all I rebuilt my engine and I'm a certified aviation mechanic. Wish me luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: Bowie MD
Re: 700r4 died need your help (Rick86)
Sorry to hear your tranny plight. Been there 4 times in 110,000 miles. Go to http://www.LevelTen.com website and look at thier rebuild kits for an idea of parts to put in and pictures. They also have how to do it tapes and manuals. I had them put one in mine. Call Pat and ask questions too. He is very user friendly. Tell him Chris in Maryland with the Blue 90 sent ya. Good luck on the rebuild. I have my old stock torque cojnvertor in garage with only 20K miles on it. Guess I need to count the splines to be sure.
