700r4 shift kit: yes or no
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 202
Likes: 9
From: Tucson
700r4 shift kit: yes or no
I have an 85, and like all 85's the front pump seal on the tranny leaks. A lot. I'm planning on doing some autocrossing so of course you can't have any leaks. Anyhow, since I'm gonna have the tranny out to fix the seal I was contemplating installing a shift kit too. The kit I'm looking at is a Transgo 700-2-3.
What's your take on a shift kit? Good idea or bad?
What's your take on a shift kit? Good idea or bad?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,485
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
I have an 85, and like all 85's the front pump seal on the tranny leaks. A lot. I'm planning on doing some autocrossing so of course you can't have any leaks. Anyhow, since I'm gonna have the tranny out to fix the seal I was contemplating installing a shift kit too. The kit I'm looking at is a Transgo 700-2-3.
What's your take on a shift kit? Good idea or bad?
What's your take on a shift kit? Good idea or bad?
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Get a full manual valve body. 
If you do daily drive the car you may not care for it as much. It is like having a manual transmission without the clutch. There is no hesitation with the shifts, it is instantaneous. But for autox it is the best way to go. No hesitation with the shifts. When you move the selector, it shifts. I had my tranny rebuilt with a stage 4 kit and manual valve body by RPM Transmission. As well I did add a trans cooler and temp gauge for track time. Tack it Up did the r&r and cooler and gauge. One of the best upgrades I have ever done to the car. 
If you do daily drive the car you may not care for it as much. It is like having a manual transmission without the clutch. There is no hesitation with the shifts, it is instantaneous. But for autox it is the best way to go. No hesitation with the shifts. When you move the selector, it shifts. I had my tranny rebuilt with a stage 4 kit and manual valve body by RPM Transmission. As well I did add a trans cooler and temp gauge for track time. Tack it Up did the r&r and cooler and gauge. One of the best upgrades I have ever done to the car.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
order a sonnax .500 boost valve and .283 rev valve they go in the pump that will work geat should have a new pump bushing installed while apart and upgrade to a 10-13 vane rotor add a front seal retainer from a 87 up also the rotor bushing seal and valves are a little over 100. dollars but will improve your tranny
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I had my '86 700r4 rebuilt because it was leaking at the front pump seal. The rebuilder put a rebuilt pump in my trans that leaked WORSE than the original one. Apparently he didn't do/know about the pump seal fix. Make sure whoever does your work fixes this the correct way. One option is to upgrade to a late '87 and later pump which has the fix built in.
I highly recommend a shift kit, mainly to increase the pump pressure. Your 3-4 clutches will live MUCH longer (the main weak part of a 700r4). A beefed-up sun shell is also a Good Thing.
I highly recommend a shift kit, mainly to increase the pump pressure. Your 3-4 clutches will live MUCH longer (the main weak part of a 700r4). A beefed-up sun shell is also a Good Thing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
A quality shift kit will give you full manual through the gears ( instant up and down shift on demand ) and engine braking on the downshift ( at any revs / mph )
when you want to play
but full auto function in D when you want to relax .There are times when you don't want to have to shift
Best of both worlds
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,485
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
You don't have to go to the hassle of a manual valve body.
A quality shift kit will give you full manual through the gears ( instant up and down shift on demand ) and engine braking on the downshift ( at any revs / mph )
when you want to play
but full auto function in D when you want to relax .There are times when you don't want to have to shift
Best of both worlds
A quality shift kit will give you full manual through the gears ( instant up and down shift on demand ) and engine braking on the downshift ( at any revs / mph )
when you want to play
but full auto function in D when you want to relax .There are times when you don't want to have to shift
Best of both worlds
..... The 700-2-3 will give you this ......... in my opinion , this is the best shift kit for a dual purpose Corvette ... this kit has the option of full manual shifting if so desired ... just follow the installation directions very carefully ...........
Last edited by C409; May 29, 2012 at 07:34 AM.
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
rodji is correct, so is L98tpi. I have a B&M kit in mine, 1-2 is downright harsh,to me that is, 2-3 is crisp, 3-4 can be felt but not annoying. Since I do not race or AutoX I regret the instillation. Talk long and hard to your transmission guy. There have been a bunch of nice upgrades since 85. Ten vane pump and sprag to name just 2.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 658
Likes: 7
From: Perth Amboy New Jersey
I have an 85, and like all 85's the front pump seal on the tranny leaks. A lot. I'm planning on doing some autocrossing so of course you can't have any leaks. Anyhow, since I'm gonna have the tranny out to fix the seal I was contemplating installing a shift kit too. The kit I'm looking at is a Transgo 700-2-3.
What's your take on a shift kit? Good idea or bad?
What's your take on a shift kit? Good idea or bad?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 202
Likes: 9
From: Tucson
You have a 27 year old transmission, your going to work it harder than normal. I say get the whole transmission rebuilt because of the age and the above normal stress that you will give it. Build it for what you want it to do. Pay now or later. Shift kit do work as long as the person doing the work knows the transmission and is trustworthly. I have a story about that.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
From: Eden Utah
You can spend all you want on the transmission, and that is good. But, if you have a cheap converter, it will sluff off clutch material and bye, bye trans. Call precision, get a good converter. do not, I repeat, do not purchase a TCI...Super junk, cost me 3 transmissions...
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
the 27 spine was 82-84 they were junk the 85-86 with a upgraded pump wide band and wide sprag with some modifcations will hold up look how long yours lasted the 87 up had a better valve body and a solfter rev to drive engagement also a part throttle 1-2 kick down
Last edited by pricesgarage; May 31, 2012 at 03:32 AM.