700r4 question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 38
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From: Kansas
700r4 question
Alright, I got a 700r4 behind my 383 stroker. All of us know pretty much how quick that first shift to second gear is in drive or overdrive so I like to manually shift it. Here is the problem, I can only get my shifter to second gear, it wont go down into first gear manually. Im either thinking its the shifter cable, a tight boot, or something jammed in there. If anyone has any imput or has had this problem, please lemme know how you fixed it. I would really love to be able to hold first because thats a huge powerband. Thanks everyone 
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 12
Irrespective of your shifter problem the fast upshift is because of ultra low 3.07 1st gear
I found the revs pulled up so quick in 1st I could not manually shift 1-2 fast enough before the engine readlined so best times
were done starting with the shifter in 2nd and letting the trans do the 1- 2 shift
I found the revs pulled up so quick in 1st I could not manually shift 1-2 fast enough before the engine readlined so best times
were done starting with the shifter in 2nd and letting the trans do the 1- 2 shift
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Irrespective of your shifter problem the fast upshift is because of ultra low 3.07 1st gear
I found the revs pulled up so quick in 1st I could not manually shift 1-2 fast enough before the engine readlined so best times
were done starting with the shifter in 2nd and letting the trans do the 1- 2 shift
I found the revs pulled up so quick in 1st I could not manually shift 1-2 fast enough before the engine readlined so best times
were done starting with the shifter in 2nd and letting the trans do the 1- 2 shift
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 411
From: WV
My 89 had the same problem when I got it...The cable needs to be adjusted, plan and simple.. My 700r4 shifts from 1st to 2nd pretty quick, then it doesn't shift into 3rd until somewhere between 40-47 mph depending on how hard the petal is mashed down..I have reset my torque convertor lockup to 53 mph and the unlock at 49 mph, this seems to fit the way my 383 runs better then the stock setting did...
..WW
..WW
Last edited by WW7; Sep 26, 2012 at 08:50 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,145
Likes: 142
From: Central Il
I've had a similar problem with mine. Here's a quick thing to check before diving in to anything more involved. The shift boot on mine was bunching up behind the shifter and not allowing me to pull it back all the way to 1st. Before taking the car out of Park, grab the back of the shift boot and pull it up so there's no chance of it bunching up. Keep it pulled up as you move the shifter back in to 1st. That cured my problem. If that doesn't work then you may have to look at a cable adjustment.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,694
Likes: 1,666
From: moraga ca
I've had a similar problem with mine. Here's a quick thing to check before diving in to anything more involved. The shift boot on mine was bunching up behind the shifter and not allowing me to pull it back all the way to 1st. Before taking the car out of Park, grab the back of the shift boot and pull it up so there's no chance of it bunching up. Keep it pulled up as you move the shifter back in to 1st. That cured my problem. If that doesn't work then you may have to look at a cable adjustment.
That is what I was going to suggest. The boot does collect down in the bottom. Unbunch it like your panties.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,145
Likes: 142
From: Central Il
Irrespective of your shifter problem the fast upshift is because of ultra low 3.07 1st gear
I found the revs pulled up so quick in 1st I could not manually shift 1-2 fast enough before the engine readlined so best times
were done starting with the shifter in 2nd and letting the trans do the 1- 2 shift
I found the revs pulled up so quick in 1st I could not manually shift 1-2 fast enough before the engine readlined so best times
were done starting with the shifter in 2nd and letting the trans do the 1- 2 shift
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 38
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From: Kansas
haha you guys are awesome I tell ya. Im a youngin and I've been slightly getting my feet wetter and wetter the last couple years with this ride. I love it though. I figured if I could hold first a little longer i could JUMP into second so I could at least have a nice 1/8 mile time. That tuned tpi 383 is nice for the street, but 1/4 mile im sure is a different story. hahaha silly RPM range
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 38
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From: Kansas
WOWOW. Thats absolutely awesome. I love seeing the older school c4s keeping up or just flat out whoopin the new vettes or camaros. Your setup sounds awesome. Im rockin the tpi with ported intake and runners, aluminum L98 heads, but are "improved" with machine work, and the biggest cam possible without a stall. All computer dyno tuned..shes a work in progress but love 'er
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Id get the trans set up so it shifts on its own where you want it usually more consistent than manually shifting. Not like the old T350s...
Get a converter and a sticky tire for the 1/8 youll be much happier
Get a converter and a sticky tire for the 1/8 youll be much happier
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,694
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From: moraga ca
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 38
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From: Kansas
All right guys, thanks for the input. Thats a big help. That 4L60E sounds tempting, yet so does a built 700r4 tuned right. HA, so many options. What is yalls favorite street strip tire for the rear? I got eleven inch wide z rated 275 series all the way around, but the back needs more stick and width, yet able to still travel decent. any ideas?
What is yalls favorite street strip tire for the rear? I got eleven inch wide z rated 275 series all the way around, but the back needs more stick and width, yet able to still travel decent. any ideas?
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 105
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I have a falken tire and boy does it grip at the track(mind you it was a stock 350 tpi) I'm hoping it still somewhat hooks with a 383
Did you notice any big gain from a 350 to your 383? I don't want to rev her out like most people I want something that is low reving but makes tons of torque and enough power to keep some of the newer cars at bay
Did you notice any big gain from a 350 to your 383? I don't want to rev her out like most people I want something that is low reving but makes tons of torque and enough power to keep some of the newer cars at bay
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,448
Likes: 27
From: Valparaiso
Z52 here too, like they said above the boot might be there in place not letting you reach the full shifter travel, nice mindset , i love to think in beating newer cars on my 87, it's priceless ! I have a set of Nitto 555R's on the rears, but they are not sticky enough for the dragway but for the street they are night and day compared to the HTZR II Sumitomos i used to have unless you like to spin and do rolling burnouts...im getting addicted to the track so that's why i'm getting Mickey Thompson ET Streets, i need maximum hook on the track and the 555R's don't cut it on my local track (non vht) ....btw if you are hooking ,you'll want to upgrade to a Dana44 , well , it's a neverending story...but a nice and worthy one !
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 38
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From: Kansas
Haha I ll tell you guys what, to the guy wondering about the 383, yes, HUGE power difference. Of course it is a nightmare unless you have the right mechanic and tuner. Usually a dyno and computer is needed, but with that tpi, especially if you port intake plenums runners etcs...run some nice heads, even stock machined, bigger cam, you ll can easily hit the 410+ ft/pds of torque. From what research ive done is the tpi does choke down the hp..but the torque is incredible. Mine is around 365hp at the wheels. They were called the torque monsters from factory after all. On the rev side of things, you re going to have an almost endless rev, but no loss in torque from what ive experienced thus forth. This is my second 383 tpi car. My other was a third gen camaro awhile ago.
Too the guy with the Z52, its always a thrill whooping up on the newer modern cars isnt it? HA. And I ll look into those tires for sure.
Too the guy with the Z52, its always a thrill whooping up on the newer modern cars isnt it? HA. And I ll look into those tires for sure.