700-R4 Auto Reverse Harsh
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Joined: Apr 2010
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700-R4 Auto Reverse Harsh
I am continuing to work on this '87 I have. One thing that I noticed when I first drove the car, is the harsh shifting. Of course, this is not all bad. I assumed that the previous owner probably installed a shift kit. However, when you go from neutral to reverse, it feels like someone hit you in the back with a "sledge hammer". When I first got the car, I didn't think to much about it, because the idle was about 1500RPM. But the "sledge hammer" is still there idling at 700RPM. Any suggestions, other than replacing the trans? Anybody know of a good transmission man in the west Atlanta,GA area that might be able to put it back stock? Thanks, in advance, for any help.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
If the TV cable is set high this could be adjusted.
You might try dropping the TV cable one or two notches.
Make a small pencil mark on the housing so you can return to the original setting
You might try dropping the TV cable one or two notches.
Make a small pencil mark on the housing so you can return to the original setting
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
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From: Anaheim CA
That's the way it works. The 700r4 up until 1988 will clunk pretty good when shifting from neutral to R or D. This is especially noticeable when you first start the car and it's still in fast idle mode.
This was fixed in late 1987 by a design modification to the valve body.
This was fixed in late 1987 by a design modification to the valve body.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
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From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Yup, they put in an accumulator that softens the shift into gear by bleeding off some fluid from a little chamber with a plate that has a spring on each side.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
The accumulator is part of the case. There may be a way to bleed off praessure until the valve body is put into a position to transition fluid from neutral to "in gear" by way of a kit.
Go to www.transmissionhead.com, and check the kits section.
Go to www.transmissionhead.com, and check the kits section.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Go to www.transmissionhead.com, and check the kits section.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I bought a vehicle speed sensor wth a connector for the computer an a speedo cable port for my 57 chevy truck. You can go through this site for an hour and not absorb all they have to offer.