700r4 rebuild cost
Popular Reply
Jan 28, 2022, 03:47 PM
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 3,083
From: So Cal
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Experience. I had a friend that graduated from Trade Tech in 1972, and built automatics for 40 years. He worked for a shop who's owner began building automatics in the 60's for his father's used car lot, then opened his transmission shop in Reno in the 70s. Rick started working for John in 1983. Most of what I know about automatics was learned from Rick and John when I'd take a unit from one of my projects up for a bench-job and a visit. Their shop saw hundreds of broken MD8s, Rick and I discussed this transmission frequently.
In the 90s I arrived at the shop late on a Friday to spend the last weekend of HAN with Rick during Hot August Nights. Rick and John were under a early 60s Buick (F85, maybe?) with the pan off. "Hi there. What's going on here?" "This guy is here for HAN and had trouble on the way down from Oregon. We patched it on Monday, but it's acting up again and he's worried about getting home". They popped the valve body off, and it failed an air-check. It had to come out again. John to Rick: "You go home. Your friend is here. I'll take care of this". Rick: "No, I'll stay and help you. All we'll do is sit on the couch and drink." Me: "I'll go get a six-pack, and we'll start now." John: "Ok, I'll go get the parts for it. We're doing the whole thing. Not patching it again." (He had a remote location with parts for the early stuff that didn't come in much.) This Buick was about 30 years old at the time. Seem relevant to this thread?
By the time I got back, the parts were out of the washer. John built sub-assemblies on his bench while Rick assembled it on his. I hadn't been there 2-1/2 hours and John was off on the test drive. Rick and I were in the office when John called the owner. John: "Ok, your car is fixed. We went completely through it this time. I knew the patch was a gamble, it didn't work, but you won't have any more trouble with it"........"No, no charge. My customers only pay once for a job."....."Where are you staying?"....."I'll be there in 15 minutes, you can run me back to the shop"......"I'll be easy to spot. I'll be driving a Green Buick".
Rick passed away in 2014 at age 61. John, in his 70s, had sold his shop, and passed-on a few years later. The transmission in that Green Buick probably out-lived both of them. A testament to skill, dedication, and knowledge. (Not to mention a 2-1/2 hour turn-around possible because the owner had stockpiled parts for an obsolete transmission, and knew which dusty shelf they were on at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon). People like these are key to working with these old cars and their components and systems today. The Good Guys are disappearing.
Thanks for reading.
In the 90s I arrived at the shop late on a Friday to spend the last weekend of HAN with Rick during Hot August Nights. Rick and John were under a early 60s Buick (F85, maybe?) with the pan off. "Hi there. What's going on here?" "This guy is here for HAN and had trouble on the way down from Oregon. We patched it on Monday, but it's acting up again and he's worried about getting home". They popped the valve body off, and it failed an air-check. It had to come out again. John to Rick: "You go home. Your friend is here. I'll take care of this". Rick: "No, I'll stay and help you. All we'll do is sit on the couch and drink." Me: "I'll go get a six-pack, and we'll start now." John: "Ok, I'll go get the parts for it. We're doing the whole thing. Not patching it again." (He had a remote location with parts for the early stuff that didn't come in much.) This Buick was about 30 years old at the time. Seem relevant to this thread?
By the time I got back, the parts were out of the washer. John built sub-assemblies on his bench while Rick assembled it on his. I hadn't been there 2-1/2 hours and John was off on the test drive. Rick and I were in the office when John called the owner. John: "Ok, your car is fixed. We went completely through it this time. I knew the patch was a gamble, it didn't work, but you won't have any more trouble with it"........"No, no charge. My customers only pay once for a job."....."Where are you staying?"....."I'll be there in 15 minutes, you can run me back to the shop"......"I'll be easy to spot. I'll be driving a Green Buick".
Rick passed away in 2014 at age 61. John, in his 70s, had sold his shop, and passed-on a few years later. The transmission in that Green Buick probably out-lived both of them. A testament to skill, dedication, and knowledge. (Not to mention a 2-1/2 hour turn-around possible because the owner had stockpiled parts for an obsolete transmission, and knew which dusty shelf they were on at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon). People like these are key to working with these old cars and their components and systems today. The Good Guys are disappearing.
Thanks for reading.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
They'll charge $300-500 just to R&R, rebuilding it runs from $1500-2000ish normally.
I do advise asking them to upgrade some parts that are upgradeable without breaking the bank.
I do advise asking them to upgrade some parts that are upgradeable without breaking the bank.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
If your '84 is original and never been 'rebuilt' - anyone that just tosses random $$$ at you needs to avoided. An '84 requires several updates and changes during the rebuild. A rebuilt with all updates from a reputable vendor with a reasonable warranty using yours as a 'core' might be of greater value to you. Someone might offer up a 'local' that uses such a vendor. I won't suggest any but there are some with very good warranties.
You I believe shouldn't be interested in a shop that wouldn't include a replacement that didn't include also the AUX VALVE BODY! If they don't understand your interest in a build using an AUX VALVE BODY just avoid a discussion.
If your '84 drives and functions well, has had reasonable service & filter services maybe you investigate what's leaking!
You I believe shouldn't be interested in a shop that wouldn't include a replacement that didn't include also the AUX VALVE BODY! If they don't understand your interest in a build using an AUX VALVE BODY just avoid a discussion.
If your '84 drives and functions well, has had reasonable service & filter services maybe you investigate what's leaking!
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 27, 2022 at 05:46 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 941
Likes: 169
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had the 4L60E in my 95 rebuilt and upgraded last year. Included 2400 stall TC, beast sun shield, upgrades, performance steels and clutches, etc. I told the transmission shop (that does a lot of work on performance cars and street rods) that I wanted it to be able to handle 450hp even if I never get that high. It was $4200 including remove and install plus 100,000 miles or 3 years warranty. And he said he didn’t care if I drove it like it was stolen or babied it the warranty covers it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Depends where you are. My trans guy charges 1200 for a 700r/4L60e with his own torque converters nobody I know has ever broken one. Id imagine with fluids tax etc 2k-2200
Labor is about 500 ish. Are you asking abou the later servo?
Labor is about 500 ish. Are you asking abou the later servo?
Last edited by cv67; Jan 28, 2022 at 12:13 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
^^^Good comment, finding old timers who really know the weakspots and tricks of the trade are tough to find.
An honest one even moreso. Lots of rebuilds out there with a part of 3 replaced the rest stays. How would one know?
An honest one even moreso. Lots of rebuilds out there with a part of 3 replaced the rest stays. How would one know?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 8
From: Princeton Jct. New Jersey
Yes, the shop I've been talking to was recommended by my son's father-law who ran the S.P.motor pool for 40 years so I trust his judgement. The shop is family owned and has been in the business for over 30 years. The owner is my age 🙄.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 3,083
From: So Cal
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Experience. I had a friend that graduated from Trade Tech in 1972, and built automatics for 40 years. He worked for a shop who's owner began building automatics in the 60's for his father's used car lot, then opened his transmission shop in Reno in the 70s. Rick started working for John in 1983. Most of what I know about automatics was learned from Rick and John when I'd take a unit from one of my projects up for a bench-job and a visit. Their shop saw hundreds of broken MD8s, Rick and I discussed this transmission frequently.
In the 90s I arrived at the shop late on a Friday to spend the last weekend of HAN with Rick during Hot August Nights. Rick and John were under a early 60s Buick (F85, maybe?) with the pan off. "Hi there. What's going on here?" "This guy is here for HAN and had trouble on the way down from Oregon. We patched it on Monday, but it's acting up again and he's worried about getting home". They popped the valve body off, and it failed an air-check. It had to come out again. John to Rick: "You go home. Your friend is here. I'll take care of this". Rick: "No, I'll stay and help you. All we'll do is sit on the couch and drink." Me: "I'll go get a six-pack, and we'll start now." John: "Ok, I'll go get the parts for it. We're doing the whole thing. Not patching it again." (He had a remote location with parts for the early stuff that didn't come in much.) This Buick was about 30 years old at the time. Seem relevant to this thread?
By the time I got back, the parts were out of the washer. John built sub-assemblies on his bench while Rick assembled it on his. I hadn't been there 2-1/2 hours and John was off on the test drive. Rick and I were in the office when John called the owner. John: "Ok, your car is fixed. We went completely through it this time. I knew the patch was a gamble, it didn't work, but you won't have any more trouble with it"........"No, no charge. My customers only pay once for a job."....."Where are you staying?"....."I'll be there in 15 minutes, you can run me back to the shop"......"I'll be easy to spot. I'll be driving a Green Buick".
Rick passed away in 2014 at age 61. John, in his 70s, had sold his shop, and passed-on a few years later. The transmission in that Green Buick probably out-lived both of them. A testament to skill, dedication, and knowledge. (Not to mention a 2-1/2 hour turn-around possible because the owner had stockpiled parts for an obsolete transmission, and knew which dusty shelf they were on at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon). People like these are key to working with these old cars and their components and systems today. The Good Guys are disappearing.
Thanks for reading.
In the 90s I arrived at the shop late on a Friday to spend the last weekend of HAN with Rick during Hot August Nights. Rick and John were under a early 60s Buick (F85, maybe?) with the pan off. "Hi there. What's going on here?" "This guy is here for HAN and had trouble on the way down from Oregon. We patched it on Monday, but it's acting up again and he's worried about getting home". They popped the valve body off, and it failed an air-check. It had to come out again. John to Rick: "You go home. Your friend is here. I'll take care of this". Rick: "No, I'll stay and help you. All we'll do is sit on the couch and drink." Me: "I'll go get a six-pack, and we'll start now." John: "Ok, I'll go get the parts for it. We're doing the whole thing. Not patching it again." (He had a remote location with parts for the early stuff that didn't come in much.) This Buick was about 30 years old at the time. Seem relevant to this thread?
By the time I got back, the parts were out of the washer. John built sub-assemblies on his bench while Rick assembled it on his. I hadn't been there 2-1/2 hours and John was off on the test drive. Rick and I were in the office when John called the owner. John: "Ok, your car is fixed. We went completely through it this time. I knew the patch was a gamble, it didn't work, but you won't have any more trouble with it"........"No, no charge. My customers only pay once for a job."....."Where are you staying?"....."I'll be there in 15 minutes, you can run me back to the shop"......"I'll be easy to spot. I'll be driving a Green Buick".
Rick passed away in 2014 at age 61. John, in his 70s, had sold his shop, and passed-on a few years later. The transmission in that Green Buick probably out-lived both of them. A testament to skill, dedication, and knowledge. (Not to mention a 2-1/2 hour turn-around possible because the owner had stockpiled parts for an obsolete transmission, and knew which dusty shelf they were on at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon). People like these are key to working with these old cars and their components and systems today. The Good Guys are disappearing.
Thanks for reading.
Last edited by IHBD; Jan 28, 2022 at 07:48 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
You can not retro-fit the aux valve body. The cases are different. So are a lot of other basic things. The 88-up is a better transmission longevity wise, and a change-out is one way to get the better stuff. But. Something to think about: These transmissions have been out of production for 30 years. Vehicles that have them are scarce in wrecking yards because they are also 30 years old. So the cores are scarce.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 8
From: Princeton Jct. New Jersey
Well the car has been sitting idle for the past 7 years but was running and shifting fine back then. The problem then was the leakage which was getting worse. I'd pour in a quart of dextron II and by next morning it would be a puddle in the garage floor. Since I just started a minor restore effort I decided the transmission leak was a priority. With only 76000 milesI'd like to keep the drive train as original as possible, especially since the transmission has never given me a problem (bought the car new in '84). Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback.