Hey guys,

I was just doing some maintanance on my car, changing sparkplugs that had gotten fowled, and when I started my car, there was a hesitation going into reverse. Then, later down the road, the engine would rev up when trying to accelerate. When I stopped, I put in in 1st just to see what was going on, and it shifted right into second, in a rather lazy fashion. Then, I'd put it into reverse, and it wouldn't engage until I gave the engine some gas, and it would clunk into gear. After that it did the same thing going into first, I'd have to rev it up a little to get it to engage, and I could feel it engaging and disengaging as I coasted. BTW, I have a 700R4. What the heck is wrong with my car? Did my prom die and I'm on limp home mode? That would be an answer to prayer! I have another prom. Anyway, thanks!

 

Since it sounds like you're having clutch, governor and valve problems all at once, I'd say something has gotten into the fluid(perhaps water), or the fluid is low.

An immediate fluid change may save your trans. Do not keep driving it this way!

To be the bearer of bad news, your trans maybe past help. :cry

Good luck.

 

If the trans fluid is up to the proper level, you're screwed. A clogged filter could cause this problem, but if it has gotten this bad, I think you're in trouble. If the fliud is full you may want to try a fluid and filter change, but it sounds like it's time for a new trans. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!

 

It seems rather odd that the tranny would go from chicken salad to chicken s--- while just sitting there as you changed spark plugs :rolleyes:

Have you had any prior signs of tranny problems?

What else, if anything did you touch?

TV cable jumped to mind as I first read your post, but, I don't think the TV cable has anything to do with reverse gear

:seeya

 

The trans was fine before I did the plugs. The only thing that comes to mind, now as a matter of fact, was as I was changing the #1 plug the wrench contacted the alternator and sparks flew! I was ok though. Aside from that, I was really careful with what I touched or nudged. The fluid is fine. It was a little low, but still nicely colored with no debris or trace of water. Guess I'll head over to a trans shop now. :cry

 

your symptoms sound just like low fluid. You checked it with the engine running ,right? Other than that its mechanical failure....

 

Well, took it in to a recommended trans shop today. By the time I got to the shop, I could hear a disheartening whining/clicking. The guy said he'd check it out. My fluid was just at the add level, but still pink. I'm really bummed. I did so much work to the engine this summer, and now my trans is probably dead. This may be goodbye to the best car I've ever had.

 

Hey i bumped a vacuume line to my trany once, a REAAALLL little line and it made all hell brake loose in my trany just like you are stating. have checked any vacuume lines to your trany? after i messed with it some it came back to life and shifted properly again. oh wait, nm it is already in shop. well keep us posted on diagnosis.

 

Don't look at it like that. You're talking throwing the baby out with the bath water. Most if not all of us with early C4 automatics expect this to happen sooner or later. Have it fixed, get a warranty and drive it.

The thing that struck me is that your fluid is pink. Fresh, healthy tranny fluid is clear and red. If it's pink and opaque, it has moisture in it.

 

Well guys, thanks for the inspiring words! I'm trying to keep my head up. I haven't heard back from the shop yet, and I'm trying to stay as optimistic as I can. I don't want to throw my baby out, or give her up. In fact its actually an emotional thing when I think about it. This just couldn't have come at a worse time. I'll keep you guys informed, and thanks for the encouraging words.
Mike

 

Its official. I have a 400hp paper weight. My flywheel is cracked, the pump inside the trans is done, and, possibly, my brand new 2400 Stall was damaged in the process! Woohoo. I'll go back to my grieving now. I guess the car will sit, again, until I can save up $8-$900 dollars to cover labor and the parts. This really blows. Any suggestions?

 

:cry :cry :cry

Some transmission shops will set you up with payment plans if necessary to get you back on the road. My friend blew up her Taurus xmission and was back on the road two days later with no money changing hands until much later.

Transmission shops know that transmission are expensive, and they still want your business. It's worth asking.

Unfortunately if you sheered the pump you probably roasted the converter. :cry Did it have a warranty? It may still be covered. :cry

I was going to say, "look on the bright side." But now I see that you already had a better TC. :cry

Don't sell the car over this, a good tranny rebuild can last for years and years. $900 now will keep you driving a Corvette instead of buying a $900 beater.

Good luck! :cheers: :seeya

 

Sorry to hear about the trans... what all have you done to the engine since we last talked ???

Charles (Vette4cw)

 

Keeping issues in perspective, $900.00 is a nice chunk of change, but its not $2500.00. It could have been worse. A 400 HP 84 vette is pretty nice, it must have cost a pretty penny to build the engine.


Patience will get you back on the road. :blueangel:

 

Are the 700R4 trannys vastly different from all previous automatics? I thought only manual trannys had a flywheel/pressure plate arrangement. All the 350/400 turbos, C4/C6s, 727s, etc. I've ever had apart had a simple flexplate/starter ring gear. Not being a nice guy, I'm genuinely interested in this topic. My '90 has a 700R4 trans, and I'm also considering one to replace the TH400 in my '34 Ford coupe to go with the soon to be complete vintage 409 motor.

Is the tranny shop you're dealing with reputable? Have they let you personally inspect the damaged parts? Do you know anyone who's had good experience with them? I'm not slamming them, they might be great guys. But I'm a firm believer in caveat emptor... I just never heard of a sparkplug change causing a catastrophic tranny failure. Such failures are USUALLY preceeded by a session of "overly enthusiastic" driving. Or they happen gradually.

 

First, I'm sorry to hear about your trans. If you read my opening reply, I was afraid that's what it was. Usually, when 700R4s start acting up, it's too late. Your "flywheel" (actually, flexplate) isn't an expensive part. Even from a trans shop, it ought to be less than $50.00. Consider this an opportunity. Now you can (have to) make the trans worthy of that engine. If this trans has never been done before, consider yourself lucky. The quote of $8-900.00 sounds awfully cheap, to me. Consider upping that, to maybe double, and really get it beefed.

I am VERY curious about that engine. Can it possibly still have the Crossfire on it? What all have you done to get 400 horsepower? Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!

 

Well, my girlfriend was the last one to drive it. And I have to admit, she likes the power, and probably uses it more than I do. I do have to note a slight shuttering when accelerating before, that seemed to get worse and worse, but it felt the same as when I didn't have the correct octance booster in the gas, so I thought my plugs were detonating, and were fowled. I'm assuming that was my flexplate going out.

As I started the engine project this summer, I found that I had a set of forged TRW Pop up pistons. Pistons which would considerably increase my compression when combined with the 91 L98 heads. I was happy, and frustrated at the same time. Being on a limited budget, and already having the engine apart, there was no turning back, or buying new pistons, so I went with them. When I finalized what I wanted to do with my engine, I thought I'd be bumping my compression to 10.5:1, instead, its 11.2:1. I had the machine shop guy find out what it would be with those pistons and heads. So now, I have to use an octane booster (C5) to avoid detonation. The heads were ported through to the bowls. I have 1.6 Rollertip rocker arms, 280/280 .460/.460 lift cam, .490 lift with the rocker arms. The intake is ported also. I have a highflow waterpump, highflow-high volume oil pump, LT1 fuel pump, dual flowmasters, and a gutted cat. Larry at Doug Herbert told me that engines he's built with those combinations have 400-430hp, and he's been building SBC's a long time.

The trans shop I found seems to be really reputable. He diagnosed my car at no charge. I count myself as being a good judge of character, and the owner is a very sincere guy. The labor to change the parts, check my 2400 stall (which should still be under warranty), and clean the trans to make sure there is no other debris will be $525. I have to get the parts though. Any suggestions on where to get the flexplate and pump is very welcome. I do however want to get with a lighter flexplate if possible. If I can lighten my drivetrain any, letting it spin up faster, I'll be a happy guy. Thanks everyone!
Happy New Year!

 

BTW, hey Charles, long time no talk! I was looking forward to shooting you an email letting you know to look for me at carlsbad in February, now I guess that won't be happening :(

 

:cool: Sounds like you know some cool car people that are hooking you up. That's always nice. I'm looking for a transmission parts link, there is a pretty cheap place on the net, but I don't remember the link offhand.

How do you like your cam? Is it Streetable? Did you pick that cam? It sounds like a really good choice for your heads and I'm impressed with the selection, most people don't understand the necessity for our heads/intakes to have high duration/low lift.

 

Xmission parts: http://www.bulkparts.com/

:cheers: :seeya