confused. It would appear there are 2 schools of thought on this issue. 
700R4: Your thoughts on this thread??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
From: Land O Lakes, Florida
Posted on the C3 forum...
http://www.corvetteforum.cc/ubb/Forum3/HTML/031377.html
Thanks,
Chuck H.
82 Coupe
http://www.corvetteforum.cc/ubb/Forum3/HTML/031377.html
Thanks,
Chuck H.
82 Coupe
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 669
Likes: 7
From: New Jersey
Not knowing if this is a proven fact or not. I dont use OD unless going 65+ on the highway anyways. I always heard 700r4's were bad tranny's. Friends in camaro's blow them all day long. ( Currently Knocking on wood) I have no problem with mine.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 0
From: na
I don't believe that comment on OD use with the auto in a Corvette.
I have a similar tranny in the 86 Caprice and it has a 350, a chip and a big exhaust. The tranny has 302,000 miles on it and has NEVER been touched! Only oil and filter changes. I always drive it in OD. Always.
Well except when racing on steep hills, then I shift the old gal down to 2nd.
I asked a service manager about what gear to drive in and he said it does not matter at all. Just don't do anything silly of course.
I have a similar tranny in the 86 Caprice and it has a 350, a chip and a big exhaust. The tranny has 302,000 miles on it and has NEVER been touched! Only oil and filter changes. I always drive it in OD. Always.
Well except when racing on steep hills, then I shift the old gal down to 2nd.
I asked a service manager about what gear to drive in and he said it does not matter at all. Just don't do anything silly of course.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
a MAJOR factor to consider is which model year 700 you are using.
The older ones, either 86 or 87 and older 27 spline units were not as strong as the later 30 spline units.
You're gonna have better luck with a 93 than with an 82.
The older ones, either 86 or 87 and older 27 spline units were not as strong as the later 30 spline units.
You're gonna have better luck with a 93 than with an 82.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,052
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From: Warrenville IL
just my thoughts:
First off, this thread was started on the C3 board, I guess there are a ton of C3's out there that came from the factory with the 700R4 ?
The 700R4/4L60E has been around how long?
and this guy has all of a sudden "discovered" why these transmissions really fail ?
-LOL
Seems like everyone agreeing with this thread there has a TH400/TH350 trans. I also see a couple guys with 383's.
I'm not saying the 700R4/4L60 is the best trans out there. Put a stock unit behind a 383 or high hp application and it dosen't take a genuis to figure out it's not going to handle the Tq. very long.
First off, this thread was started on the C3 board, I guess there are a ton of C3's out there that came from the factory with the 700R4 ?
The 700R4/4L60E has been around how long?
and this guy has all of a sudden "discovered" why these transmissions really fail ?
-LOL
Seems like everyone agreeing with this thread there has a TH400/TH350 trans. I also see a couple guys with 383's.
I'm not saying the 700R4/4L60 is the best trans out there. Put a stock unit behind a 383 or high hp application and it dosen't take a genuis to figure out it's not going to handle the Tq. very long.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
I've rebuilt many 700R4s. The only part of the transmission that will wear very slightly more is the 2-4 band. For the 700R4 to switch from 3 to 4th (OD), the servo must apply the 2-4 band. It won't make a large difference on the band wear because the engine isn't at anywhere near max power. I'm assuming most people don't drive around town at WOT in 4th(OD).
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 5,159
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
There has been a similar theory going around the C4 board for a long time. The difference here is the speed recommended for overdrive was 50-55+. In other words, don't put it into a situation where it is obviously lugging. That's how I drive mine.
Randy
Randy
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Originally Posted by KF9WM's 87 coupe
There has been a similar theory going around the C4 board for a long time. The difference here is the speed recommended for overdrive was 50-55+. In other words, don't put it into a situation where it is obviously lugging. That's how I drive mine.
Randy
[/color]
Randy
[/color]
I get an "upshift" light in mine. Once it comes on I move it up to [D].
Don't you guys get an "Up shift for best economy" light? Lately its only been saying "upshift" for some reason.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:[/color]<HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
Seems like everyone agreeing with this thread there has a TH400/TH350 trans.
[/color][/QUOTE]
Well...lets see, how many C3 82 corvettes are there? Every one of them has a 700R4.
Beside that, I just happen to have spent a good part of my life being an auto trans mechanic. I have built more than my share of 700R4 tranny's. I even retrofitted one in my 79 corvette. My 87 corvette has one also.
I could act the same as nickd by stating It seems most who 'disagree' with this thread are ones who do not know what one looks like on the inside. But I won't go that far
The major failure in early 700R4's is the input shaft or housing, gear assemblies and especially the fourth piston in high power applications.
The late model ones ( 87 and newer ) have far fewer problems because of design improvements brought about by the failures of the early models.
Seems like everyone agreeing with this thread there has a TH400/TH350 trans.
[/color][/QUOTE]
Well...lets see, how many C3 82 corvettes are there? Every one of them has a 700R4.
Beside that, I just happen to have spent a good part of my life being an auto trans mechanic. I have built more than my share of 700R4 tranny's. I even retrofitted one in my 79 corvette. My 87 corvette has one also.
I could act the same as nickd by stating It seems most who 'disagree' with this thread are ones who do not know what one looks like on the inside. But I won't go that far
The major failure in early 700R4's is the input shaft or housing, gear assemblies and especially the fourth piston in high power applications.
The late model ones ( 87 and newer ) have far fewer problems because of design improvements brought about by the failures of the early models.