How snappy are the shifts on a 700R4 in stock condition?
 

Have a 700R4 in my '80. I was told it was given a recent rebuild by a local speed shop not long before I bought it. Unfortunately the owner retired and I had no way to find out the specifics of what was done to it. I believe it was rebuilt - the case was very clean and the fluid was fresh.

I have -0- prior experience with these units, don't know what a "stock" one feels like vs one that's been enhanced. The shifts get snappier the more throttle you give it, though other cars I've been in that had a shift kit had a *bang* feel to them. I've seen cars that would chirp the tires on the 1-2 shift under a decent amount of throttle. While the shifts on this are crisp, they're not quite like that.

Thoughts, insights?

If it shifts quick then that's good.......headbanger shifts and chirping tires was what I wanted as a teen in the 80's.....but hard on everything just driving around....and it is flatout annoying after a while.
I have owned S-10 and full size trucks with 700r4's in them and they have to be damn near coaxed to shift and I have owned 350 IROC's that felt like a B&M race trans bone stock. I also modified an 87' Vette years ago that I had to put a kit in because it just didn't shift with authority......I have no idea what GM did back then but lets just say there was zero standard.

Jebby

Because of 700r4's particularly deep first gear ratio, shifts from 1 - 2 can be quite noticeable.

Shift 'smoothness' is best at low throttle. The more throttle that is opened, the faster the clutch shift. It is similar to the shifts felt in the THM-400, although the 400 has a vacuum modulator and the 700R4 has a T.V. cable set up. On the 700R4, the T.V. cable MUST be set up properly to get the shifts you want and to prevent early failures. If shifts are slow/spongy with WOT, you WILL fry the clutches.

I have a 700r4 with a shift kit. 1-2 shift is solid but after that the shifts are firm nothing to brag about. It's usually the upper gears on these that fail first.

Okay so it doesn't give you that baseball bat hitting the back of the seat feel even with the shift kit. I would say your description is pretty much what I experience - maybe mine has one. From what I understand the valve body has to be drilled in a certain spot as part of the shift kit installation process - was that done with yours?

Yes.

Baseball *bat* that is...