Mike,
Bow Tie Overdrives provides a very specific set of instructions for installing their 700 R4 and 200 4R transmissions and verifying correct installation, especially the TV cable system. Their instructions end with this:
“Use of a pressure gauge is the only way to be sure the TV cable system is working correctly. Refer to the pressure check procedure section for a step by step method of setting up this critical system! Adequate pressures during all transmission operations is critical to friction longevity and parts longevity.”
Apparently these transmissions have a very short life span if the TV geometry is not perfectly set up. The Bow Tie carburetor mounted TV pull bracket provides for adjustment of shift timing and firmness in addition to the correct geometry for correct transmission fluid pressures from idle to wide open. Bow Tie activates a customer's warranty only after the customer does all the required pressure checks and phones the results in to Bow Tie. That is a great benefit because they can tell from the test pressures the customer reports whether the set up is correct. In my case one of the pressure readings was outside the approved range and they told me what the problem probably was and they were right.The complete Bow Tie 200 4R system I installed in 2005 is still working flawlessly in a small block Chevy powered street rod, so it can't hurt to do all that pressure checking for the peace of mind that everything is OK.
