I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Before selling it I ran a 700R4 in my 52 panel with a small block. Never gave me any problems and shifted great. Drove it all over the country.
....and I have a 700R4 in my 37 pickup with chevy small block. I smoke the tires fairly regular when I have the need for speed and it is a little finicky sometimes but I didn't tell the guy who built it to put the dang shift kit in it either!!! Still, I love the low 1st gear and overdrive....but there are other choices out there. Depends on what you can find....if a 700 be sure its later than an 87 or 88 year model.