The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 700R4 woes

My 700R4 in my 46 is giving me fits and I'm a little hesitant to drive it. I originally had a 2.73 gear under it only because that's what the donor had in it. On it's maiden voyage it seemed to shift up and down ok but I felt 2-3 & 3-4 to be soft. I mostly ran it in 3rd due to the 2.73 rear. I went ahead and installed the 3.73 gears and my shift problem amplified. Since I had ran pressure checks and they were within in specs I thought the TV adjustment/cable may be the issue. I ordered the TV kit for the Edelbrock carb with the adjustable cable, brackets and stiffer spring for the throttle valve so it would home. I found 1-2 is pretty quick, 2-3 under throttle engine sounds free (no load) and the same with 3-4, if you stay off the throttle it will shift but soft. 1st works good as does reverse and the 2-1 downshift is great with tires a squealing. Downshifts 4-3 & 3-2 are as bad as the throttled upshifts. I would think my clutch packs are gone but the fluid didn't smell burnt or was it discolored. Any ideas? I may have to take it to someone who knows about these.

nice truck...

Could be the 3rd gear clutch pack. I had a similar situation with the 700R4 in my S10. That's what it turned out to be. You might want to check the governor before you tear into it first, though. The 700R4 uses a plastic gear for the governor, they are known to wear out, causing shift problems.

Thanks Joker, You have a couple of sweet rides as well. Now that I'm getting close on this one my wife decided she wants one but a car instead with a visor. Really like that 52 you have.

Thanks Longbox, I'll check her out.

If the plastic gear is stripped on the governor then I don't think the transmission will shift at all. It will want to stay in low gear. The governor valve could be dirty though.

Throttle valve adjustment is very critical. If it isn't right, it can burn up the transmission in just a few miles.

Was this transmission rebuilt, or just removed from one vehicle and placed in another? Was it working fine in the donor vehicle?

Well if you can believe this I bought the tranny hooked to a 305. The seller wouldn't separate the two so I sold the engine for what I gave for the setup and was able to use it for mock up. I had planned on having it gone through but since the fluid was clean I changed it and the filter and rolled the dice so to speak. I really have no history on the trans other than it's a 89 vintage.

What are you doing with the torque converter? Did you install a lockup switch?

I run a pressure switch N.O. That closes and completes a ground to the lockup solenoid. The lock up is powered through a toggle switch via relay from brake switch. The toggle switch is DPDT and allows for lock up in all gears, no lock up and for OD only. Power is interrupted through brake light switch.

Pulled the tranny tonight right after I installed a rear end in the wifes Cherokee. Will let you know the results.

Here's what I found out about the transmission. I thought it was a 89 model because the serial number started out 9Y... it also had MD8 stamped up by the bellhousing. Turns out it's an earlier model and only has the single valve body and a 27 splined shaft. Someone had been in it before it was extremely clean and had a 10 vane pump and the sun gears had been replaced. Anyway I had a bad sprag the clutches looked good but it got new ones and seal kit anyways. Hopefully it will work out once I get my new convertor and get her back in.

Got her all together with a 2000 stall and she works great. Enjoyed getting her out today.