Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

YES they do SUCK!!! sorry to hear it, But $980 sounds like a pretty good deal considering the extra stuff you mentioned (cooler,pan). I am assuming this is a carry out price. (not installed)
Today must be "tranny take a dump day" my turbo 400 is on its way out too, It has been getting increasingly noticable, when it gets warmed-up and it just kinda wanders into 3rd. About a 2 weeks ago I changed the filter and fluid, hoping it would help, but this morning on the way to work going down the freeway in 3rd, a couple of times I felt the RPMs go up and back down while cruising along about 70mph. I have been calling around all morning and the best carry out price I have found for a rebuild is $300 with a stock converter, and 12 month warranty. But one shop is telling me for the amount of towing that I do, that I should buy the Heavy duty converter (extra $100) they said it would shift better and is much better for towing. What do you know about that??? And maybe you should consider one for yourself???

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

I feel your pain! I had the EXACT same thing happen to me, 3 and 4th were gone! My rebuild estimates were about the same as yours. I ended up going with one from the dealer for $1337, it was more cash but it came with a no questions asked 3yr, 50k mi warranty. Was about 5 months ago, worked fine since. I WILL NOT own the truck after 3 yrs is up though!

/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Big Ed
'88 YJ, 4" susp,3" body,33's,283 Chevy V8,TH350,4.11's,D30,D35c

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

Just to make you feel better, my dad's Ford E4OD cost $1600 to rebuild, and it broke twice in less than 25,000 miles. Although not perfect, the 700R4 is a lot better than many other overdrive auto transmissions out there.

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

Hey whats going on BigBurb!!!
Sorry to hear about your tranny. I have a 700 R4 actually called a T-700 now after JET in CA got hold of it. I have had mine behind a 485 ft lb/450 HP BB with 38's in Gumbo Mud, pulled trailers loaded with top soil and towed tractors without any probs. Gotta keep em cool man and have a high performance servo installed (Corvette is perfect). I have around 60,000 mls on mine and she will snap your neck off from 1st to 2nd and hard solid shifts 3rd to 4th. Mine also has other goodies that JET can turn you onto like Kevlar clutches and bands. THIS IS FOR EVERYONE WHO HATES 700 R4'S.......NEVER REPLACE THE ORIGINAL UNIT AS YOU HAVE ALL LEARNED, GO WITH JET, PREMIER OR PAW MODIFIED ONES FOR PERFORMANCE APPLICATIONS. They are priced relatively the same as a new one and if you call them, they will build it to your needs (way better). BTW, If you don't want it still, Chev 350 will mate to your transfer case and input spud. TH400 is very durable but a horsepower hog (requires approximately 25 hp just to power its internals) I'd rather have this going to the rear wheels unless you of course are running a BB and then it doesn't matter. My two cents:} Wayne

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

i feel your pain my dad's 700r4 took the big dump today he lost reverse trying to put his truck in the garage then 1st when he tried to
get it back out
but we knew it was going to bite it soon so what can ya do??!!

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

I'm not denying that some people have bad luck with 700r4's, but the newer ones (from around '87 and up) seem to hold up just as good as anything else in my experience. My dad has had four different GM trucks since '88 with 700r4's, three of them went at least 110,000 miles and all still shifted fine when the trucks were sold. The fourth one went out at only 40,000 miles, but it never shifted correctly from the day it was brand new. A new one was installed and was still fine when it was sold with about 120,000 on the odo. These were all work trucks that were used hard with most miles accumulated in town, probably never had the fluid changed, didn't have an aftermarket cooler, and pulled a boat on the weekends. I had an '83 that had 130,000 miles before the trans was in need for some attention, and my current fullsize Blazer has over 100,000 miles on a 700r4 and it gets used hard on the trail at least once per month.
Just my experience with them.

6.2Blazer

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

I just had mine rebuilt about 3 months ago by a guy around Indianapolis. He does it out of his garage but he ran a transmission shop for several years and then sold it. He did a hell of a job and it only cost me $500. That cost included a reman torque convertor. Plus he does the little things to make it last longer. I watched while he tore it apart and put it back together. Took about 3 hours. I don't know where you are located in Kentucky but it might be worth giving this guy a call. If you are interested let me know and I can get you his number.

Blaze 88

88 K5 Blazer
88 Suburban

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

I just had mine rebuilt 3 weeks ago. $1534.37 (Included new rear main seal, transfer case seal & new oil for both) Mine had 60,000 mi on it. But I had mine rebuilt heavy duty, and plan on putting in a new heavy duty cooler. Mine was in a 87 with no mods (yet!)

(cool) '87 Chevy 1/2t SWB in the making!

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

the guy i bought my truck from had it rebuilt at 120k and ive got 165k now with absolutely no problems. the truck has done some heavy hauling and work in its day too. and the only reason it was rebuilt in the first place is the dealer misdiagnosed (dealers....NEVER /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif) a road noise prob and rebuilt the tranny before realizing it was something in the t-case!! anyways - good luck bigburb

Mike ~
/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Chevys Rule! /wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

seems like $1500 for a rebuild is high....I had mine done with all the Corvett/Kevlar/hardened parts, drilled and chamferred passages, etc...and a 12X16 Hayden cooler for $1100...2yr/24K warranty...I ain't worried about breakin' it with a mostly stock TBI motor...it hooks up hard and shifts snappy, but has very good daily street manners...I know I'm gonna clang a U-joint gettin' a second gear scratch one day, but it won't wipe the SEG off my face...sorry to hear about broken toys anytime...I wish you the best with your replacement "adventure"...JD

 

Re: 700R4 SUCK\'s

I went through two 700R4's in different trucks and when this one blows it's getting converted to a standard
CJ

~skids&tickets~