700r4 opinions and facts

[DrRansom442]

As far as the crossmember goes, I just cut the mount pad off and moved it over a lil. Still had it bolted to the factory spot. it had a th350 in it before.

Well I found this 700r4 bellhousing to transmount 22 3/8" vs th350 bellhousing to transmount 20 3/8" Did you actually have to notch the crossmember .... cuz I just am not visualizing the pad going back 2" inches. Obviously there is a means to do this ... your's is installed and many others did it. IDK if on a 78-83 A/G you have enough frame to push back and redrill 2 inches from the stock holes. May need a short extension ... but I am curious to see pix of the modified Xmember - even though I'll probably never do such a swap (I don't like the idea of an B.O.P. - Chevy adapter plate and I have a 200-4r already). I am still curious. Mind you there is a HUGE difference in mounting pad location for the 200-4r but my 81 required this extension piece, just to bolt the Xmember in place

 

[DrRansom442]

is there are just more of them(just like those damn sbc's....rt ransom)

very true, GM killed the 200-4r cuz they didn't really need B-O-P mounts anymore ... running 2 different overdrives was just redundant and at teh time they had more 700 issues resolved than they did on the 200-4r. IMHO, it really was the Turbo Regal boys that made the 200-4r a "usable" performance transmission.

make sure you read or get someone to help you get the kickdown cable set right, nothing will kill a 700r4 quicker then that setting being wrong....i know this for a fact!!!!! :?

technically it's not a kickdown, they are Throttle Valve (TV) cables and yes these need to be set right, but every written instruction I've seen makes it seem so much more complex than it is. You need a bracket to mount the cable, then the cable snaps right onto your old kickdown's stud (assuming it's round - otherwise replace that one).

Adjustment of the TV Cable
a. Adjustments are made with the engine off. Locate the Adjust Tab on the cable housing. Press in the tab and push the slider as shown in Figure 3.
b. Release the tab and rotate the throttle lever to WOT and the cable will self adjust itself as evidenced by a few audible clicks. Release the throttle lever and check the cable for any signs of binding or sticking.
c. Road test the vehicle. Under moderate acceleration your shift points should be close to the following:
1-2…………………15-20 MPH
2-3…………………25-30 MPH
3-4…………………40-45 MPH

 

[jrm81bu]

As far as the crossmember goes, I just cut the mount pad off and moved it over a lil. Still had it bolted to the factory spot. it had a th350 in it before.

Well I found this 700r4 bellhousing to transmount 22 3/8" vs th350 bellhousing to transmount 20 3/8" Did you actually have to notch the crossmember .... cuz I just am not visualizing the pad going back 2" inches. Obviously there is a means to do this ... your's is installed and many others did it. IDK if on a 78-83 A/G you have enough frame to push back and redrill 2 inches from the stock holes. May need a short extension ... but I am curious to see pix of the modified Xmember - even though I'll probably never do such a swap (I don't like the idea of an B.O.P. - Chevy adapter plate and I have a 200-4r already). I am still curious. Mind you there is a HUGE difference in mounting pad location for the 200-4r but my 81 required this extension piece, just to bolt the Xmember in place

There is enough meat from where the hole is on the flat pad to where the round portion of the crossmember is, that all I reall did was move the hole closer to the crossmember itself. It was cut off and rewelded bc iirc the bad was moved over slightly too. I don't believe I have that crossmeber anymore after making my new one or I would post some pics.

 

[TexasT]

the lockup really isn't quote a gear thing unquote .... it's the converter that is locking up and yes this usually occurs in 4th gear cruising down the highway. Several companies make lockup kits for the 200-4r/700-r4. B&M, TCI, Painless. Just look on Summt. They'll probably have 5 or 6 to choose from. A TCC lock up can be as simple as a toggle switch to more complex devices that lockup as soon as it shifts to 4th and unlocks on downshift ... to some that have a built in delay. Honestly, you don't even have to hook up the TCC, but you'll have better highway manners and mileage. Installing into a G-body. The negatives are ... well a G-body was never designed for the 700, so custom crossmember, tailshaft and size (I've heard a few people say some massaging of the transmission tunnel with a hammer is needed (2nd hand info). They weigh more and aren't gearred like the 200-4r (as previously stated) .... where as a 200-4r uses the same driveshaft as your th350 and a factory crossmember is easy to find. Not really trying to sway you away (there will be no revisiting the SBC/SBO thing), if you got a deal great - go that way and be happy with it.

DrRansom, this is all cool info I didn't know about the 2004R,
too bad they're not as common up here in Canada Land, or atleast not around my parts...

What do you know about the 200R4... I've heard it's a garbage transmission... true?

go to the recycler, wrecking yard, whatever you call it and check under some big rwd Cadillacs. Look for the AA code on the tail shaft housing. That is a 2004r . Good Stuff.

I like the 2004r much better for its better gear spacing. Nothing wrong with the 700r4 if that's the way you want to go but the 2004r is just as good but you must have a knowledgeable builder, not just some local guy who sez he can. Gotta have somebody with a proven record.

 

[khan0165]

since TexasT mentioned the old Cadi's, it's got me thinking about what GM chassis the 2004r goes into with no mods...
Someone earlier had said that the 2004r fits on the same crossmember mounts as the th350s and th400... Is this a rule of thumb? Can 2004r fit in any GM chassis that came with th350s or th400s? Are there any other combos that the 2004r can fit in?

 

[patmckinneyracing]

The reason for going with the 700r4 is for the following:

1.) For 150$, I got a brand new correct length driveshaft, 700r4 core, b&m megashifter, and crossmember
2.) I don't have a driveshaft since I snapped my factory one in half


Yes I'm sure the 2004r's are nice but I already have all the stuff I need in front of me. How many other people run 700r4's on this site other than jrm81bu? Most of the BOP's came with OD trans, while none of the chevys really had them, not to my knowledge. My thinking is if they could run behind the corvettes and camaros of the day, vortec powered trucks, and every other chevy vehicle off line just about, then they can't be too bad.

 

[DrRansom442]

since TexasT mentioned the old Cadi's, it's got me thinking about what GM chassis the 2004r goes into with no mods...
Someone earlier had said that the 2004r fits on the same crossmember mounts as the th350s and th400... Is this a rule of thumb? Can 2004r fit in any GM chassis that came with th350s or th400s? Are there any other combos that the 2004r can fit in?

the 200-4r does NOT mount to the th350 Xmember .... this is why G-bodies have 1) th350 Xmember and 1) 200-4r ... the th400 mounts roughly the same way but GM never put them in a G-body car. Putting a 200-4r in place of a th350 is as simply as the correct Xmember, trans mount, a 4 speed shifter, driveshaft (good time to do U-joints), new hardlines (I like to do ANY time a trans is out) and replacing the kickdown with the apropos TV cable assemblies. Also depending on the year of car ... the driver's side frame rail may need an extension piece.

 

[TexasT]

silly as this sounds, I have a 700r4 in my regal currently as I was having problems keeping a 2004r together. The crossmember required modification. We used a piece of flat stock to make a bracket to go between the existing mount and the trans mount.
One must also get the tv cable mounted and adjusted correctly if you want the trans to live. This is crucial.

The 700r4 is longer but the mount is further towards the front of the car.

again, nothing wrong with the 700r4. I run the electronic version 4l60e in my Suburban.

 

[TexasT]

since TexasT mentioned the old Cadi's, it's got me thinking about what GM chassis the 2004r goes into with no mods...
Someone earlier had said that the 2004r fits on the same crossmember mounts as the th350s and th400... Is this a rule of thumb? Can 2004r fit in any GM chassis that came with th350s or th400s? Are there any other combos that the 2004r can fit in?

What wouldn't the 2004r fit? FWD is the only thing I can come up with. It is an excellent trans though it does require some expense to get it to hold up to serious power. Some of the lesser and diesel applications will require the vb/governor combo will need modified or replaced. There are charts that list the application. http://web.archive.org/web/200701281733 ... 2004r.html