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700r4 Dilemma

Cruiser

Cruiser

look what i can do!!
Tranny/Chevy guys please help:
Here is the story, 89 half ton suburban that tows our good friend Sally Hill's 94 (sweet Ass) Toyota 4runner to St. George, Moab, Ect. It in the last three years has burned up 3 700r4 trannys. I installed the last one (Donated used) less than 6 months ago. She never tows in overdrive and does not drive fast.

I'm not very educated with transmissions, so the Dilemma is:

DO we:

install non 700r4 tranny? th400?
install another used tranny and hope for best?
have new tranny built, but will it last? what is a reasonable cost?
look for a newer 3/4 ton tow rig?.. Least desired option...


Since her husband passed away we have been doing our best to keep her wheeling with us, and we have already replaced in the last year roughly.. Tires, radiator, ps pump, alt, water pump, ball joint, all steering components, plugs, wires, thermostat, belts, installed trailer brakes.. Not all were needed but were replaced as precaution. She is the second owner and it gets everything it ever needs, she would hate to see it go now that it has so many new parts on it... truck is very loved!

What is the best coarse of action to see it continue making many more safe journeys to our favorite 4X4 destinations??


:confused:
 

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Unimog

Unimog

Eric
Location
Stansbury Park, UT
Its not cheap, but get a reputable shop/person to build/rebuild one. It needs to be someone who really knows 700R4s. From that vintage, if it hasn't had all the mods done on it, it will not last at all. With all the proper mods introduced over the years, it can be a very reliable tranny. The other option would be a used one from one of the last years they were built.
 
L

larrybenny

larrybenny
Location
Salt Lake City area
The 700R4 has not been made since 1990, so finding a good used one will be a challenge. You should be able to find a Reman for $900-$1000. The detent cable adjustment is critical to having the proper pressures in the trans. The trans cooling system should be flushed to get the old crap from trans failure out of it. Also, after replacing the trans, the flow from the trans return line should be 10-20 seconds. If not, install a stand alone cooler, large radiator type, and bypass the radiator if it is plugged.
 
Tacoma

Tacoma

Et incurventur ante non
Location
far enough away
by '89, most of the reliability issues w/the 700r4 had been fixed. After that they went to the 4L60 and 4l60E and the changes were relatively minor.

The number one killer of 700r4's is misadjusted TV cables. The TV cable absolutely has to be adjusted properly, it controls line pressure among other things, and a badly adjusted one will let you chew up clutches in short order.

Auxiliary cooler is a must, and a properly adjusted TV cable. And I wouldn't tow anything heavy w/that, the 700r4 is a 1/2t transmission.

My $0.02. :D
 
S

sallyhill

Location
Holladay, UT
Unimog said:
Its not cheap, but get a reputable shop/person to build/rebuild one. It needs to be someone who really knows 700R4s. From that vintage, if it hasn't had all the mods done on it, it will not last at all. With all the proper mods introduced over the years, it can be a very reliable tranny. The other option would be a used one from one of the last years they were built.
Click to expand...

Any suggestions on where a good place to get it rebuilt?
 
S

sled_guy

New Member
I haven't checked for a while, but you could buy a trans directly from GM and it came with a new torque converter too for the same price the local shops were rebuilding them for... might check the dealer. The one from the dealer has all the updates applied.

Cool is a must on any auto really and bypass the in-radiator cooler in my opinion... more times than not it adds heat to the trans instead of cooling it. Also, when replacing make sure and flush all the lines really well to get any stuff that got pumped in to them from the old trans out.

sled_guy
 
neagtea

neagtea

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
farmington
Big cooler. Tow in D not OD
I burnt a few due to towing in OD. I built 2 myself, and used a goodwrench one due to a shortage of time. Shelled that one also. One issue is sub+trailer+jeep equal 12k.
 
thefirstzukman

thefirstzukman

Finding Utah
Supporting Member
Location
SPANISH FORK, UTAH
Billet servos, high pressure pump, re cal valve body.....good cooler.

I have run a 700r4 in my old suburban and built right there is no problem towing in overdrive. I was pushing 450 hp and pulling a pair of samurias to Moab with no problem. I had my friend build mine but he works at j&m transmission in Provo and I would recommend them 100%.
 
Bart

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
2nd for the TV cable. YOu can have all the cooling you need but if the TV cable is adjusted wrong, it will burn up.
 
lhracing

lhracing

Well-Known Member
Location
Layton, UT
If you want a 700R4 built I know a guy that builds 100's of them a year. Nearly every Hot Rod in the valley has one of his transmissions in them. I have one of his 700R4's in a ElCamino behind a 496 that runs in the 11's with slicks at RMR, no problems. PM me for his number.
 
spencurai

spencurai

Purple Burglar Alarm
Location
WVC,UT
I got a th400 thick case (heavy duty) fixed yoke with a fresh rebuild on it I need gone, I will make you a hell of a deal on it. I had it built for a project I was doing but never used it. I got it from Tacoma and had it rebuilt, I don't know what he pulled it out of, probably a burban. I had another one for parts but it had water in it so I recycled it so make me an offer!!
 
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