MIKER

I am simply exploring options, not set on doing it. Has anyone on the forum done a 700R4 rebuild? My transmission is actually a 4L60 from a '92 Chevy truck.
I usually don't mind doing a job two or three times while learning. The worst part is removal and installation from the car. That's the worst part of it! By removing the transmission myself, which I plan on doing, the shop is going to charge $450 for parts and labor. If I attempt the rebuild myself, the most that I could save would be ~$200 to $300. If I were to luck out and get it right on the first attempt, life would be GREAT but if not, that $200 or $300 savings would seem pretty insignificant. I might even end up spending the money saved on special tools for the job and I may never need those tools again.
Based on the symptoms, I'm reasonably sure that my 3-4 clutch pack failed so it's not as if I have shelled out the whole transmission. This should be a fairly simple rebuild.

norvalwilhelm

I wouldn't attempt it myself. A friend who builds C4's , C6's, 350 and 400 will not touch the 700-R4. I bought the manual and was about to try it then chickened out. I build everything on my car including motors, transmissions, rear end and trailing arms but I payed for the last 3 700R-4s. I now have a Tremec after breaking the last 3 unbreakable 700's.

Budman68

I chickened out also after looking at all the parts and special tools needed. My neighborhood friends do them all the time, but I just didn't feel that confident in them. Mopar guys :smash:
Economy Transmission in McKinney only charged me $200 even to rebuild mine with my kit. I paid alittle over $100 for the kit. If you need the Haynes manual, I can let you borrow it.

jvm

I have an 85 K5 Blazer with a 700R in it. It leaks tranny fuild faster than I can put it in. Of course it has 182K on it!!. Would anyone sugguest a rebuild or just get a new one? Thanks Jim

Stoge

Our mechanic at work says he will never touch a transmission any farther than a filter & gasket replacement. He says to take it to a specialist.

MIKER

Thanks for the comments guys. This made for a nice sanity check. I too will pass on this opportunity to screw up my transmission rebuild. :D

I would like to attempt rebuilding one someday but it will have to be at another time on another project. I like driving my Vette too much. I don't want to keep it off the road due to a L O N G learning curve.

I have tripped over a dollar while picking up a dime a few too many times so I will just pay the MAN and be done with it.

. . . now,. . .about that rear end gear change I was considering doing on my own. . . . . .Oh yeah, I almost forgot. . .PAY THE MAN! :lol:

Tom454

I've only rebuilt a handful of automatics. Mostly Fords. I currently have a C4, an AOD, and a 700R4 sitting on my floor. My only complaint about the 700R4 is that it seems to be a bit heavier than the others and the last one I replaced nearly busted my butt. I guess it's time to buy a transmission jack. Anyhow, I like a challenge- so I am not afraid whatsoever of tackling an automatic. The key ingredient is having a good reference to guide you through the steps and FAQ's. And as you said... having the luxury of time.

Some people have neither the ambition or the knack for working with their hands or mechanical things- nothing wrong with that. But if you have the ability, and you enjoy a challenge, then I say go for it. I always do. No fear. It's called "OJT"... we all have to start somewhere. Personally, I'm glad my momma didn't have me tied to her apron strings. :)

Dalannex

I did the 700R4 in my pickup myself, and didn't think it was that hard. It has 80,000 on it since then and still works good. I also rebuilt the TH350 in my Corvette, it works good as well. I think most of the horror stories are a way of scaring people into taking their trannies to the shop. Job security for the transmission shops. Just my .02 worth.

norvalwilhelm

Rearends are simple. Compared to a transmission there is nothing to it. I have changed mustang rear gears in less then 2 hours a number of times and all the rearends are all the same. You can do this yourself and since it is on the bench it is not difficult just time consumming.
Don't hesitate to e-mail me to talk you through it. Yes I have also done my corvette.

MIKER

Norval
Norval, you make a strong case against doing it "yourself" .


Buddy
Buddy, after seeing pictures of your engine, I know what you are capable of so for you to "chicken out" kind of scares me away too. BUT. . .a free loan of your Haynes manual is beginning to tempt me again!!! :lol: Thanks for the offer Buddy.

Jim
Jim, I'm glad that this thread can benefit the both of us. Sounds like we have similar decisions to make!

Simon
Yet another point against it!

Tom
I agree Tom, I think that any job can be done with the correct tools and reference guide. Loved the "apron strings" reference! LMAO!

Dalannex
Another strong YES VOTE! I must admit, I would really like to say that "I" rebuilt my whole car. Don’t need a professional mechanic for NOTHIN'. I know that I could do it and I want to do it but I still have to consider time spent on a given project. My time budget is almost as tight as my Vette's financial budget! As of this moment, I cannot say that I am absolutely NOT going to attempt it myself. Still have a glimmer of "wanna-do-it" in me right now.
Norval
Norval, Thank you for the offer. I will take you up on that one!
Can you point me to any suggested reading before starting this job? I have ALWAYS heard from EVERY car guy that I know. . .that it is darn near impossible to "get 'dem thangs right". Based on that, I've always wondered how in the heck major auto manufacturers have always managed to get thousands of them "right" every day of the year.

Norval, can you email me with a list of tools required? I think that I have most of the stuff needed other than my press being a little on the wimpy side. It is only a 12 ton job. I have a dial indicator, calipers etc.
I asked the guy at Tom's differentials if there was anything special about doing the 80-82 rear end and he mentioned something about the main caps cracking very easily as you torque them down. Do you know . . . Ahhh, I'll continue this with you via e-mail. Thanks again.

MIKER

I have contacted THE guy who is going to do my transmission. He is an old acquaintance from the area where I grew up. He always has been and is still the ultimate transmission magician. I haven’t spoken with him in several years until today. Transmissions are not his full time job. Transmissions are his passion.
Based on the discussion that I had with him today he is going to provide me with a transmission that will live a long healthy life behind my 383.

This reminded me of another old acquaintance that is a mechanical perfectionist. This guy is all about honesty and quality. Hard to find this type of integrity in the average mechanic. I think I’ll call him about doing my differential rebuild.
May as well check out these old contacts!

It may sound strange for someone to speak so highly of a couple of gear heads but these guys are quite a bit older than me and I have always looked up to them in regards of being good people with exceptional mechanical abilities. Ironic that both of these guys have jobs other than mechanic work.

Dalannex

I'm glad to hear you found somebody you trust to fix your tranny for you. I kind of see the point that for the cash that these pros will overhaul a tranny for it's really not worth it to do it yourself and risk having to install and remove it a number of times. I am determined to do everything I do in life by myself (kind of a character flaw of mine) :D so that is kind of the reason I did mine myself. I get a kind of a weird "high" out of saying I did it myself and everytime I consider having a shop do something I tell myself, "at one point in their lives the so called professionals didn't know how to do it either, they had to learn it, I can learn it as well", then away I go to tear into something. The next step is always to the Corvette Forum to ask how to do it once I tore into a project and get confused. :)