77Dream

Well I'm in need of an new tranny and the guy at the local shop recommended the 700r4. Is my gear ratio (3.08:1 I think) good enough to take advantage of the new tranny?

(I did do a search and read some older posts on this topic, but I guess I'm that needy type person who wants personal attention :D )

Also, I have not taken my car to the shop yet, I just got a quote over the phone. They said the price could range from 2,000 to 2,800 out the door depending on exactly what they have to do. This seems a little high to me but the shop specializes in classic car trannys, and they are very well recommended. I am willing to pay a little more to have it done right the first time, but not too much more.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Fevre

700r4's have a very low first gear so it should work pretty well with that gear unless you go to a radical cam them you might think of going up to a 3.55. My formula has a 3.73 and first gear just roasts the tires. :)

Tom73

My C4 with the 700R4 has something like a 2.73 :1 rear gear and it will get up and go like a scalded cat :D I would think that a 3:08 would be a great gear. :)

tom...

dberry

Find april 2001 issue of corvette fever . Has artcle on 700 r 4 change plus phone numbers of suppliers.

ram82fire

Tom is right any good small block in decent tune will scat when running a 700r in first gear . That includes pulling a 2:7 gear ,if it doesn't find a good tuner .

geo

Jvette73

Dont matter what gear yur runnin...the 2004R is a better trans. Better swap. Closer ratio gears and higher O/D. Smaller, lighter, robs less power....the list goes on. Just thought Ide mention it. Just as strong as the 700 as well. Poke around and youll find out.

Bobchad

Another good post on the subject.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=389531

77Dream

Thanks for all your posts guys.

Anybody else with this opinion? Everything I have been told or read is that the 700r4 is better than the 2004r.

(man... it sure is great to have a forum like this when making a tuff desision)

77Dream

Thats a great thread. From reading that I think my low gear ratio will work a little better with the 7004r (or at lease be a little more fun).

page62

A properly built 200-4R is just as good as -- if not better than -- a 700R4. There's a lot of ignorance and misperception about the 2004R. But mine rocks. Shifts better than a manual tranny.

Shop around. Ask for opinions from the best in the bizness. Contact Steve Holmes at Bowtie Overdrives and Art Carr at -- well -- Art Carr. Just put some www. and .com around those and you'll find 'em.

Glensgages

I've run THM 350's & THM 400's in my Z28 drag car, and never messed with the 2004R/700R4 trannys, until I bought my '82. Very few of the 'racing tranny' manufacturers I've dealt with (TCI, ATI, Trans-Specialties, etc.) in the past seem to offer much for either of these AOD/4 set-ups, but I think that SUMMIT lists a complete TCI 30-spline 700R4 in their catalog. Two things I like about racing trannys; #1- They are BUILT to survive behind big HP/TQ figures, and #2- they HAVE to last, or racers would find another supplier. You may wanna consider this.....

jdunne

I have a 700r4 with 3.08 in my 74R....I am not sure what it would be like with a standard L48,Mine is a very strong 383.There is no problem launching fast and it is great to cruise at 70mph with less than 2000 rpm....best of both worlds......john :chevy ;)

77Dream

Thanks for all your help guys. With all the helpfull posts I have decided to get the 700r4. You guys have made me feel very confident in my choice. Many thanks to everyone!! :)
:grouphug:

vettedan

77Dream-I'm currently running a '95 LT1 and 4L60E tranny in my '76 with 3:08 gears. I thinks a great combination. I get over 20 miles per gallon on the highway and run a 13.5 sec 1/4 mile.
Dan

Lt1er

The 4L80e or 200R are much better choices. I kind of wonder about why someone would tell you that it runs great in first gear. What about the rest of the gears?:( I have a low range shift **** in my pickup. Then I can get from 0-20 mph really fast

Your gear spacing will be so out of whack and the top gear will only be good for fast freeway driving. Total waste of money IMO!

BSeery

I had a 700R4 installed in my 1980 with the 3.08 gears. It launched decently and had a great cruse (75 mph at around 2000 RPM (my tach sucks) ).
I changed out the rear gears to 3.73's hoping for a better launch and a better 60 foot time.
Well, that was a big mistake! I get nothing but wheel spin at anything more than about 20% throttle. The cruising on the interstate sucks and I am going to put my 3.08's back in.

gkull

What are your goals? Lot's of places will hop up your TH350 for cheap. You best bet is go to some online tranny performance place and purchase an exchange tranny & TC. It's not really ccost effective to spend over $2000 on a 700R4. Your going to get better performance by installing and better cam and higher compression.

My 1/4 mile times slowed down when going from a th350 to a 700r4. They use more HP and the gear spacing is all wrong. My fastest time with 355 ci and TH350 tranny with slicks was 12.38. The 700 was about 2/10th slower and that was with 3.55 rear gears.

Jvette73

Heres a couple links to check out when choosing trans. The first one shows dimentions and gear ratios of the different choices.
The second one is a gear calculator so you can enter variables and see results. By comparing speed with rpms you can see how fast you'll be goin at the top of first gear at redline and what the rpms will drop to when it shifts to second and so on. Great tool. It is still IMHO, your better choice would be the 2004R.
http://www.bhrmotorsports.com/data.htm
http://www.prestage.com/carmath/calc_Gears.asp

77Dream

Those are some great links. I really like that calculator. It helps me understand allot better.

Thanks!

81ZZ4

OK...Your should take the first gear ratio of your tranny of choice then multiply that by your rear ratio.
Optimum for 1/4 mile hit is 11.4

Just did my 700 R4 with my 3.55 rear. Comes to a 10.8.
11.4 would give me 1/10 second faster 1/4 mile than my 10.8
Not worth the gear change nor would I feel it.

real world deal...took it out last night for first time since the conversion from orig. 350C.

Holy Mother @#$%^^***!!!!! With my ZZ4 pushing 450 horse this thing is completely "Off the hook" I can melt the tires in 1st at any rpm desired with absolutely no effort at all. Then when I'm cruising and it goes into 4th it's a wet dream!

So, depending on your engine, cam, head combo...choose your rear ratio from there. The tranny is the coolest upgrade. Do it!
Spring is coming :rofl: