I've decided just to rebuild my 700-R4. While it's out, and I dont want to spend over $1500, what should I do? I found some peopel that can rebuild it, and he said since I would be using it street/strip, he'd throw in some heavier clutches and....I dont konw what else but he said we'd talk, Im sure someone here knows what he's talking about. He said it'd be anywher from $650 to $850 for a basic rebuild(depending on heavy duty stuff)
That leaves me a few hundred bux. What should I get?

 

I would go ahead and get a turbo 350. Every i know running a 700r4 in their drag cars keep blowing them up. I actually just trashed my 700r4 and i'm getting an "indistructable" turbo 350 built for like $400.

 

I dont have ginormous plans for the car, Im putting a 355 TPI in there, and hoping to run 12's on motor, and then I'll spray. But w/o juice, Im not lookin at big HP numbers.

 

if you want to run 12's i would def. go with something besides a 700r4, expecially if you are planning on a lot of drag racing. they are stronger and cheaper to build. converters are also cheaper.

 

Yeah, but how much will a T 350 cost me? And how much do I need to do the converstion?

 

try www.rosslertrans.com and see what they have. They rebuilt mine which lasted 3.5 years with me beating on it with a LPE 383 and were recommended by LPE also

 

i say stay with the 700R-4 if it is a daily driver or you get any highway use out of it. i would get a new lock up converter for the transmission with the left over money. the 700R-4 should be fine for what you have planned. i have run low 12's pulling a tire off the ground for a year and have had no problems with the stock tranny. i have put well over 50 runs on it going that fast too.

 

Actually the TH350 is not any stronger than the TH700R4. The 700 just has the overdrive. In fact GM had the same reliability issues with the 350 when it first came out. Most people like the cost factor but if you drive the car on the street much you will hate the non OD 350. If it is a strip car only go all the way build a TH400. For a good performance trans in the $1500.00 ballpark check with http://www.transmissioncenter.net/highperflist.htm I have a buddy with a Raptor in his 'vette with a 525 hp 406. The beast keeps on coming back for more. Take it from someone who has rebuilt many transmissions you are not going to get a real race ready 350 for $400.00. A good converter alone can exceed that. Parts alone for a cheap rebuild can go for about $250.00 plus depending on whether you need any hard parts. Just rubber and clutch kit with bands and a rebuilt (beware) converter can go about $250.00.

 

my $2500 built th350 is no better than a 700r4?
maybe as a daily driver the 700r4 is the way to go but if your racing the 700r4 don't compare.

 

baddest305 thats why I made the above statement. If I were a serious racer and did not use my Z on the street I would not even consider the 700 but if I were to consider 2500.00 for a 350 I'd rather put that toward the much more race ready TH400.

 

Pull your #8 check ball and drill the orifice next to it for a harder 2nd, you can also put a Corvette or a billet servo in. I've been told to pull your #1 check ball for a harder 3rd. If you are going to pull the input housing then put better clutches in the 3-4 set up, this is the weak link. You can also get a valve for the pres. regulator to boost your pressure. If you really want to bang second then replace the 1-2 accum. spring with a piece of pipe that prevents the piston from moving. This will give you a very hard 2nd gear but will probably shorten the life of the trans. I was able to chirp 2nd with 1/4 throttle and burn 2nd with this on a stock 350 tpi engine. Adjust your T.V. cable for higher pressure.

 

A 700R4 won't break if its done right and can be as strong or stronger than the others. Get it done right, get in touch with Pro Built Automatics.

 

yeah, I'm running almsot exact same setup as aklim, running a 700R4 rebuilt by trans specialties, no problems yet, and strong as hell, plus you get OD for daily driving.

 

Exactly. They are becoming more and more popular for that stuff.

 

Im getting a guy named Larry Decker to rebuild my tranny. He is very good and I've heard from alot of people and seen some of the drag cars w/ his tranny in em holding up for a long time. He's in Fort Worth, TX. Anyone heard of him?