Cascade Crew

Xecris · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject: 700r4 question/possible problem ?

Not too long ago, I replaced the 700r4 in my '91 with a freshly rebuilt one (new internals, lockup solenoid, torque converter, etc). I've noticed with this new one, that the car doesn't really accelerate very well unless I am wrapping 3 - 3.5k rpm, and then it'll start pulling. If I keep it at 3k, it'll just drone along, never really accelerating. The engine is a 305 TBI, if that helps. I've adjusted the TV cable several times, but aside from that I am kind of lost. I was told that the torque converter was a 'stock stall' type. I've owned manuals my whole driving life, with the exception of my 1975 Caddy. It just seems odd that the car has to drive around at such a high rpm to me. Also- Does 2100 rpm at 50 mph in OD (4th? I can feel it lock up) seem high?

One last thing. The car seems to hold gears way too long, and decides when it wants to kickdown. I've changed fluids/filter, and readjusted the TV cable. Searched a bunch over on TGO, didn't find much related to this, other than the TV cable. Any ideas?

91camaro_rs · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject:

thats wierd, i put a shift kit in mine, and i have a v6 and it accelerates pretty good and in over drive i can go 75mph at 1800rpm in overdrive.

Xecris · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject:

I went ahead and reset the tv cable position by the 'book' (D shaped thingie in, push sleeve all the way towards firewall, release, press gas pedal to floor). I only got 1 click out of it, but I am assuming that it was enough to set the system? Anyway, before, I had set it by rotating the throttle at the intake, and I got a lot more clicks that way (about 3/8").

Now, the car wants to really hold gears, unless I have near zero throttle pedal, and when the car shifts, it is very, very firm. I stopped driving it after half a block, and pulled the tv sleeve out 3 clicks. After this, it started driving better (to me), but wouldn't kick down in 3rd gear (2nd to 1st worked). I am almost out of ideas, since I am quite new to the 700r4. The transmission has about 300 miles on it now, and I'm afraid that I either got a bad one, or the trouble I've had getting the TV set has fried it already. I am almost torn on either swapping in my T5 from my other Camaro, or putting the gun to both and riding the motorcycle daily Sad

. Any ideas? I'm not afraid to toss it up on ramps and jacks and tear into it a little.

BTW- builder said he put in a transgo(I think?) shift kit, along with a corvette servo. Last part is greek to me. It still wants to drive over 2k rpm, never really seen the tach under 2500 rpm no matter what I'm doing, if the car is moving. AND! About 45 mph, it seems to be undecided if it wants 4th or 3rd gear.

I know, a whole lot to read Sad

I'm working on that, I swear!

chevymad · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject:

I wonder if the tv valve is sticking in the transmission? Transgo kit, and the corvette servo are good modifications to do. Is your builder anywhere close? You can burn these transmissions up real quick if the tv cable is wrong. The cable also sets the hydraulic pressure in the transmission, not just the shift points.

Xecris · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

The builder wasn't too far away, south of Seattle I think? He has built transmissions for 2 of my coworkers and 3 friends of mine, and they've all been stoked with 'em.

Would it be worth checking the valve itself? I know where it is, and can look for anything suggested. Would I be able to tell by watching it, while someone pulls on the cable at the TB?

Possibly unrelated, but when I pull on the cable between the sleeve and the bracket on the throttle body, it instantly snaps back into place.

91camaro_rs · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject:

I had a GM mechanic look at my TV cable when we were trying to figure out if my tranny needed replacing and he said the my TV cable is self adjusting, idk if its the same way with the V8's or not and, are the RPM's matching the sound of the motor, 91-92's tachometers are know to have the little resistor in the chip get fried and it makes the tach read higher than normal, it happened to me, but since you said it didnt want to go into 3rd there is definatly a problem

chevymad · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:55 pm Post subject:

I'd definatly be calling your builder. Especially if theres any warranty on this thing. It's so easy to burn these out if somethings wrong. He may not even want you to drive it to him.

Xecris · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject:

Tach is a little bit off (at 2000 rpm, the dash tach reads 2300'ish). I called the builder, and got a bit of a run-around with him, which ended with pretty much "Get a lawyer". Odd. Anyway, I adjusted the TV cable by the book, again, and the transmission seems like it is doing good. I took it to a transmission shop, and they read the pressure, everything checked out OK. The transmission was build in 85, the shop said, and they had a problem with "shuttling", I think the right word for it is, where it tries to downshift back to 3rd with little throttle input while in OD.

What I did get from the builder is, though, the transmission was a 'stock' rebuild, contrary to what the ad said. New sunshell and clutches and whatnot, but the valvebody was old, along with the TCC solenoid, and I am sure other parts. Trans shop said that they couldn't see anything really wrong with the transmission, though. It isn't slipping, overheating, leaking.

So this is where I am at. I've been reading that the Transgo 700 2-3 shift kit, with a corvette servo(?) is the way to go. Any thoughts on that? I helped my dad when we put a shift kit into our Cadillac, didn't seem outside my realm of wrenching. Reading over on TGO, there is a guy "Dana" at Probuilt Automatics, puts together a kit for this.

https://www.700r4l60e.com/store/product.php?productid=319&cat=65&page=1

In essence, has anyone used this kit? Will it possibly fix the 4-3-4-3 shuttling I get on the highway? I was told I can drive the car as is, as they can't see anything wrong with it. I would just like to avoid having to 'drill and tap' two holes on the TV sleeve, or get a B&M sleeve to fix it, may as well get the entire kit and servo.

On the plus, the car is upshifting and downshifting exactly as it is supposed to be doing in my 700r4 book. Thanks for readin

chevymad · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject:

I'm using pro-builts kit and like it. It's a transgo kit that he makes some modifications to. Are you sure its actually shifting from 3-4 and back? Mine locks/unlocks the convertor if i'm in town. Feels like its shifting. Let off/coast it unlocks, step on gas a bit locks up. Back and forth at some speeds. That function is actually part of the ECM and not the transmission.

Xecris · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject:

100% sure it is going from 4th to 3rd back to 4th to 3rd and so on. When it stabilizes in 4th, I know the TC is locking up (light brake pressure, just to hit the lights), rpms jump about 150'ish. When it is switching gears, the rpm jump is much, much more significant. I'm going with what the test drive the guy at the shop did, too. You can tell if the TCC is locking up with a scanner, correct?

If I have my foot off the gas, it will coast, I'll watch the rpm drop down to 900-1100 or so. It is when I am trying to hold a speed with steady throttle, that i'll be jumping around (when the transmission is warmed up). How hard was the pro-built kit to install? And thanks for stickin with me Smile

chevymad · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject:

There's alot more pieces to a 700r4 shift kit then a th350 kit. But its very do-able. I messed up the first time and bought a Superior/Fairbanks kit. Didn't like it at all. And their instructions had me modify the vette servo. So when I switched to the probuilt kit I had to replace the servo again. I can't remember exactly which modifications went to which kit now. The probuilt kit is firmer.. AND i got a few more mpg with it. That wasnt expected.

One modification I wish I hadnt done, but havent taken the time to reverse yet. Is installing the vette tv sleeve that allows you to hold 4th at WOT. Unless you're running bonneville you really don't need it, and it has the unfortunate habit of keeping the tranny in 4th when you really want it to shift down. Also the replacement sleeves are manufactured just a hair larger to fit tighter in worn valve bodies. This means if yours isnt worn, the dang thing is too tight and sticks causing weird issues as well.

Xecris · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject:

That is one thing I was afraid of with his kit, have heard about that. Is there a way to get it to downshift to pass without moving the stick? Or is it a case of 'It is in 4th gear, that is where it stays until the car slows down' ?

chevymad · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject:

If you floor it hard, then it shifts down(usually). If you only give it like 1/2 pedal.. you spend all day in 4th trying to pass. It's only one part, just use your old one.