400 into a 700r4

[ratty41]

well, the tranny in my 91 caprice just took a dump on me. not a surprise. it took a lot of abuse and am surprised at how long it lasted. but now that i have a pickup, i dont rely on the caprice for daily transportation anymore, so it is on project status.


anyways... i was wondering if i could plug a 400 into my caprice replacing the 700r4. i have considered finding a 700 in a junkyard caprice or camaro, but i have asked people smarter than me and the only response i got was that the 700's are junk. i got nearly 200,000 miles out of mine with no maintenance so im asking here.

should i find another 700 r4 to put in the car, or, get a 400? how hard would it be to put a 400 into my 91 caprice? what about computer hookups, etc.

my dad has had his 400 in his halfton pickup rebuilt 3 times within a 6 year period. id swear it was made of glass, so i feel like im getting mixed info.

im a vw guy so im not sure about interchangability between parts on american cars, so any help/input/criticism is greatly appreciated

[mooneye777]

its not that the 700r4's are junk, they just cant handle a large power capacity like a th400, if you like your overdrive you might want to stay with the 700, also changing to the 400 will probably require a different drive shaft and torque converter. and if your dad has had 3 tranny rebuilds in 6 years with his th400, he might want to find a better tranny builder!

[viking]

4L80E's are strong but the junk yards are really proud of em.

[ratty41]

this car isnt a powerhouse. it has a stock 350 with efi. (police package)

i think ill look for a 700 again. maby ill get lucky and find one at the turlock swap meet

about my dads transmission. he insists on taking his 1988 pickup to the dealer. wont take it anywhere else. so whoever rebuilds their transmissions needs to change.

[Henry Rifle]

The 700R4 in my '93 Vette with about 350 HP has lasted about 125,000 miles. It's all in the setup of the TV cable.

[ratty41]

a buddy of mine said he has a chevy/gmc pickup that is around a 77 (the boxy style pickups) that i could have and that it has a 700r4 in it. did any of these style trucks have them? i always thought it they had 400's. if it does, will it work in my caprice? he says it has a 700 i say hes wrong. what is up?

[69elko]

That truck wouldn't have a 700R4 unless it was replaced with one. They weren't introduced until the 80's.

[69elko]

If you are wrong on the year... look at the shifter on the inside of the pickup. If it has overdrive, there you go it's a 700R4.

[ratty41]

so, you are saying that a 400 doesnt have an overdrive? if so, that clears up alot of questions. my dads pickup has overdrive and i always assumed they had 400's and that my 81 chevy pickup had a 350 because it had no overdrive.

will an early 700r4 work with my 91 caprice?

this clears up a lot of things. thanks for the help!

[Whit Tabor]

If your dads truck is 88 it had 700R4. They were started in 1982. 82 to 88 were the weaker 700R4's. 1989 and up to the 4l60 were the stronger trannies. If you got 200K on a 700R4 that is very good. Rebuild yours or swap to 400 Turbo. They are the most bullet proof tranny. Turbo 350's are next inline. 400 and 350 turbos will bolt up. Have to change up converter. Turbo 350C's have lock up converter for a little extra on the hiway. This is wat i run in my street rod. Any Chevy 700R4 will bolt up. Just remember any of the older ones are only good for around 100,000 miles. So watch what you get from the wrcking yard.

[ratty41]

just curious about how strong a torque converter from my 700r4 is? when the tranny went out, it seemed like it was bogging down like and it took forever for it to get to speed. the engine would also rev really high before it shifted, and when it shifted it cricked your neck. should i also invest in a TC?

once a while back i had the car on a lift when i changed all of the fluids, and when i took the cover off to look at it i couldnt put my hand on it and count to two. is that normal?