- 700R4 Transmission (I bought a junker and had it rebuilt - total parts and labor were around $850 - Adapter plate to allow bolting tranny to Pontiac engine #TC560 -Torque Converter (mine is a stock stall w/lockup) - 3 gallons or so of transmission fluid - Transmission crossmember - THIS one is awesome. The one problem is that you need to lengthen the two holes in the middle of the member by a 1/2" or so. (Lengthen them towards the back side of the car.) The holes are too short because of the Pontiac-to-GM adapter plate. - Transmission mount (comes with the crossmember) - GM Throttle Valve (TV) cable - Console shifter mod kit Part #SC2262 - Trans shifter cable GM cable #498467 C101 - TV Cable bracket (near the carb) - Carb "cam" (like a bell crank) - Optional: Instead of the above TWO items you could get a TV Made EZ system (as long as they make one for your carb/fuel injection.) In retrospect I SHOULD have done this! - Shorter drive shaft - New Universal joints - New trans Dip stick and tube - Lockup wiring materials and diagram
"Good to Haves"
- Transgo Shift Kit - this kit is not for firming shifts it is basically a durability enhancer. - Transmission Cooler (almost a must have even if you have a built-in radiator cooler) - Correct speedo gears (that you've been putting off)
The lockup definitely works on mine. It makes the car feel like a standard shift while it is locked-up. Bowtie Overdrives state that you shouldn't have the car shifting while the converter is locked. For now I have full manual lockup so I have to be careful of shifting situations. Later I will have have another switch position on my lockup switch for automatic lock-up in 4th and unlock in lower gears or under braking.
Up above I have the console shifter mod kit as a "Must Have." I'm not convinced of that. Right now I don't have to push down on the T-handle to shift into any gear. The shifting action is firm and I'm quite careful so I'm not in danger of shifting into reverse by mistake. I do like having the correct PRNDD21 indicator plate though. (You can buy those separately.)
I did lots and lots of reading on the adjustment of the TV cable. I can't stress enough how important establishing the proper relationship bewtween throttle movement and TV cable movement is. If your TV cable is not adjusted right even if it is off by an 1/8" in travel, maybe even less, your 700R4 will not shift right. If you EVER find yourself in 4th gear by 30 MPH (short-shifting) pull over immediately and try to adjust the cable. Many web sites state that you can ruin the transmission in ONE MILE if you leave it in this short-shifting state.
If you get a junker 700R4, buy one that was manufactured in 1988 or later.
The 700R4 is NOT computer controlled.
Consider buying a 2004R transmission too. The swap may be easier and the gearing is a tad different. (2nd is a litttle shorter and 4th is a little taller.)
25 Feb 2005: The 2nd and 4th gear servos are in. I don't feel much of a difference in the 4th gear servo but the 2nd gear servo is ! The apply is very firm and positive. At WOT it'll chirp a tire going into 2nd. Update: After the transmission warms up the shift isn't quite as firm. That's good.
8 May 2005: I decided to test the highway mileage on the car. I filled the car up to the LAST drop, drove a mild 70 mph with a light foot and then filled the car up with 4.16 gallons of gas. Result 22.8 MPG! Not bad for a "gas guzzler."
! The apply is very firm and positive. At WOT it'll chirp a tire going into 2nd. Update: After the transmission warms up the shift isn't quite as firm. That's good.
