Prepping for 700r4 goodness

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,128
Reaction score
9,299
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Sounds like an excuse for laziness or unknown how to do it to me.

If it's really a lock up transmission, then hell yes I'd hook it up. You're dealing with the weakness just by having it already, so you may as well use it and get the benefit out of it IMO. To hell with mpg. How about keeping the transmission cooler which is the #1 Killer of a 700r4, HEAT !!!
 

Obwonkonobe

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Posts
531
Reaction score
116
Location
AZ
First Name
Ethan
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350
Sounds like an excuse for laziness or unknown how to do it to me.

If it's really a lock up transmission, then hell yes I'd hook it up. You're dealing with the weakness just by having it already, so you may as well use it and get the benefit out of it IMO. To hell with mpg. How about keeping the transmission cooler which is the #1 Killer of a 700r4, HEAT !!!
Would you recommend getting a granny cooler too then? I already have a radiator cooler but 115 is gonna be the average soon, and this will see highways daily
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,128
Reaction score
9,299
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
In AZ it sure can't hurt. Especially if you're going to be doing any off-roading or towing. Just be sure it hook it inline with the radiator cooler and keep both.
 

Obwonkonobe

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Posts
531
Reaction score
116
Location
AZ
First Name
Ethan
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350
In AZ it sure can't hurt. Especially if you're going to be doing any off-roading or towing. Just be sure it hook it inline with the radiator cooler and keep both.
That'll defiantly be on my list of parts soon thanks
 

ballencd

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Posts
119
Reaction score
55
Location
Columbus, NC
First Name
Charlie
Truck Year
1988/1991/1983/1984
Truck Model
V10 Suburban/V1500 Suburban/M35 bobbed w/dump/M1010
Engine Size
5.7/5.7/LDT 465-1c/6.2 diesel
Why would you hook the trans cooler in series with the radiator cooler? Inquiring minds want to know.
 

K5ride

Full Access Member
Joined
May 2, 2018
Posts
135
Reaction score
205
Location
Apple Valley, CA
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
C10 Stepside
Engine Size
350
I just finished putting a 700r4 into my 75 C10 Stepside this weekend. After picking up trans and getting rebuilt, the trans shop recommended that I contact Bowtie Overdrives. They specialize in these conversions. They hooked me up with the correct speedo gear setup to convert to cable speedometer. Also got the convertor lockup kit with a relay. It disengages the lockup when you hit the brake pedal. They asked about my carburetor too. Since I have an Edelbrock, i needed a kit with mounting for the TV cable and throttle, also different cable and throttle valve spring. Also had cable linkage setup for carb to get correct geometry for cable pull. For the crossmember, I had some holes already in frame. 2 were located correctly. Instead of drilling frame for the other 2, I drilled the crossmember. Much easier to work with and not drilling upside down. I had the th350 with 9 inch tailshaft before so driveshaft worked without changes. Bowtie Overdrives has a good website and are happy to answer any questions. They will even help troubleshoot any problems your having, even if you didn't buy from them. It's a fantastic upgrade for my old truck.
 

4WDKC

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
1,090
Location
Southern Florida
First Name
Kacy
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350
Why would you hook the trans cooler in series with the radiator cooler? Inquiring minds want to know.

Its not so much of an issue in AZ but up north you need to warm the trans fluid in the winter months. Absolutely get the lock up working, without it you will risk burning up the trans on long drives. If it doesnt take long drives why did you install a 700r4?
 

Obwonkonobe

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Posts
531
Reaction score
116
Location
AZ
First Name
Ethan
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350
I just finished putting a 700r4 into my 75 C10 Stepside this weekend. After picking up trans and getting rebuilt, the trans shop recommended that I contact Bowtie Overdrives. They specialize in these conversions. They hooked me up with the correct speedo gear setup to convert to cable speedometer. Also got the convertor lockup kit with a relay. It disengages the lockup when you hit the brake pedal. They asked about my carburetor too. Since I have an Edelbrock, i needed a kit with mounting for the TV cable and throttle, also different cable and throttle valve spring. Also had cable linkage setup for carb to get correct geometry for cable pull. For the crossmember, I had some holes already in frame. 2 were located correctly. Instead of drilling frame for the other 2, I drilled the crossmember. Much easier to work with and not drilling upside down. I had the th350 with 9 inch tailshaft before so driveshaft worked without changes. Bowtie Overdrives has a good website and are happy to answer any questions. They will even help troubleshoot any problems your having, even if you didn't buy from them. It's a fantastic upgrade for my old truck.
Nice! That's just what I'm hoping to do with the crossmember, can you send sone pics?
 

Obwonkonobe

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Posts
531
Reaction score
116
Location
AZ
First Name
Ethan
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350
Its not so much of an issue in AZ but up north you need to warm the trans fluid in the winter months. Absolutely get the lock up working, without it you will risk burning up the trans on long drives. If it doesnt take long drives why did you install a 700r4?

Il be driving it on the highway every day this summer, so since my 350 went out I figured i may as well get over drive now while im doing the swap
 

Obwonkonobe

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Posts
531
Reaction score
116
Location
AZ
First Name
Ethan
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350
Does anyone have fluid type recommendations? Its a fresh trans so my thought is 11 quarts of Dec III
 

rpcraft

Full Access Member
Joined
May 31, 2016
Posts
1,333
Reaction score
512
Location
Texas
First Name
Robert
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
LS 6.0 364 CID
Dexron 3 is pretty much what they use unless you want to get fancy and go with royal purple or another high dollar performance fluid. Dex 3 is pretty expensive enough as it is though when you figure you are doing about a dozen quarts or so (can't recall) exact quantities because I am not a trans guy, lol.
 

Obwonkonobe

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Posts
531
Reaction score
116
Location
AZ
First Name
Ethan
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350
Dexron 3 is pretty much what they use unless you want to get fancy and go with royal purple or another high dollar performance fluid. Dex 3 is pretty expensive enough as it is though when you figure you are doing about a dozen quarts or so (can't recall) exact quantities because I am not a trans guy, lol.
As long as it works that's good enough for me
 

4WDKC

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
1,090
Location
Southern Florida
First Name
Kacy
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350
Il be driving it on the highway every day this summer, so since my 350 went out I figured i may as well get over drive now while im doing the swap
then you definitely need to have lock up working.
 

Obwonkonobe

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Posts
531
Reaction score
116
Location
AZ
First Name
Ethan
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
350
then you definitely need to have lock up working.
The more I read about it the more I think I'll hook it up, will running without it for now hurt anything?
 

4WDKC

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
1,090
Location
Southern Florida
First Name
Kacy
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350
The more I read about it the more I think I'll hook it up, will running without it for now hurt anything?

It will cause excessive heat and can hurt it if driven in OD, if you keep in D you will be fine. Reason is in od the tans stops pumping fluid to be more efficient, this coupled with the convertor still slipping will cause it to create heat that doesn't get transferred to the cooler. You might not hurt it but to me its not worth the risk.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,162
Posts
950,639
Members
36,273
Latest member
dannyphx
Top