Driving Excitement...85 Trans Am Project. New Plan as of 5/3

[SSEiMan01]

Ok, so took the car out today after I got home from a family gathering, and had my day ruined. As of now, the car will not shift into the next gear unless I let off the gas completely and coast. And the shifts are BARELY noticeable, I only notice since the gear drive changes pitch. It has always shifted with good pressure until now. It will downshift if I apply about 1/4 throttle, and it will just rev, and slip like crazy, I tried re-adjusting the TV cable, and it did nothing. Fluid is topped off, I checked that first. I am literally at my wit's end and have no idea what I would do to replace this piece of *shoot* trans if it has *shoot* the bed on me. Anybody have any suggestions? If it is a dead trans, it will sit, for a long long time. It will also not get painted until it's runner again. This is another great example of my saga with this car, half a step forward, 582,974 steps back.

[SSEiMan01]

I may have a lead on a built 700R4, installed for cheap. Like REALLY cheap. Nonetheless, I still need to save money for about a month or so, maybe more, to pay for it. We shall see, but it's good to know people in somewhat high places. This guy is an expert on 700R4/TH350/4L60E, etc. He used to work for GM with my friend's dad. My guess is that there is about 180k on the body of this car, and I assume the trans may have been done at some point, but who knows with what. This car has been bastardized its whole life before me. I do not think I could even start to kill a 700R4 in the 2k miles I've put on this car, only the last 500 of which has been anywhere close to spirited driving.

[Hotwheels]

Hope that works out for you - there's nothing more frustrating than transmission woes - I can speak from experience feeling the same way as you with a few cars in the past. Finding someone who is truly good with transmissions is hard to find, so I hope this will get you back on the road!

[MattStrike]

These trans are known for breaking accumulator springs (among other things). I'd put money on that because the accumulators do not have enough capacity and pull the springs to 100% compressed, that kind of thing. I've extended the life of the one behind my 455 by pulling the pan and valve body to replace these springs. It's also possible that the TV cable separated from the valve in the trans or something like that.

The only way to stop the accumulator spring breakages is to sleeve them (replace the spring with solid block). Side effect is a hard shift, only good for the track. I've heard of people using spacer blocks to prevent too much spring compression, but don't know how that works (no center shaft like out 4t65e accumulators)

I'd have guessed TV cable, if it hadn't been working fine before. Only way I know to check the springs is to pull them though.

[smokingfireball]

in all honesty go to pep boys and buy some lucas stop slip idk thats my best guess cause when my dads trans blew it wouldnt move so idk

[SSEiMan01]

Not all transmissions fail the same way, Tim. I have an offer from my friend's dad's friend to build me a race trans out of mine for basically cost. Why would I want a ten dollar solution that will last a month and then this offer may be gone? I'm doing this once, and I'm doing it right.

Plus, this will make for some interesting progress pics. What we'll end up doing is taking it to my friend's uncle's shop on the other side of town, removing the trans, on a lift, and trailering the car back here until the trans is done. So, The Demon will be getting a piggyback ride from a blue Ram, twice.

[MattStrike]

All (original) 700r4's do fail the same way... Springs fail in the accumulators, which cascades to other failure points.

It will still have the issue even with a shift kit, parts upgrades, etc. See if your friend can put a sleeve in them to prevent them from breaking the springs?

What year is your trans? There is a slave accumulator that was added in later (post '88 I think) that helps prevent the issue. He might have one, or I might...

[SSEiMan01]

I was referring to Tim comparing a 4T65E-HD to a 700R4, Matt.

I just talked to him a little while ago. He said he can do this trans (rather the one in my brother's shed, assuming the spline count is right) up to handle the power I'm making and more for $600. 2200 rpm stall TC, which is what this cam NEEDS, shift kit, hardened clutch pack, yadda yadda, I'll mention a sleeve in the accumulator bore. He says I shouldn't have any issue running this trans beefed up with this motor, or even a mild 350. Anything above 500hp is where I would run into trouble.

Let's face it, as much as I'd maybe want a bigger motor someday, I like my quirky 305. Something about having the underdog to me is kinda neat. It is pretty kinky for a 305 after all. Plus, one swap on this car was enough for me.

[SSEiMan01]

Also, I've decided that once I get the trans back and installed, I'll get this to celebrate. Love me a stiffer front end.

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/steer ... odies.aspx

EDIT: Project cars can be addicting. I really should stay off of parts websites for a while. Too much temptation.

The car won't likely be painted this year, so the snowflakes will go back on and I'll probably primer the whole driver's fender. I have a replacement, it's black, but I know the ground effect mounting hardware will break and be a bitch. Maybe, just maybe it'll make some shows too. For sure it will get run at a test and tune day at Route 66 Dragstrip in Joliet, and an AutoX event or two, or ten. I'd like to do both with the 01, just for fun.

[SSEiMan01]

Decided to swap wheels today, nothing better to do really. Also, I have finally found the glue that defies gravity (and Comp Cams)! So far anyway, my rear view mirror has stayed up on the windshield, after two years of not having one.









Also took a walk around idle vid...

[MattStrike]

[ga93sle]

Mmmmm snowflakes...

[SSEiMan01]

I just picked the paint back up from the guy who was supposed to have been painting it. It is all safely back in my hands now, for whoever I find to paint it for real this time.
Glad you guys like the wheels!

[smokingfireball]

third picture lol theres a puff of smoke and i love the rims i mean the old ones were huge and these are small i wonder how hard its going to be to break them loose lol and the videos nothing like siting in that thing even brittany said she could here the thing from the garage

[SSEiMan01]

That was a crappy video taken by my phone. I noticed that puff of smoke too, it was kinda chilly and the car was cold. Even with a slipping trans it still does a block long burnout.

[wake]

LOVE IT!!!!!!

[SSEiMan01]

Poor trans doesn't know what it's got coming.



Should be done in about 1.5-2 weeks. Then the use of a friend's family member's shop will come in great handy to swap them out, and clean some things up under the car, fix the speedo cable etc.

[MattStrike]

Let us know what ended up being wrong with it!

[SSEiMan01]

In case anyone missed it, I didn't pull the trans out of The Demon yet. The one that is being built is the one from my brother's old 84. Still a 700R4 but this way I can avoid trailering and hangtime with a car that won't move unless pushed. This way it can go like this; drive car to shop, toss on lift, drop broken trans, paint trans tunnel with POR 15 to match the rest of the underbody, swap short speedo cable that broke, shove new trans in, burnout.



No burnouts for 1000 miles, curse you, break in period!

This is the updated build list for the trans:
- Hardened clutches
- Auto/Manual Valvebody
- Shift Kit
- Corvette gear servo
- New hard parts
- 2200 Stall Torque Converter

Grand total of $600, professionally built. :D

He asked how I wanted it to shift...
Me- "Well, I'm used to cars peeling the tires between gears"
Him- "Ok, I can do that."

[MattStrike]

Me- "Well, I'm used to cars peeling the tires between gears"
Him- "Ok, I can do that."

I did that... on accident, but not complaining.