lambo5150

Had a Transmission put in this car when I was restoring it in Nebraska. Here are the specs.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/700R4-700R4-4L60-Chevy-Performance-Transmission-550HP-/350377070947?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item519419d163.

Its Suppose to have all the whistles and bells (shift kit, corvette servo, high durability parts and gears) and already acting very strange like it slips after each shift unless it shifts at 2k which appears ok. The place I had install it was in another state. I took it to one place nearby who said that the tv cable was badly adjusted (shifting into 2nd at 4-5mph) and they adjusted it. Its still got same problem and when I gave the transmission guy a test drive it acted ok (just that one time I swear, how typical). He said it could be valve body but didn't know. Here is what it is doing I hope I dont need to have it taken out and parts replaced after spending $1,400 on it all already. Only put about 500 miles on it if that.

Today I called the place where I bought it they said it should be shifting at 15-25mph. I went to another transmission shop. He said the tv cable looked messed up and it was adjusted as much as it could. He said I probably needed a new tv cable or the problem is in the valve body.
Well I did what he told me to try and added 2 fishing weights to the cable. It was finally shifting at 15mph. Still a really bad slip going into 3rd (shot past redline). Im hoping this hasn't messed up everything.

Any help or thoughts are appreciated here is several clips of what is going on

antoine

How is the tv cable adjustment

bwiencek

sounds like the 1-2 shift is sluggish causing the 'shift flare'. A couple of things come to mind and all of them are going to require you to get inside the trans (time to see if they honor their warranty!) What I would check is the line pressures first to determine that it's not a line pressure problem. (which you've adjusted the TV cable excessively so it might be as simple as low pressure but what's causing it will require dropping the pan and seeing what's going on with the TV cable, linkage, valve, etc.)

I'd also check the following while it's out:
- Clearance on the servo apply (there are different length pins to get it correct)
- servo seals
- 1/2 accumulator piston, seals and spring are all in good shape
- boost valve has snap-ring in the proper groove and hasn't popped down or fallen out causing low pressure. Did it work great with firm shifts for a few miles then go limp and soft "all the sudden?"

lambo5150

Well I'd have to have a transmission place do all that work I know nothing a of taking the transmission apart. With 3 fishing weights added to the tv cable the car goes into 2nd now at about 18mph or 2700 rpm's. The shift into 2nd is pretty firm now. 3rd gear still has a bad shift and after getting into third it seems to keep downshifting then up shifting several times. If I dont get on the gas much it will shift into 3rd and 4th fine but then what would be the point in getting that transmission. If problem is in the transmiision and its not the tv cable is the place that put it in at fault or the place that built it? Either way if tranny is bad I pay a shop $400 to take it out and put one back in when it arrives and pay $200 to ship it back to them in florida.

To answer your question the first 250 miles i put on it I drove it soft because it was just the drive from Nebraska to Missouri but once here and getting on it, I have always noticed a slipping. Definitely cant feel that it has a shift kit in it, also hoping whatever is causing this problem isn't eating up the clutches inside.

bwiencek

Well - it doesn't sound good regardless - if the shop that put it in "screwed up" the TV adjustment then you could have burned up the clutches/bands in the 250 mile drive - real quick way to tell - smell the fluid and look at the color - if it's brownish or smells burnt at all then it's shot... Of course it could also be an assembly problem - you said "I have always noticed a slipping" that could be the shop that built the trasnsmission's fault... Don't know for sure until some more diagnosis is done.

If it were me I'd have a local place drop the trans pan and take a quick look at it before paying for the R&R labor for the complete trans... Might just save you a little bit of cash if it's something real simple like a stuck boost valve or bad TV - you should call the place that built it and see how they want to handle the warranty - sometimes they'll just pay a local shop for a diagnosis especially if they purchase national warranty insurance on their builds they may just have you do that and if it's burnt up then they can turn it over and have them deal with it (real doubtful on a 'performance' build.) I'd contact them before doing anything and tell them what you're expierencing and let them know the trans was put in by a pro shop and not a DIY job (just so they're comfortable that it was done right) - putting the weights on the TV cable isn't right for a properly built trans...

Since you're in KC drop me a PM if you want me to point you to some good local resources...

lambo5150

Ok just went to certified transmission they were closer and had free diagnostics. They said TV cable is bad, and I probabally needed a new one and it was adjusted horribly. Also they mentioned the converter didn't have a lock up? (he said gives you lower rpms on highway). Anyway he gave me a $2100 estiment! I don't want to pay over $100 more out of my pocket even antd thats $600 more than I paid for the first transmission plus installation.
Been shifting manually today. No slipping into 2nd still small slip into 3rd so I guess clutches are bad. Waiting to hear back from the ma and pa transmission place in Milford that has apparently screwed it up. It was only even put in the car in August!

bwiencek

Bummer - you can run a LONG time on the non-lockup converter - just need to keep the trans cool.

As for the TV cable replacement - it can be done in the car and you don't even need to drop the pan - but I would HIGHLY recommend dropping the pan and checking the linkage inside the trans. I think A&Reds has the replacement TV cables (they are super long to be universal for TPI, TBI, Carb applications and you cut to fit and it has an end that has a screw adjustment on the end...) if you can't get the direct fit one at the parts store...

If you need help I may be able to lend a hand but my schedule is kinda crazy busy...

lambo5150

I really appreciate all this help. Also I have an update

I took the car to a place close to the pick n pull on truman. Two of their mechanic's gave it a spin and they think the transmission is not shot yet as it does respond and with little to no slip when manually shifting it. They told me they thought a new cable with proper adjustment SHOULD fix everything. They told me too that they buy parts from a&reds. They said finding an oem cable is impossible for that car (he told me hes been in business for 50 years and has checked over the years several places for those). Anyways he gave me a quote for new cable and installation $100. Im thinking I should at least give it a try since it sounds like the cable that is currently in there is all messed up (could be why the old transmission was bad and died soon after I bought the car). If I ship it off and get a new one from Transmission Depot they will take out the old one and put in the new for $250, a lot better than the $770 Certified Transmission quoted me for the same thing.

He kept telling me about it sounding like a pressure problem. I asked if he could run a pressure test like you recommended he didn't act like he was originally going to but told me he would. Also in question about not being never having a 2nd gear scratch with it (with having the shift kit and all).

also tried calling the place that put it in to see what they would say. It was installed in august of last year so not even in for a full year, places I've been to said they should at least made a note of the bad cable when they installed it.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

10163879 seems to be available for the 89-92 throttle body contradicting what he's saying.
https://www.google.com/search?q=10163879+thirdgen.org

I'd get the GM cable and do it myself just because of the "impossible" spew he gave you.

lambo5150

Thanks a ton, He was going to get a universal and try to adjust it. I thought since the guy telling me this was about 70yrs old there could still be a way to find an oe on the internet (he told me he tried to get one from gm dealers years back with no luck). As for the installing it myself. Even with the detailed instructions I wouldn't know thing one about installing it even with the detailed instructions and diagrams that came with the transmission.

joshc

iTrader: (1)

I just checked availability on the part # jmd listed ( I work at a gm dealer).
Part is in stock at about 10 GM warehouses.
Pretty much no matter where you are in the continental US, any Gm dealer could order one and have it in 3-4 days tops.

lambo5150

Thanks, that sounds good, Ive read having one adjusted would be a waste and a oe is a definite must. But then I also read on a post, "TV cable position doesn't cause slipping, it just causes the transmission to shift at the wrong times with harder/softer shifts then it should."

So I'm thinking I will need to pay the big bucks to ship mine off and have a new one shipped back, but I guess I will still try having a new cable installed first and cross my fingers.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

A universal can absolutely be made to work. However, spending a bit more for one you know is right eliminates some room for screwups, which can be invaluable.
That's funny and I sometimes feel that way too. Assuming something is disco. from an inquiry made 5 years ago makes no sense. And the thirdgens have been gone from production for 20 years; GM may have cables in stock because they're being driven, maintained and swaps are going on, which offsets the usual "eh, they're old enough GM isn't going to carry that part" logic."

That's how I felt nearly 20 years ago. If you have basic tools, you an do it.

Disconnect the cable from the throttle body bellcrank. Use pliers to unclip the cable housing from the bracket on the side of the plenum. Make sure the cable housing is free from any surrounding wiring and clips as it goes down the back of the engine. Remove the small bolt (10mm head?) holding the housing to the top of the trans. case, and gently slide it up until it stops. Then disconnect the thin bent wire link from the cable end. That's 5 minutes of work. Then make absolutely sure the wire link is in the cable as you reverse those steps for reinstall.

Which is exactly what causes slipping.

Good luck.

rusty vango

the correct tv cable is critical as is its adjustment

Cosmik Debris

The TV cable controls the line pressure in the transmission. If it is not adjusted correctly it will cause the clutches to burn up, especially the 3/4 clutches. It sounds like it may be too late but get it fixed quickly, do not drive it like it is.

TPeye

As Cosmik said, TV adjustment is critical. I burned up a freshly rebuilt transmission in less than 10 miles because the TV cable was improperly adjusted.

lambo5150

Update. Took it to a shop (horrible excuse of a shop). Bought the oem tv cable and had it installed. When I picked it up I was told it was fixed yet it was just as bad as ever. I paid them $60 to put in a $50 cable and what i got is a antenna stuck up on my car a broken speedometer and a check engine light that wasn't on before. On top of all that they told me the speedo naturally broke at the transmission and it stripped out gears in the tranny and a pin in there was bad? He said it would be $150 to ficx what worked before I took it there. He did say the pressure was off on the transmission though. Would bad pressure from a reverse boost vale be cause by the bad tv adjustment or a bad transmission? I dont know if to even trust the place or not though. Shifting it manually and letting off the gas pedal on each shift seems to prevent slip otherwise I have it. I dont know if to try to have the reverse boost thing fixed and see if that fixes things, or to ship off the transmission and have it shipped back for $360. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks, Brad

joshc

iTrader: (1)

I think its time to find a good transmission shop and have them look at it.
A quality shop might charge you $60-100 but its worth it to have a pro look at it and figure out if its an adjustment issue or if your trans is bad.
Otherwise its just a guessing game.
You don't want to spend the $360 on getting another trans shipped only to have the same issue.