no reverse 700r4

[Djgabriel2010]

My coworker stated the tranny to my new truck is a 700r4, but the original owner states it doesnt go reverse any advise what it can be?

 

[crazy4offroad]

What color is the fluid? If black-ish then the 1st/reverse clutches are toast, and when he takes off in drive it is actually running in 2nd. He could verify by shifting into L1. If the fluid looks normal it could be the 1st/reverse apply piston is cracked, or the piston's seals are bad. I think it would at least try to move though if those were the condition. There's other better trans guys here that will chime in later but there's a couple things to try.

 

[bucket]

It would help to know what trans it is. TH350 has a pan that looks like a square with a corner chopped off, the 700r4's pan looks about like a basic rectangle.

I've killed a few 700r4's and they all still had reverse when they died.

 

[Djgabriel2010]

let me look into it, and i apologize for any inconvinience, this is my first truck and i dont know squat about trucks lol, all i know it was a gift from my grandfather

 

[Djgabriel2010]

What would you recommend to replace or repair, i am currently in mexico so many people are saying its easier to replace to the 350 here in san luis mexico , but i want to restore the truck as is, with that tranny

 

[crazy4offroad]

It's a hell of a lot easier to just replace the trans and turn your old one in for a core charge. Without having a few specialty tools to rebuild one yourself, that's pretty much off the table. If you want to keep the 700R4 that's your option, but lower axle gears (numerically higher) will really help prolong the life of the trans, and at the same time give it a little more pep.

 

[Djgabriel2010]

So i got it to turn on after 4 years off it siting and i DROVE!!! but no reverse i found a 350 for 150 so im gonna swap out after i replace all fuel lines, there all cracked lol

 

[HotRodPC]

Wow, Old Thread I missed. The Th3500 will be much more durable than a 700r4. That's what it has is the 700r4 for sure? 82 was the first year for the 700r4. Lots of problems and many many many updates since 82.

 

[Djgabriel2010]

yes i verified and it is a 700, i drove it around town after i gave the truck a spark plugs and wire swapped, complete oil change and new fuel pump, the truck lags when turning on after is cools down though, i dont know if thats normal or not though. but i can honestly say that the truck drove and it doesnt have a reverse and it does drive in 1st gear. kicks into 2nd and takes a while but kicks into 3, havent gotten enough time to see it it goes into 4th gear but im gonna try tomorrow.

 

[HotRodPC]

No reverse could be a few things. Usually, Reverse Valve in the Pump is hung up and/or Loose, or the snap ring has given up and the valve fell out. Could also be damage to the reverse drum, or roller clutch.

 

[Djgabriel2010]

i just got here from the shop they are charging me 650 for a complete tranny rebuilt! sounds good! and a coworker is offering his 350 tranny for 150 but i know how he drives and he raced his blazer alot, i dont know if i should take the offer.

 

[HotRodPC]

What trans is in the truck now? IF it's a 700r4 you'd have to have to get a $200 kit installed in the Th350 to work, OR have your driveshafts cut and shortened, along with move the crossmember, which might mean exhaust work too.

If $650 is a 700r4 Build, that'll be a bare bone basic build.

 

[Djgabriel2010]

nevermind on the 350 swap, he told me all the other prices after i got to his shop lol, instead he gonna install a 700r4 tranny he had sitting there. i payed the labor with the holley carbs and eldelbrock carbs and zz24 intake so hes charging me 300 for the tranny thats all. i took his offer. his picking up the truck monday next week

 

[HotRodPC]

Cool. That should work out. Paul, another member, is having good luck so far with a used 700r4 trans he picked up for a trade IIRC.