FyreLance

Just wondering how many miles are on your 700r4 automatic.

I just bought a used transmission to replace mine that went bad. It has like 96k miles on it and supposedly a shift kit, supposed to shift great, nice and firm with no problems. But I'm reading that 700r4's only last like 100k miles. I don't want to have to replace my tranny again in 4k miles. :P Am I screwed?

scuzzy

102K miles. it's going bad, hasn't died yet, but it's stock
with no aftermarket parts.

Your mileage may vary, that shift kit might actually make
it last longer, but I'm not sure. I'd personally go with the
TCI streetfighter, it's an expensive piece, but it's mostly aftermarket
parts and designed to be a performance 700R4.

I wouldn't say your screwed, you might luck up and make it
to a good 150K miles :P when you notice it's giving you
problems, that's when you're screwed.

MdFormula350

first car 1988 iroc-z 5.7 all stock expect muffler, i run the crap pit of the car from 102,XXX miless to 110,xxx miles before i wrecked the car. the previous owner take care of the car pretty well.

second car 1988 formula 350 just had a muffler, air foil, and filter, i also run this car very hard so hard that i made third gear started slipping before going into overdrive. too many wot's in odverdrive i guess., but it still ran good ok for daily driver use but after that it started going down hill and started sticking in gears and crap like that, it didnt matter because a few days after that happened someone hit my car and wrecked it. i also manually shifted the tranny almost everytime i was at a light no matter racing or not, that might of shortened the life some.

i have learned two lessons from my past two cars, dont wot in overdrive when racing at a light or a roll around 20 to 30 mph.

from now on i just cruise in overdrive but when i feel like getting on it real hard drive is my choice.

TransAm12sec

What would it matter if you hit WOT at 20-30 in OD or D?

MdFormula350

i dont know but my 91 tranny is holding up alot better since doing that
that has about 75,000 miles on it

MX265

192,000 Miles. I do frequent fluid changes and have only had the lockup solenoid replaced.

thirdgen88

When my car had its 2.8L V6, the 700 in it was at 130,000 and working perfectly when I pulled the driveline out... I guess it never got pushed too hard...

Chris's 85z

163,000 and running great!

88Camaro350

Mine factory tranny had 120k before it went. It never had a fluif change and was abused bad.

Now I have a 48k 700r4 with a trans-go shift kit and a tranny cooler. Hopefully it does ok for awhile.

FyreLance

Well I'm starting to feel a little better...

Perhaps I should get a tranny cooler and such, to be safe.

Chris's 85z

Run a tranny cooler and make shure the TV cable is set up right put in a Transgo shift kit and the tranny will last a LONG Time!

GMTech

My stock transmission in my '87 Trans Am had 160,000 miles, with the last 20,000 miles behind my engine that had me running 13.5 @ 103.7 It worked great when I pulled it, but I rebuilt it because I got tired of waiting for it to die. I didn't want to get stranded somewhere just in case it decided to let go, but when I tore it down, the only thing wrong was the band was a little dark, but still had lots of service out of it.

Deemax

iTrader: (1)

The 700R4 in the Camaro started acting up by 130K miles, but I'll tell ya....
I have an 89 K5 Blazer with a 350 and the 700R4. The trans is completely original (right down to the fluid!), never been serviced, never been touched (I bought it new), and has seen plenty of hard use on the beach in soft sand. It shifts/runs/everything just the way it did when it was new. At this point, I think I've rebuilt or changed just about everything on that truck except the tranny...and it has 233,00 miles on it. If someone wanted to bet me...I'd bet its good for another 233.

TransAm12sec

I will start the bet at $1

Camaro_nut

Yeah, that's very hard to believe that your '89 Blazer has
ALL original fluid and with 233,000 miles!!!!

Something had to be leaking at some point. That original pan gasket never started to leak???

That fluid HAS to be black!!!Not good!

I think your lying.....:lala:

I will bet at $2.

Mutiny32

That's not at all hard to believe. Sometimes the best thing to do is to not change the tranny fluid.

Deemax

iTrader: (1)

Absolutely. One of the worst mistakes a lot of guys make when they buy a new (used) car is to think they should tear in and change all the fluids that have never been touched. Over time, things settle in. When you dump it and pour in fresh, all those nice new detergents scour all the sludge out that's been holding things together and it starts to leak. Now, your 10 minutes of well intentioned preventative maintenance turns into a half day tear down to change gaskets. Sure, its best to change it regularly from the start...but if it's never been done, its usually best to leave well enough alone. So, CamaroNut, nope..the gasket's never leaked. And I don't doubt that that fluid is far from daisy fresh...but at this point, I sure ain't gonna touch it. The thing really does run as good as new. I suppose I got lucky, and I doubt that mine is typical, but...if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
PS..when the bidding gets to 650, enough to pay for the rebuild, I'll take ya'all up on those bets

FyreLance

I can vouch for that, changing my tranny fluid finished mine off.

Morley

140,000 on mine before I had it rebuilt. Trans shop said the trans was in very good shape before rebuild, hardly any wear. I had it rebuilt when I put in the new 350, just because.

TransAm12sec

So if you are to change the tranny fluid on a high milage tranny, what else should you do?

Camaro_nut

Well, I do see that you can get over 200,000 miles in an
original transmission. I do know it's possible.

But, this is actually very rare to me, and most of my
co-workers ( master/L1 techs) So, I just think right
away that your lying, 'cause it just sounded impossible.
Like I said, that's very rare for someone like me, being
in this auto business for over 7 years, to hear that!

Because, usually something ends up breaking in the trans.
over time. Weather it be a defect right from the factory,
or abuse. BUT, most of these trans. that go are usually
Fords and Dodges ( BIG surprise, huh?). GMs seem to
hold up better and longer, I guess. The only GM that
I work on is my Camaro and a 1996 Cutlass Supreme.

I have seen cars/trucks going up to 300,000 miles. But
only a few of those had original "untouched" trannys.
All of these were Toyotas. I have yet to hear a Ford
or Dodge, or even GM do the same, with all original
drivetrain. Nearly impossible in Fords!

Here's something that MAY prolong the life of
the transmission. Have a fluid flush service done.
IF done right, it starts with adding a cleaner to
the trans, then driven a few miles, machine hooked
up to trans. cooler lines, machine does the rest.
Cleans out ALL of the old , contaminated fluid,
and replaces with new. Then we add a conditioner
to it. We do about 4 of these services a day. Just
about every one done, I've seen in improvement
in shift feel and pattern.

That's my 2 cents, so where do I send your $2?

So, I hope that you get 200,000 miles more! That would
be something put in the Guiness book of records!

Camaro_nut

Oh yeah, one more thing...

You guys are 100% right to NOT change your fluid.
When you mean by removing the trans. pan, and
replace the filter, fill it up, and be done with it.

The only good done on this part is changing the filter.

The only way to actually change the trans. fluid
correctly, is spend $140- $150 on a complete fluid
flush! I know that's expensive for just a fluid flush,
but I also think that spending $30-$40 on an oil change
is too.

This procedure can help your trans. life! The old
method doesn't! Cause your only changing about
30% of the fluid. Like you guys said, adding new
fluid to old is NOT good!

Deemax

iTrader: (1)

Well, ya heard it here first . And I know it's rare. My mechanic, with 30 years experience, never saw it before. In fact, I'm gonna bust his head one of these days cause everytime I go in he asks "Didn't that thing die yet?? They never last that long!" Grrrrr....Bastid's trying to jinx me. But he knows it true too..he's been servicing the truck since it was new. I guess that makes up for the tranny in my son's Chrysler LHS...that POS blew up at 52,000 miles.
You're right about the fluid changes. Just draining them from the drain plug leaves most of the crap still inside. They should be power siphoned to get them empty. Costs more...but then again..quality usually does. Initially. But not in the long run.

Camaro_nut

Deemax,

What do you mean by "not in the long run"?

By experiance, quality is better in the long run.

Almost 99% of the time, you get what you pay for.

You buy a Chryslar LHS, look what happened. Those
ARE very big POSs! My friend has one of those, like
a 2001 with 120,000 miles! EVERY thing went on it.
The speedo, tach, Alternater, A/C compressor, motor
mounts, trans, head gaskets, etc......He's still paying
off the car!!!!

Deemax

iTrader: (1)

CamaroNut... ummm...yeah. Thats what I said. Quality may cost more initially...but in the long run, it saves ya money.

Camaro_nut

Oh....I misunderstood......

patrickm00

i've been to 127k, 144k, and now 150k on my trans ams with 700R4's. this one had the engine replaced at 144k, but that's because the previous owner had really done some damage to it. the other ones were all original.

Dan88IrocZ

Ya...don't forget that's a ****load of miles in a very short time.

I bet it would be safe to say if he put 120,000 miles on it in a 5-6 year period half of the accessories & engine parts wouldn't of broke.

25THRSS

99 k and still goin strong here.

Camaro_nut

Well, anything's possible. But I just know that Chrysler
and Dodge build poorly engineered vehicles with poor
quality parts. Just like Ford. GM is the only American
car or truck worth buying. I've worked on every make
and model of Ford, Dodge, Toyota, and about 50% of
GMs. Most problems found is with Ford and Dodge.
This is my experiance with these vehicles. Someone
else could be different. Everyone has an opinion, but
most people that I've worked or work with know about
Ford and Dodge, that they suck.

Don't forget about Deemax's son's Chrysler, the trans.
went on only 52,000.

FyreLance

Trannies in Chryslers suck, period.

Camaro_nut

Yes, they do! Very common problem with Dodge and
Chrysler. Better off buying a Ford car or truck. At least
the trans. should hold up better. Just don't buy a 1994-
2000 Ford Explorer or Mercury Mountaineer. LOTS of
problems with the auto trans. in those. Safer to buy
a manual , if you can find one.

1970Firebird

My 1987 IROC has 250,000 original miles on original tranny and the car is still a good daily driver. I had it flushed 2Xs and changed the filter like 4Xs.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

123k when I got it, 141k when I upgraded the 305 and put in a higher stall converter. Shift kit installed at 146k. Fluid & filter changed at each step. It wouldn't shift 2-3 at WOT, developed centrifical engagement around 165k, but worked fine in everyday driving. It was replaced when the 350 went in last month. It may end up in the '57 behind the 396 sometime in the future.

My daughter's '92 Lumina with 165k miles was acting up, primarily at stops, a fluid & filter change cleared it up.

Not changing the fluid is a fool's course.

91 camaro racer

iTrader: (2)

just turned 78000 after my road trip!!

Ramair21

iTrader: (3)

I got 162,000 on it with a corvette servo, Trans-go Reporgramming shift kit, new fuild and filter. Same TC and it hasnt died yet and it chirps second gear all the time when im on it. I love GM Parts.

Duck

Both our daily driver Camaros with 700R4s have about 170K on the clock, run fine, are driven aggressively, but not beat-up.

Cadillac

I've got 175K on mine. The addition of the servo helped the daily driving but I am still having a problem with the car dropping to either neutral or the lower gear at WOT. I think this would be solved with a shift kit.

I've had the car a year and a half and have changed the fluid twice.

400Z28Racer

iTrader: (4)

My 700R4 on my IROC has 32 miles only, and my 4l60e on my 97 Silverado has 180K. I drive my truck very aggressively, and tow every other week and it has no problems yet.

NoItsNotForSale

iTrader: (1)

236,000 and now its starting to act up. I have no OD.

8Mike9

I'll chime in as well...I have about 120K on my IROCZ, but minimal beating on it.

The RS I have was rebuilt at about 140-145K.

85z28guy

I had 205,000 kms, which is like 125,000 miles on mine. Probably would have lasted like 10k longer but I started to beat on it.

rlrepitman

It depends on how you drive and maintain the transmission mostly I think. Mine is original with 119,000 miles and performs flawlessly. I perform fluid and filter changes on schedule and never abuse my car. My parents' 1992 RS has approximately 270,000 miles with the original still functioning correctly 4L60E. It has mostly highway miles which I imagine helps a great deal with extending the life of the tranny.

IrS89IROC

149,200 miles and it only had the fluid changed once. It just went bad today. the 3-4 clutch band is gone. stuck in second. I'd say it did pretty well with the abuse it had put on it after its first 100,000 miles

Jetmeck

iTrader: (3)

Same here I changed my TCC lockup solenoid at the last fluid and filter change at just about 212,00, never been apart. Knocking on wood as I type this, she's been a good one.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

160,000 miles on the old 700r4 before it died.

cam92rs

i bought it with around 116,000,from a mild driver,now that ive got it ive been through a set of 40,000 mile tires in a little over a month,stupid,but fun.and its still shifting strong and fast like new,

but thats just GM and chevy for you

i meet your 2 and raise you 5

NastyL98_T/A

149, xxx when I pulled it out for the T5 swap. Never been out before that except for an aftermarket converter install.

88TATBI5.7

I have an 88 trans am with110,000 running strong but might rebuild it myself and a 88 formula that i just rebuilt the tranny at 250,000 both lo3.
but iv blown to many 82-86 in my S10 blazer with a 350 now it has a th350 built it myself with 4 wheel drive.
i perfer trans go shift kits b&m shift kits arn't worth the money will do more damage in the long run.
Also gm is not as fluid sensitive as the fords and dodges, but that doesnt mean you can let it go
Please just get a fluid change on high milage trans the flush can do more damage but if its in good shape could be worth a shot but its a chance.
just my 2 cents

mystikkal_69

iTrader: (2)

all my past 4 USED 700's have last only around 10-25K. the orginal 700 lasted 100K. i drive them hard, but i do change the fluid religiously @ 10K intervals.

the 700 that is currently in the car now has 2K. i have since learned how to rebuild the 700 and have the proper tools to do so. too many trannies in so little time.