stingerssx

I need to find someone who knows the thing in and out, and how to modify them. I called Westside Transmission, and I didn't really feel comfortable with them, so I need to get someone who really knows these things. My problem is that I can't afford to go see Art Carr, and I don't have a place to work on it. I'd like to take it to a shop, let them check it out, then fix the problem. Anyone know who is around socal that is reliable? and completely knowlegable?

Pro Built Automatics

Talk to Harry Khodanian at 818 9089650, tell him I sent you. He is in Glendale/Van Nuys area.

Shagwell

many on this board(myself included) only trust Pro Built^ or PATC(raptor)

If I needed local help(obviously in your area) I'd call the guy he's sending you to.

Burnout91

That's where I will be taking my car (to Harry's) to install the Pro-Built pro street rebuild kit & Edge converter I think it pays to do business with those who have built a sound reputation.
Bill

stingerssx

I called Harry, and told him my problem. He basically gave me a brush off. I explained the situation to him (what the symptoms were) and he asked a couple of resonable questions, and said that it sounds like the tranny was built incorrectly. I know that the tranny was built correctly, (the guy that rebuilt it could've done it in his sleep) and that was pretty much the end of my confidence in Harry. I'm pretty sure what my problem is. Although I'd rather hear from someone who knows more about these things than I do.

I understand if someone calls you out of the blue, and starts asking you questions about a transmission that his friend rebuilt for free, your easiest way out would be for you to tell him to remove the trans himself, bring it to you, and you will take it apart and put it back together for $1100. I don't feel too comfortable with this scenario. Seeing how the master overhaul kit was only like $350 or something. (And yes, I told him that Pro Built Automatics gave me his number) I also told him that I have another 700R4, and asked how much he'd charge to rebuild that one so I could just swap the two, and he said that he wouldn't do it because it wasn't the original trans from my car. I told him that it came from a '91 Camaro, but he said that they could be built differently for weight, gear ratios, power out put of the motor... (whatever!?!)
After talking to a bunch of people, and doing alot of research on this tranny, I believe that my only solution will be to do everything myself. Which puts me back in the same place as where I started. I don't have a place to work on my car. So I guess that I'll just have to talk more to the guy that built it for me, although, I hate to keep bug him since he built it as a favor to me.

SLEEPER 86

wish you were in ohio, i have a great tranny guy here. actually 1100 bucks is very reasonable for a 700r4 if the guy has a good reputation.
Eric B

iggy1991

yeah 1100 is about what i paid plus i got a better stall converter.

stingerssx

Yeah, $1100 would be the norm for a rebuild w/ converter, but not to dissassemble and reassemble the trans, especially being out of the car. If it was for R&R & parts, then that would be reasonalbe.

Pro Built Automatics

I talked to Harry about this and I have a question, did you tell him that you had a B&M Transpak in the tranmission?

stingerssx

Yeah, I told him that I have a B&M master overhaul kit that I got from Summit and he called it a transpak kit, and I said that it specifically did not come with any valvebody modifications, or anything else. He asked if it came with any hard parts, and I told him no. Just that it came with the steels and frictions and seals. I also told him what converter I have and that my motor is putting about 350 at the flywheel. He asked at the wheels or at the flywheel, and I repeated myself and said the flywheel. I was extremely specific about the situation.

Shagwell

not sure what your trans problem is since you haven't stated it, but the B&M kit is junk. Also, I've seen first hand shops that do this stuff day in and day out, but that doesn't mean they're doing it correctly, or that they don't make a mistake from time to time.

$1100 to freshen a 700r and give you a new converter? That's cheap enough even w/o R&R if it's done right. I've seen many people pay more than that for stock rebuilds that delivered less than stock performance.

stingerssx

Shagwell,

Just to let you know, I've addressed this problem in a couple of different posts. Most of them led no where. I do understand that some "rebuild" places will make mistakes, I deal with Jasper Engines at work and they have been known to make a couple here and there. And they're completely reputable. It's funny that you say that B&M kits are junk, seeing I know alot of people that abuse there stuff built with B&M parts. They never have any problems and they last forever, which is why I chose this kit. I doubt that you read the part about me having my freind rebuild it for me. Well, he did it at no charge knowing that I could barely afford the master overhaul kit and the converter. I did talk to him and he'll probably help me out with this, but he is having work done to his house, and has no room at the current time. I was just hoping that some people here would be knowledgable enough about this thing to help.

At this point, I'd like to see some one who would pay more than $1100 for a stock rebuild on a 700R4. I've got a bridge to sell them. Seeing how you can get an entire trans all day long for $1500-$1700 just about anywhere.

WillSpeedy

Off topic. I see you have the car craft car back from like 2001. Do you still have the edelbrock 409 rims? Are those seats as comfy as they look? Just wondering.

stingerssx

Unfortunately no, I didn't get the rims. But those are the only things that I didn't get. About the seats, well, I'm 6'4", so the seats themselves hug well, but getting them adjusted for me to fit in the car comfortably is a pain in the.... back!

Shagwell

ok, I'll get more specific. B&M and TCI 700r4 parts are junk. Their old-school t350/t400/etc parts are ok, but nothing to write home about. Neither company has really put much effort into improving a 700r. They have just carried over ideas and "improvements" that they use in the previous trans and have expected them to work in the same manner. An OD trans is a completely different animal than an old school 3 speed. Their clutch kits are ok, stock replacement items. Their shift kits are a good way to trash a transmission, and their converters are a quick way to trash a good transmission. - TCI has just recently came out with an upgraded reaction shell for a 700. These transmissions have been around for well over 20 years now, and this is one of the first problems that needs to be addressed when building a 700. B&M has yet to even do this. Both these companies are behind the times. Much of their parts are little more than stock, their converters and shift kits are worse than stock.

The only two reputable shops building high quality performance OD transmissions are Pro Built and PATC. They are the only shops I've heard of or dealt with that truely stand behind what they build, because they build a true upgraded and capable transmission. - I'm sure there are some smaller shops that put out quality performance 700's, but there are many more that turn out stock or less than stock.

I'm not trying to argue or put you down in any way, just stating what I and many others have learned the hard way. As for the rebuild price, there are 4 shops in town that I know of getting over $1k for a replacement/rebuilt 700.