[Paco]

Ok transmission people, here's the scoop...I have the chance to buy an early 700R4 with the small output shaft for my '40 Buick coupe. This car was built to cruise the hiway, not the drag strip. I doubt it'll ever spin a tire(well, maybe every once in a while) Is this transmission, if built properly, OK for my application? I figure GM made several thousand before they upgraded to the better version, all those GM cars can't be in the junk yards due to faulty transmission. Whats the verdict???buy it or hold out for the later version with better innards...PACO

[patgizz]

sounds fine for your purpose. i had one and blew first gear out of it in a week but that was behind a 400hp engine in a 4500# caprice, driving every day.

[troll57]

yo paco, buy it and rebuild it. there are several good kits available. make sure you buy a kit to lock up the converter and only use OD when needed. Heat is the killer in 700r4's. overdrive is bad if it shifts up and down trying to maintain speed. around town I run in D only in my lifted 90 xcab. Od used only for cruising. without the lockup kit for the converter, she'll get hot and die too. many kits for this as well. check out mags and make phone calls, a good trans shop should be able to poiint you in the right direction.

[Paco]

thanks for the insight on the early 7100R's, got it on the list to have built and install as soon as I get another rearend gear so I can do everything at one time...with 2:73 gears, the overdrive would be an overkill, so I will be changing to 3:42 rear gears at the same time. This should be a good combination, have had it in the last 3 pickups I have owned, works for me the way I drive and the distances I usually travel.