[Elcamino70]

Hi all,

I'm new here, but I was looking over the site and thought that several of you might have some answers to my problem... I have a 1970 el camino with a 700r4, the model number is 4MK122HT. I decided to put a shift improver kit in it (B&M). I managed to take the valve body off but there seem to be only 2 check balls present in the valve body, when the manual explains that there should be three. Also, I removed the 1-2 accumulator housing from the separator plate and found a single piston along with a spring that seemed to be sagging to one side . I continued to take off the separator plate and the remaining check balls. When I pulled the separator plate away from the case, the 3-4 accumulator piston fell out along with the piston -- there was no spring. I looked up into the 3-4 accumulator bore and there was another piston lodged at the back of the bore. First off, I thought there were only supposed to be 2 accumulator pistons, but it seems, in my case there are 3, also shouldn't there be a spring in the 3-4 housing. At this point in time, I am trying to put the tranny back together with the spacers provided by B&M so that it works properly, so any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

--Bill

 

[briscoe]

700R4 accumulator pistons

Bill,the 700's without an auxiliary valve body [found at rear of trans,has a plate held on by 3 small bolts] will take 3 balls in the valve body itself.

If it has an aux vb,it will take 2 balls.

Yes there should have been a spring for 3-4 accum. However,someone may have been tweaking the trans a little.[extra accum?]

How did the trans perform,did it work ok.

If it did,you should be able to install the B&M kit,as per their instructions and things should work out fine.

 

[Crosley]

Bill,the 700's without an auxiliary valve body [found at rear of trans,has a plate held on by 3 small bolts] will take 3 balls in the valve body itself.

If it has an aux vb,it will take 2 balls.

Yes there should have been a spring for 3-4 accum. However,someone may have been tweaking the trans a little.[extra accum?]

How did the trans perform,did it work ok.

If it did,you should be able to install the B&M kit,as per their instructions and things should work out fine.

IF I understand the post;


In my world the non-aux valve body trannys have a flat plate with 4 bolts next to the accumulator unit held on with 3 bolts.

 

[Elcamino70]

Thanks for the advice Briscoe. The transmission has worked fine, but it chirps the tires from 1-2 and 2-3 (The car is no slouch but it's not a very comfortable ride -- no matter, it's not a daily driver until the summer). That was probably due to the 3rd accumulator piston or the lack of a spring in the 3-4 accumulator. There is no auxiliary valve, just a cover plate in its place, so I'm still not sure what was going on there. I know that someone has already tweaked the transmission by looking at the separator plate -- several holes have been drilled over (just as the B&M kit instruct). I'm going to put the accumulators together with the spacers and once i get her out on the road i'll let you know the results.

--Bill

 

[briscoe]

700R4 accumulator pistons

Tony,in my world also. Went back and reread post. Pretty bad job of describing aux vb,on my part. :nono:

Plate held on by 3 small bolts,was reference to plate,or cover,thats removed to access forward clutch accumulator piston.

Anyway, no excuse,and inspite of this I think Bill got it,which is good.

 

[Elcamino70]

I think I understand what you're saying....and if I understand you correctly, you are saying that there is supposed to be an additional plate that covers the 1-2 housing as well as the separator plate. If that's the case, i have no cover over the 1-2 housing, it just mounts straight to the separator plate which covers the 3-4 housing. I'll take some pictures tommorow to clarify.

--Bill

 

[briscoe]

700R4 accumulator pistons

Tony nailed me on my description of the aux vb,rightfully so,sorry if I may have confused you Bill.

Maybe a better way of asking you if this trans has an aux vb would be......

Is there a tube coming from the pump to an aux vb,no tube[or pipe],no aux vb.

I'll check your pictures out when you post.

 

[Elcamino70]

Thanks for the help guys. It doesn't have an aux valve, to answer your question Briscoe. I ended up going with two pistons, one for each accumulator housing, and installed the spacers provided with the B&M kit. I figured everything out with regards to the accumulators, but one last question. The manual valve link disconnected from the manual valve when I installed the kit and now I have the valve body fastened to the case with the link just hanging there. I was wondering if it is possible to connect the link to the manual valve without taking the valve body off the case, or if there is a way you recommend to achieve this.

--Bill

 

[briscoe]

700R4accumulator pistons

Bill,you can unbolt the internal linkage,rod going thru the case,but one word of caution. The area on the rod that goes thru the rooster comb[the part of the rod the detent roller contacts] Hope this makes sense.

This part of the rod gets distorted,it gets very sharp,so,you should file the sharp edges off before you push it thru the case.

It will be tight,and you will have to turn the rooster comb sideways,along with the manual valve,put the link in the rooster comb first,then put the link in the manual valve.

You know what Bill,it will be easier just to pull the vb back off.

 

[Elcamino70]

yeah , I think ur right. I'll just take the vb off and work at it that way.

 

[Crosley]

early 700 , non aux v-body unit.

many builders block the passage to the 4th gear acc piston with a 1/4 inch check ball.

the accumulation for the 2-3 shift is in the 2-4 servo assembly.


carry on.........

 

[Elcamino70]

Crosley, that must be what the previous owner did. This is a diagram(top) from the B&M instructions about where to place the checkballs. My separator plate had a "C" engraved on it and I'm wondering if I can get away with installing only 3 checkballs in both the VB and the case, and ommiting a leftover ball -- (there) wasnt a larger check ball in position "A" when I took off the separator plate.

 

[Elcamino70]

forgot the pic...here's the attachment

 

[Crosley]

Early design 700r4 need 4 check balls in the case normally, not including the check ball near the accumulator in the case

 

[Elcamino70]

its a '84 model but before mid '84

 

[Crosley]

its a '84 model but before mid '84

sorry I was unclear in my post........ early unit , pre-1987 tranny.


In the tranny case there are two oval shaped bath tubs were a check ball could be...

Set the steel flat separator plate onto the case.... IF there are 2 (TWO) round holes where the bath tub shaped area is.... a check ball must be installed.


:mwink:

above photo 1 .... early (pre- mid year 1987)

above photo 2, same tranny as photo 1 , shows remainder of tranny.

Before I am called on the carpet by other tranny pros here..... in 1987 the 700 had different versions of aux valve body and NO aux valve body and different check ball arrangement on each unit....

 

[Elcamino70]

Crosley, I'm going to take some pictures this weekend...I've been busy as all heck with work and haven't gotten around to taking pictures of the tranny. I'll post them, hopefully tommorow, and hopefully you guys will get a better idea of my situation, and have some time to reply. Thanks again.

-Bill