Are you a proud owner of a 700r4 transmission? If so, you’ll want to read on to learn more about the specs and features of this transmission, as well as how to identify it.
Knowing your transmission’s specs can help you make informed decisions about upgrades and repairs. Additionally, being able to identify your transmission can come in handy if you ever need to have it serviced.
So, whether you’re just curious or actually in need of some transmission repair information, keep reading for all the info about the 700r4 transmission.
In This Article:
700r4 Transmission Specifications
| Description | Spec |
|---|---|
| Name | 700r4 |
| Type | 4 Speed Automatic |
| Applications | GM Cars - GMC, Chevy/Chevrolet, Buick 1982-1990 Blazer, Suburban, Camaro, Corvette, Impala, Oldsmobile 350 and more |
| Gears | 3 + 1 Overdrive 30% |
| Weight | 170 lbs dry~ |
| Length | 23.5" |
| Gear Ratios | 1: 3.059 2: 1.625 3: 1.00 4: 0.696 R: 2.294 |
| Case Material | Aluminum |
| Input Spline | -1984 27 splines 1984- 30 splines |
| Name Before | -1982 TH350 |
| Name After | 1990- 4L60 |
| Fluid Capacity | 11 Quarts |
| Fluid Type | DEXRON VI |
| Max Torque | 350nm +/- |
| Image |  |
| Gasket/Bolt Pattern | 16 bolt  |
What is a 700r4 Transmission?
The 700R4 transmission is a 4-speed automatic transmission that was introduced by General Motors in 1982. It is based on the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission, and features an overdrive fourth gear that provides a 30 percent fuel economy improvement over the TH350.
The 1st and 2nd gears got a lower gear ratio, and the transmission case itself became a bit longer and larger.
You usually find the 700r4 transmission in GM cars like the Chevy Blazer, Suburban, Camaro, Corvette, Impala, and even in Oldsmobile Cars and many more. If we mentioned all car models this transmission was installed in, the list would be very long.
A lot of people like the 700r4 because of its excellent durability. Due to its popularity, it is also quite effortless to find replacement parts for this transmission.
The 700r4 transmission is not electronically controlled; it uses hydraulic pressure with a TV cable, which acts as a throttle position sensor to control the gear shifting. In 1991, the 700r4 transmission was replaced by the popular 4L60 transmission.
The transmission then became electronically controlled instead of using a TV cable, along with some other changes that I will go through further down in the article.
In conclusion, the 700r4 transmission is a 4-geared hydraulic automatic transmission with the 4th gear, an overdrive gear (30% increase). The transmission was made between 1982–1992. It had a case length of 23.5″~ and a weight of 170 lbs~ without fluid inside it. The transmission case has 16 bolts and a transfer case of aluminum.
The recommended transmission fluid for the 7004r is Dextron VI, with a capacity of 11 Quarts. The transmission is pretty reliable and can handle torque up to around 350nm~; remember that these are only the reported numbers, and it can be higher or lower depending on the age and maintenance.
RELATED: 4L60E vs 4L80E Differences: Swap & Information
K-Case Differences
The K-case 700r4 transmission was introduced due to the “K” stamp on the transmission case. The K-case 700r4 transmission was designed to work with heavy-duty 4×4 trucks, and it is known as one of the best offroad transmissions. The K-case is more robust and has a thicker transfer case.
How To Identify a 700r4 Transmission?
Most GM automatic transmissions look almost identical. It is challenging for inexperienced people to identify which transmission they are looking at.
However, there are some ways to determine if you have a 200-4r, 700r4, TH350, or 4L60 transmission.
1. Transfer Case Gasket Bolt Pattern
The easiest way to identify if you have a 700r4 is to raise your car and check the bolts around the transfer case.
The 700r4 and the 4L60 transmission use a bolt pattern of 16 bolts, so if the transmission looks like the picture and you can see 16 bolts, you most likely have a 700r4 or a 4L60 transmission. So how can you know which one of these you have?
Well, the 700r4 uses a TV cable as the speedometer, and the 4L60 is an electronically controlled transmission, so if you see wires coming to the transmission on the rear of the transmission on the passenger side, you have a 4L60.
2. Identification Tag
The safest way to determine if you have a 700r4 transmission is to look at the identification tag on the transmission.
You will find it on the rear side of the transmission on the passenger side. It can be pretty tough to see on older cars, so you may have to clean up your transmission to find it.
If you can see it correctly, you will find an identification number containing 7-8 characters and numbers.
The 1st number is the year model of the transmission. For example, if the number is 0, the transmission is from 1990. But it’s not that easy, because the transmission was made in the 1980s also. You will have to check the next few letters, as well.
| 2 letters 80's | 3 letters 80's | 3 letters 90's | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 = 1982 | 6 = 1986 | 0 = 1990 | ||
| 3 = 1983 | 7 = 1987 | 1 = 1991 | ||
| 4 = 1984 | 8 = 1988 | 2 = 1992 | ||
| 5 = 1985 | 9 = 1999 | 3 = 1993 |
- The next 2 or 3 letters identify the model of the transmission. These numbers tell us the application, engine size, wiring type, and solenoids.
- If you find two letters, the transmission was made between 1982-1985.
- If you find three letters, the transmission was made between 1986-1993.
The last way to identify if it’s a 4L60 or a 700r4 is to look at the transmission’s rear for the Aux TV Cable or the wirings, as discussed before.
- Wirings = 4L60
- Aux TV Cable = 700r4
The last numbers and letters indicate the manufacturer, rebuild, manufacturing, and serial number.
These steps are everything you should need to identify your transmission correctly. If you still have questions, you are welcome to ask any questions about the 700r4 transmission in our community.
700r4 Troubleshooting Guide
Even though the 700r4 transmission is durable and reliable, they do sometimes fail. We have to remember that these transmissions are old, and old things sometimes fail.
Here I will give some common symptoms of a bad 700r4 transmission, and add a short line underneath it to explain where you should start looking for the issue.
1. Torque Converter won’t lock and slipping
When your 700r4 transmission is slipping or won’t lock, it’s most likely a problem with the torque converter inside the transmission. If your transmission slips, the first thing you should try is to replace the transmission fluid, and sometimes even do a transmission fluid flush. You should do this before going into any more specific repairs
700r4 Transmission Fluid Level Checking
Let the transmission fluid heat up to working temperature and let your car idle in Park while checking the dipstick. If the fluid level is low, try to fill it up to see if it solves the problem.
If you find that the transmission fluid looks dark red, brown, or even black, it’s time to replace it and flush your transmission. Even if the transmission fluid seems good, if the converter is slipping, I still recommend that you replace the fluid and do a transmission flush as a matter of course.
RELATED: Transmission Fluid Color Chart (5 Different Colors)
There could be a problem with the converter itself, which may need to get replaced. Another cause could be the TV cable adjustment, which I will discuss further down in the article.
2. Revs up but won’t move
If your car revs up but will barely move, you should begin by checking the transmission fluid, as discussed before. Check the level and the color of the transmission fluid.
- Red = Okay
- Brown = Worn out
- Black = Burned
If the fluid seems okay, it’s time to check your TV cable’s adjustment between the transmission and the throttle body. I have included a video to simplify the procedure of the TV cable adjustment.
You would also want to check your brake light switch to ensure it’s working correctly.
3. The speedometer is not working properly
If your speedometer is not working, there are two different variants you need to know about before starting the troubleshooting. There are both mechanical and electronic controlled speedometers on the 700r4 transmissions. You must first check if you have a mechanical or electronic speedometer.
Raise the car and look at the transmission’s rear. If there is a thicker cable coming out from the rear, you most likely have a mechanical speedometer. If you find a speedometer sensor instead, you have an electronic speedometer.
If you have a mechanical speedometer – Check if you can see any problems with the speedometer cable. Replace it if you can see any signs of wear or other damage. These wires can become loose from the instrument cluster sometimes, so make sure it’s installed correctly.
If you have an electronic speedometer – Check the wirings between the cluster/control unit and the transmission and make sure there is no corrosion inside the connector. If the wires are okay, it’s time to replace the sensor on the transmission. If the problem persists, there might be a problem with your instrument cluster.
4. Vibrations during acceleration
If you feel vibrations while accelerating your car, there is most likely a problem with the driveshafts, prop shaft, or torque converter. If you feel vibrations all the time and not only during acceleration, you may have unbalanced tires.
RELATED: Why is My Car Shaking? (8 Common Causes & How to Fix it)
5. Not shifting properly
If your transmission is not shifting properly, you need to check the TV cable adjustment, as discussed before. Also, check the transmission fluid level and replace it if it’s worn.
Common 700r4 transmission Problems
There are some common problems that you should always check first when you are troubleshooting your 700r4 transmission. These issues include:
1. The Brake Light Switch
There is a switch on the brake pedal, and you should check to make sure it is functioning properly. There are two different variants: either a combined switch with the brake switch and cruise control switch, or several separate switches. Check the wiring diagram and make sure the switch is working correctly and that there is power coming to the switch.
2. Worn-out TV cable/adjustment
A worn-out TV cable or a faulty adjustment is another common issue on the 700r4 transmission. Make sure to adjust the TV cable with the video’s help. If you can see any signs of wear or damage on the TV cable, replace it!
3. Low fluid level/burned fluid
The 700r4 transmissions sometimes leak, which can cause low transmission fluid levels, so you should always check the level first to ensure it’s fine. Sometimes people let their transmission go many years without a transmission fluid change, and this lack of maintenance can cause damage to the transmission. Check the fluid level. Replace and flush the transmission fluid if it looks dirty.
4. Faulty Torque Converter
Unfortunately, the torque converter can sometimes fail on the 700r4 transmission. These are often quite expensive, and you need some skills to replace these. If you have done everything above and the transmission is still slipping, you might have to replace it. There are some videos on Youtube on how to replace the 700r4 converter.
700r4 Transmissions for Sale
If you have found a severe problem with your 700r4 transmission, you might want to replace the whole transmission. Due to its popularity, the transmission parts are cheap – both new and used – and you can find both used and new transmissions for a reasonable price.
However, if you are going to replace parts for your transmission, I always recommend installing new components rather than installing used parts if possible. Remember that most of these transmissions are already old and worn, so it’s worth getting new parts in most cases.
1. Brand New Transmissions & Parts
If you are looking for just any parts for your 700r4 transmission or a brand new transmission, I recommend you check it out on Amazon or eBay if you live in the USA or Europe. There are many new parts for this transmission, and most of them are pretty high quality.
Check the recent customer reviews of the part to get an idea of the quality of the product. To see the parts, you can go to Amazon by clicking Here.
2. Used Parts
If you are looking for a used transmission, you can find it online. You can probably also find one at any nearby junkyard. Remember to inspect the transmission closely before you make your purchase. Try to get as much information as possible about it, like the mileage, how many transmission fluid replacements were done, etc.
Want to know model year for a700R4 trans.
Case has this stamping on it : 8676359
Also K
Serial number has been removed.
What does these numbers mean on a 700R4 transmission?
8676359
It’s been rebuilt but seller doesn’t know model year due to serial number having been scratched off.
Okay Brother heres the deal maybe can honestly help as i am in dier need of expect advise. I bought 91 cadillac d’elegance last year..when I bought the car it drove good until I would hit around 25 to 36.Than hell broke loose it would rev high and than speedometer would go up slow. Than once I got 37ish it seems it would kick in..Nooooow I bought another trans same kind its doing samething revs real high until I get to 23mph than like kicks in but sometimes the reving is still high. Even once its pass the 23mph..Please help me I really want this fixed my engine is a 305 n 700r4.
I’ve had my 700r4 rebuilt 2 times and it still won’t go into any gear any solutions
I have a 1983 Riviera. Transmission works OK in drive. 2nd & 3rd gear the car won’t move.
The transmission is engaged but it is like the brake is on? I don’t want to force much harder on the gas
because it is just not moving. Again it is not slipping but rather just won’t move the car. Reverse is OK.
Don
I have a 1983 Riviera. Transmission works OK in drive. 2nd & 3rd gear the car won’t move.
The transmission is engaged but it is like the brake is on? I don’t want to force much harder on the gas
because it is just not moving. Again it is not slipping but rather just won’t move the car. Reverse is OK.
Don
I have the same question
Doing a string of 7oor4’s, looking for help with case I.D. – Auxiliary cases are obviously marked by a casting above the 2-4 servo, but! Unmarked cases are hit or miss. Auxiliary have a dam and spitter on the case, but that’s after we roll it and drop the pan… Are there any other I.D. marks externally to know for sure?
Please help, I have a transmission with a number 7FAM-Y-00708645,
could you help me with just what this number is telling? Thank you.
Mike.
I have an 86 700r4 and it’s pouring fluid out of the front. I’ve replaced the front pump seal and the bolts are tight, and the pump doesn’t look cracked, could it be the torque converter or maybe the O ring behind the pump
I have an 86 suburban that will not move in overdrive or drive but will shift thru all gears if started in 1st. Manual shifting it runs like a champ. Tv cable is adjusted, gov. valve functioning properly, and fluid is in great shape. Any help is appreciated.
I was told Dexron 4 for my 700r4 and that Dexron 6 is for newer vehicles…please advise
Your comment that the 4L60 is electronically controlled is wrong. That started in mid 1992 as the 4L60E transmission. 4L60s still had a throttle cable up to early 1992. Mid 1992, when the 4L60E came out, the square harness connector on the driver side (horizontal) was no more and became a round (green) connector on passenger side. Vertically mounted in the case.
What does the switch on the brake peddle do ? Like what will it cause if it’s not working ?
The identification I have on my K case is numbers only not alpha numeric…..so how exactly can I identify the year and what stage it is ???
Great info thanks. Mine works great but when I shift from park to drive it lurches forward. But shifts good during driving. Any ideas what would cause this?
thanks for the info. on the tv cable adjustment. how can I tell what stall speed I have on my converter. I don’t see any info. on it . thnks
If the TV cable is not properly adjusted, what could that do to the transmission? I recently did a motor swap on my 91 k15. Well my transmission was working fine when I parked it one night, the next morning it will only go through 1st and 2nd 3rd just revs the motor and obviously it then won’t reach overdrive.
Great info!! learned a lot! My problem is this – i have a bbc with 700r4 in my 1970 Chevy 3/4 ton pu. when it shifts from 3rd to 4th at around 35-40 mph i lose accelerator power. it seems as if the tranny is searching for a gear – it will rev up and down until such time as the veh speed increases to about 55-60 mph then it will smooth out. I have the TCI lock up kit in it.
Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks,
Roger
Do you have a printable copy of the schematics to do a full rebuild of 700R4 I have an 1987 GMC s15 Sierra classic pickup truck and I would like to learn how to rebuild it
Hi Magnus , Great write up … I just bought a 89 model Chevy Truck with a 350 and the 700R4. The thing has very late shifts, hits 2nd gear at about 50 mph and if you stop throttling up before the shift takes place it goes into free wheel and will slip until you let off the throttle again and make a new attempt at the 50 mph shift. Is the Tranny junk or just the T/V cable out of wack, or is there a governor with the centrifugal weights giving me fits?
I have a 1970 oldsmobile 455, is there an easy way to tell if a 700r4 is a unibolt version or Chevy only? I’m trying to put one in my car so I have overdrive but finding one has become a bit of a headache because idk which ones are which and most people tend to tell you what they think you wanna hear when they are selling them. Also are there different size bellhousings on them because I’ve seen some people post that theirs has a small bellhousing. Thanks
700’s were chevy bolt pattern only. 200-4R’s had a BOPC (Buick Olds Pontiac Cadillac) and a Chevy pattern cases, as well as a “unicase” that had both bolt patterns. No big or small, all Chevy Small and Big Blocks share the same trans bolt pattern, same with the ~late 60’s onward BOPC’s, “big” or “small” block, same trans bolt patterns.
I have a 1995 Chevy Silverado pickup truck 4×4 I am trying to identify the transmission it has a big K on the side of the transmission. Also it has an electrical plug in on the passenger side of the transmission .can you tell me what transmission it is ?
Lots of good info here -thanks . I have a friend/customer coming in next week with a problem he Hope’s could be TV cable adjustment . But I haven’t seen it yet and have my doubts. The car is an old street car and has a old 3.0 rear gear ratio, the first 50 -60 miles it’s fine after that going at highway speeds it can’t stay in hi gear but goes between hi and 3rd gear back and forth. Always the same to. Thanks in advance. Rog.
Great read and reattach on your part I just purchased one to replace into my which lost overdrive. It used to vibrate when going into over due so I’m thinking it was to torque converter now.
Because of high demand and a high amount of comments, I do not have time to answer these specific transmission questions that require a lot of research to be answered correctly right now. I will come back to these later.
If you have a problem with the 700r4 transmission shifting, check out the cable TV adjustment after this guide: http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/700r4%20cable%20adjustment%20instructions.pdf
If you have specific questions that you need answers for fast and correct, you can ask a certified master technician here:
https://mechanicbase.com/ask-a-mechanic/
Liked your comments on the 700r4. I have the early 700 in a 82 corvette. It has been modified with Kevlar clutch pack, better shell, 30 spline input shaft, TransGo shift kit and a few other mods that I don’t remember. The trans seems to shift fine and 1st to 2nd is firm, not violent, 3rd is OK as well and sometimes going into 4th is a tad slower than I would like, but I hardly use 4th/OD. However, when at WOT it does not shift by 6,000rpm and I have to lift off to make it shift. The governor also has lighter weights and maybe springs? Would the governor be the first place to look at? Any other comments on for sure things to look at would be appreciated. Thank you.
I have a simple question that im sure anybody can answer but me. On a 700r4, does P start from the left and rotate clockwise through the gears or the other way around?
I put Dexron 3 instead of Dexron 6 transmission fluid in my transmission what problems is it going to create
Hei , My name is Magnar and i live in Norway. I have a Corvette c3 modell 1978. The gearbox in this car is aTH7004TH R 4 Preppet for 502
It is standing a number at the side on the transmission . nr 8676359 and it is stamt a big K on the side of it
I bought this Trasmission new in 2009 and the motor in the car is a 383 With 450 horspower
Could you tell mee the part number at the filter kit for this transmission.
If you could help mee i vil bee very greatfull
I am not so good in Your Language but i hope you understand mee, It is about 45 years agoe sins i vas at scool for to try to loern somthing
Im converting column shift PRND21 to B&M floor shift PRND321 in my 1971 Chevy C10 which has a 700R4 transmission. I cannot get the shifting lever and transmission actual gear position to match. Now I’m confused as to how the stock column shift with 3 speed settings worked, and why the B&M 4 speed settings won’t work.
Hi Robert, did you ever get an answer to this question? I have the same issue trying to adjust a B&M quicksilver shifter to a 700r4 trans. I can’t get things to line up at the trans.
This information was very helpful I have several old Transmissions now I can identify them as to what ones are electric Overdrive what ones are manual
Hello I have a 1985 K5 Blazer with a 6.2 diesel.
My question is do I need to get a 6 bolt torque converter to go with my 700r transmission? Or should I use a 3 bolt torque converter?
The problem is that I had my transmission rebuilt and it was driving fine until I punched it on the freeway way and it slowed down and it started sounding like bad lifters. So I pulled over and turned off the truck. Then I restarted the truck again and the noise went away. I took of driving and I punched it again and it drove fine. And after a half mile it started doing the same thing again. And it lost power.
I turned the truck off again and restarted it. While driving around 30 to 40 miles an hour is fine. No problems until I get to high speeds.
Right know I have a 3 bolt torque converter.
So my question is should I get a new 6 bolt torque converter or a 3 bolt torque converter.
Thank you in advance
Mel
Great information! Thank you for taking the time to share!!
I have a 1990 700r4 in a hot rod and 1st gear holds out till around 2800 rpms before it shifts.
This is being easy on the throttle.
I actually unhooked the tv cable and took around the block being easy on the throttle. Still held 1st to 2800 rpms.
I do have the edelbrock correction lever coming for carb.
With this information what could cause these symptoms?
Also,… was watching video on adding the lockup kit.
They showed the 4 TH gear port by a round cover on pass side to put switch in. I don’t see this on my trans.
I have a 1991 chevy pickup truck
automatic transmission. There is white smoke coming from the exhaust , does this truck have a vacuum modulator? And if so where is it located? Everything esle is working fine. It is a 700R-4
hello, I have a corvette with the 700r4 gearbox, the fourth gear runs at 130 km / h is normal?
the TV cable has been changed and adjusted, oil is perfect, can it be the governor? thank you so much…
To me it sounds normal, does it feel like the transmission is slipping while you press the accelerator pedal?
I have a 700R K. And it has been rebuilt by a shop. And so I’m building a 1974 International Scout. So I put the 1969 350 Chevrolet small block Chevy in it and I found a cave 700R for with the transfer case and I had it all gone through and rebuilt. And I bought my B&M shift kit shifter cable and what’s going on is when I put my gauge on the transmission it says 115 PSI. In neutral. In park. And it doesn’t seem to change when I put it in gear. And so I took it out for a drive to try to adjust the TV cable and no matter which way I go. It doesn’t pretty hard shift into 2nd gear at about 20 miles an hour. And it will go into 3rd gear eventually when I get it up to 45 55 miles an hour. And from what I understand the PSI on idling 700R for should be about 75 psi. Should I take this transmission back and make sure he did something that he didn’t do or what is your opinion?
I have a 1991 Chevrolet Silverado with a leak around some electrical part on my transmission or drive shaft. Can you tell me what part I would need to replace to stop the leaking? I have a picture of it but not sure how I could send it to you. I am a 55 year old female who trusted a so called Chevrolet mechanic, and all he did was cause me more problems. I need some help!! Thank You!!
If the driveshaft is leaking, you have to make sure that the breathing is okay in the transmission and replace the rear driveshaft seal. If there is an electric part that is leaking, there is a seal there too which have to get replaced or sealed 🙂
First off, thanks for all the great information. Is there a site somewhere to fully decode the Identification Number? I have one installed in my 1969 C-10 and I’m sure it is not original, but am very curious as to what vehicle it was originally installed.
I also noticed here under Common Problems. It says
“Faulty Converter. Sometimes the catalytic converter can fail on the 700r4 transmission, unfortunately.”
I’m thinking instead of Catalytic Converter, you mean Torque Converter?
Thanks again for the great information.
Thanks for your input! I have also searched for a full decoding software for the identification number, without success, unfortunately. If I do find one, I will link to it!
Oh yes, it should be torque converter, edited thanks for your report!
Magnus I plan on pulling a 700R4 from the salvage yard for a TH350 swap. What should I be sure to take from the donoR vehicle?
Great info. I was advised to change the hydramatic jetaway on my 1956 Cadillac sedan de ville with a 700r4. Any advise on compatibility and modifications thanks
Amer Lahore Pakistan