Thread: 83 gmc 350/700r4

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I have an '83 gmc 2500, was converted from 6.2 deisel to a 350. I believe the 700r4 trans is the original. I bought the truck w/o a motor, but it had a 350 motor in it. I put a '76 4 bolt main 350 in it, when I bought the truck there was a quadjet carb connected to an intake manafold sitting in the bed of the truck, I just took the carb off the old intake man, and put it on the 350 I put in.my problem is that the tranny kick down cable won't reach the linkage on the carb, It's about 1/4 inch away, and thats without the linkage being moved, truck in park. I pulled the cable's "play" all out and won't reach. how do I get enough cable out to connect, I need like 3 or 4 inches cause when the tranny shifts there has to be enough play to move with the linkage. Any help would be highly appreciated. THANKS

Check with these guys for the cable and how to set it up. You have to get it set just right or you will take achance on ruining that tranny.

http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/

Let us know how it goes

Pat

After talking with a few people I think the best solution is to buy a cable that matches a 1983 gmc 2500 with a 350/ 700r4, that way I know it will fit.

I don't believe that 700R4 were sold in production vehicles other than Vettes before 1985.

700R4's don't have a kickdown cable or vacuum modulator.

The only cable to the throttle is referred to as a TV cable and it is a pressure adjusting device. To get them to work correctly you need a manfold mount and cable length to match the A/F input device.

Streets - I wonder about how valid that site is? I was looking at anothe site and 86 was the first time 700's came outside of Vette's in the parts books.

If they did come in a pickup they were real POS's The first few years they had real problems.

Originally posted by budlight
Streets - I wonder about how valid that site is? I was looking at anothe site and 86 was the first time 700's came outside of Vette's in the parts books.

If they did come in a pickup they were real POS's The first few years they had real problems.

I beg your pardon, if streets posts info about a car or truck you can bet the bank that he is correct about his info, & if he is wrong then I have a one off 84 burb cause I have a 700R4 in my truck & if they were junk back then, explain to me why I just put a new motor & a 92 700R4 in my truck to replace the one w/over 200,000 miles on it. yep they may have some trouble BUT as you can see I had lots of good luck w/mine and believe me when I say "I dont use my truck, I ABUSE it". Did ya ever think that 86 was the first year that the Vette had a 700R4 put in them or maybe the site HAS the wrong info.......joe


and mike DONT drive that truck untill you get the TV cable replaced cause if you don't, there's a good chance you'll burn it up REALLLLLLLLLLLL fast

I own a stock 84 Camaro and it has a 700R4 in it. Mike, you can buy a TV cable for that tranny almost anywhere. But as what has already been said, do NOT drive that truck until you have the proper one installed and install it so that at full throttle, the TV cable is all the way extended.

I stand corrected! I just don't remember all the auto trivia.

If you had a early or even hopped 700 back then you must have had an under 225 hp motor to make them last more than a month!

I made the big mistake in the 86-87 or so time frame and listened to all of the hot rod car magazines who just raved about about the 700R4. Over drive .......... the greatest thing since sliced bread.

So I bought the one right in the article. It was the TCI or B&M $1300 or so bucks and gauranteed for 450 hp out of a big block. Thinking it should last forever behind a sub 400 hp 355 ci. It lasted three day's. So I pulled it and sent it back. they said that they really improved it. After some street miles and about three weeks I took it to the local 1/4 mile. I strapped on my 10X28 slicks and the 4-5 run down the track it was haul it home on a borrowed trailer time. This is also in a sub 3300 lbs car.

I was really pissed. Third tranny time in less than a months worth of use. So the third one had all the trick stuff they could think of. I even wrote the editors of Hot rod and Car Craft about how false their article was - of course they never printed it!!!!!!!!!!

That third one lasted about a year and made a couple of hundred 1/4 miles and about 5000 street miles. That's when I found Art Carr Racing transmissions. The only thing 700R4 about it is the case.

My car slowed down in the 1/4 mile because the gear spacing is all wrong compared to a TH350. I would never recommend a 700 to anybody unless they are willing to spend $3000+ dollars and get the 850 hp model. Then they last for years with my sub 600 hp.