tranny swap

[winstonca]

Hi Guys.   This is my first attempt at this forum so please let me know if I am in the right place. Here is my problem: I have a 1989 Suburban Silverado 4x4 with a 700R4 tranny that does not shift out of 2nd gear and slips like crazy in reverse. I have three 700R4's at home out of several 88 caprice classics that have 250,000 + but run perfect. Obviously the tail shaft is different but my question is can I take the tail shaft from the blown tranny and put it on the good 700R4 or maybe take the innards from the good tranny and transfer them to the bad one? I love this truck and am desperate to keep her.   If you have any other suggestions please let me know. BTW I have had this tranny rebuilt twice now and am ready for a more permanent fix.

[chevy4x4trucks]

Welcome to the forum.

 

I don't have an answer for you, but hopefully someone else does.

 

TTT

 

 

[DeezBlueZ]

You can swap innards.  Before you do make sure the case is the same( 4WD mounting to tranny case).  We used to do swaps like this all the time.   There is a boat load of pieces inside of a 700R4, and the job is not for the faint of heart.  There may be differences in a deeper pan and filter pick up, servos, springs, clutches, sprags, valve body, etc.  You may want to seek the advice of an experienced tranny mechanic for his input.  Good luck with your swap.

[95 Silverado]

If your spare trannies are from behind V-6's or small  V8's they may not be as heavily equipped internally as your truck model (less clutches) but that won't matter if your not using the truck "hard" often. The two exterior differences between a car tranny and the 4WD model are, no provisions for bolting up the heavy dust cover over the flywheel, and the output shaft of the transmission is longer on the car model, too long to slide the transmission and transfer case together. I've heard you can shorten (cut) the shaft and use the car tranny but I've never done it myself, the other alternative would be to swap the mainshaft from the truck transmission into the car transmission, or put the car internals in the truck case with the truck mainshaft, either option would require complete disassembly of the transmission.  ???