Chevy 700r4 Tranny Swap To Olds 455

TOONLOVESCHERYL · May 3rd, 2006, 01:04 PM

I am curious as to how difficult it may be to install a chevy 700r4 tranny to a olds big block 455. They are going into an 1978 oldsmobile cutlass supreme two door. Is it possible? If it is, will it be a very difficult task, will it be worth the trouble?

Oldsguy · May 4th, 2006, 05:50 AM

Bolt pattern on the back of an olds is different than a chevy so you may need an adapter. I think I have heard of it being done. BTW, why do you want to do it?

TOONLOVESCHERYL · May 5th, 2006, 08:37 PM

I was looking for an overdrive trasmission, and I was told that the 700r4 is a more durable and reliable transmission than the 200r4 transmission. Will I have to make any modifications to my crossmember or driveshaft?

orange442 · May 8th, 2006, 11:26 AM

The 700-r4 tranny can be bolted to any Olds(Buick/pontiac) with an adapter that Jegs sells. Others are out there but this is the one I used for my cutlass. So far it has worked great without any problems. With 3:90 gears, that 30 percent overdrive is great. It makes a difference of about a thousand RPM at highway speeds and dramatically increases gas mileage. At 3 bucks a gallon it will pay for itself in a very short period of time. I also had to move my crossmember back to another set of holes in the frame and get a shorter driveshaft. Hooking up the floor shifter also takes an adapter kit that you can buy at Shiftworks.com.

TOONLOVESCHERYL · May 8th, 2006, 12:30 PM

In order to have the best gas mileage without sacraficing too much performance, what rearend ratio should I go with when installing the Olds455 Chevy 700r4?

orange442 · May 10th, 2006, 07:24 PM

I do not know what gear that you currently have, but you might try running the combo with the gear you have now. The 700-r4 has a much steeper first gear(3.06) than your standard 350/400. This lower first, compounded with your current rear gear, monster Olds 455 torque, and a relatively light body will probably be more than your tires can handle. Now, you will also drop several hundred RPM off your cruise speed and get better gas mileage in return!

Oldsguy · May 11th, 2006, 05:34 AM

So true, many people have done that kind of swap for that exact reason in street rods. I just wonder about the 700-r4's capability to handle the torque of a BBO over a long period of time.....

orange442 · May 11th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Get a good 88-92 core, preferably from a truck or at least behind a v-8. If you are going to flog it on a daily basis, it is like any other tranny, you have to build it with quality parts. Go cheap and you will pay later! A good tranny guy will know how to build it right. Also, a good tranny cooler is always a good idea.

buylotsaparts · May 3rd, 2008, 07:05 PM

Jegs does have the adapter but i was wondering if anybody knows anything about the torque converter if it bolts directly to the fly wheel or do you have to use crank spacers or adapters to mate it to the 700r4

Olds64 · May 5th, 2008, 09:12 AM

You might also consider using a Gear Vendors unit for your current transmission. This company has a good reputation and I have only heard good things about their product. It is designed to bolt to the tail shaft of your current transmission. The good thing is that you can order the gear ratios you want when you talk to them.

http://www.gearvendors.com/

May 3rd, 2006, 01:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
TOONLOVESCHERYL Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 8	Chevy 700r4 Tranny Swap To Olds 455 I am curious as to how difficult it may be to install a chevy 700r4 tranny to a olds big block 455. They are going into an 1978 oldsmobile cutlass supreme two door. Is it possible? If it is, will it be a very difficult task, will it be worth the trouble?

May 4th, 2006, 05:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,315	Bolt pattern on the back of an olds is different than a chevy so you may need an adapter. I think I have heard of it being done. BTW, why do you want to do it? __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

May 8th, 2006, 11:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
orange442 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bartlesville, Oklahoma Posts: 179	tranny swap The 700-r4 tranny can be bolted to any Olds(Buick/pontiac) with an adapter that Jegs sells. Others are out there but this is the one I used for my cutlass. So far it has worked great without any problems. With 3:90 gears, that 30 percent overdrive is great. It makes a difference of about a thousand RPM at highway speeds and dramatically increases gas mileage. At 3 bucks a gallon it will pay for itself in a very short period of time. I also had to move my crossmember back to another set of holes in the frame and get a shorter driveshaft. Hooking up the floor shifter also takes an adapter kit that you can buy at Shiftworks.com.

May 10th, 2006, 07:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
orange442 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bartlesville, Oklahoma Posts: 179	455/700-r4 I do not know what gear that you currently have, but you might try running the combo with the gear you have now. The 700-r4 has a much steeper first gear(3.06) than your standard 350/400. This lower first, compounded with your current rear gear, monster Olds 455 torque, and a relatively light body will probably be more than your tires can handle. Now, you will also drop several hundred RPM off your cruise speed and get better gas mileage in return!

May 11th, 2006, 05:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,315	So true, many people have done that kind of swap for that exact reason in street rods. I just wonder about the 700-r4's capability to handle the torque of a BBO over a long period of time..... __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

May 5th, 2006, 08:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
TOONLOVESCHERYL Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 8	I was looking for an overdrive trasmission, and I was told that the 700r4 is a more durable and reliable transmission than the 200r4 transmission. Will I have to make any modifications to my crossmember or driveshaft?

May 8th, 2006, 12:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
TOONLOVESCHERYL Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 8	In order to have the best gas mileage without sacraficing too much performance, what rearend ratio should I go with when installing the Olds455 Chevy 700r4?

May 11th, 2006, 03:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
orange442 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bartlesville, Oklahoma Posts: 179	700r-4 Get a good 88-92 core, preferably from a truck or at least behind a v-8. If you are going to flog it on a daily basis, it is like any other tranny, you have to build it with quality parts. Go cheap and you will pay later! A good tranny guy will know how to build it right. Also, a good tranny cooler is always a good idea.

May 3rd, 2008, 07:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
buylotsaparts Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	Jegs does have the adapter but i was wondering if anybody knows anything about the torque converter if it bolts directly to the fly wheel or do you have to use crank spacers or adapters to mate it to the 700r4

May 5th, 2008, 09:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
Olds64 Landyacht Club President Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawton, OK Posts: 4,203	You might also consider using a Gear Vendors unit for your current transmission. This company has a good reputation and I have only heard good things about their product. It is designed to bolt to the tail shaft of your current transmission. The good thing is that you can order the gear ratios you want when you talk to them. http://www.gearvendors.com/ __________________ Ferris, my father loves this car more than life itself... Apparently, you don't understand! Ferris, he never drives it! He just rubs it with a diaper! Cameron Frye Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1986

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