need transmission advice

[chevyh20]

hey guys ,
i have a 89 K5 Blazer with a 700r4. over the last couple of days high gear have started to slip and now  completely slips . i can still drive it manually shifting to 2nd. i assume the tranny is gone. what is the best approach from here? i am thinking of looking for a used auto transmission to fit in my blazer what should i be looking for to assure it will fit. I also do plowing in the winter am thinking a th400 would be good for its durability. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. i need to fix this asap as it is my daily ride. thanks in advance.

[Captkaos]

I would replace it with a new rebuilt 700R4.

[80stepsideguy]

I agree with chris,
you put a used 700r4 then you may be gambling with a good or a bad tranny. Get it rebuilt and then you`ll be that much better off.  I went thru this with my 83 k5 blazer, the pump let go and was spewing fluid everywhere, i ended up putting in a th350 cause the rebuild for me at the time was way to costly, by the time i was done i couldve had the 700 r4 done for the same price as swapping the 700 with the th350..

thanks
pat

[VileZambonie]

Get it rebuilt and FLUSH the oil cooler.

[chevyh20]

thanks for the input on this guys. I have to do this for minimal cost. i talked to a guy today that rebuilds these for a living . he has a good used one he will sell to me installed for 525.00 it sounds like a good deal. he advertises in New England on craigslist.  what do you think.

[80stepsideguy]

If your on a budget then i say go for it.I`m sure he will take yours in as a core and rebuild it and put it aside .

thanks
pat

[VileZambonie]

I'm in CT and will sell you a rebuilt unit for $500 bucks. You'll have to put it in yourself though.

[chevyh20]

thanks for the suggestion thanks for the offer vile. I know it would be top notch from you. CT is a haul though from where i am. But might be an excuse to visit my brother in law. I will definitely keep it in mind. I've never installed a tranny before. what kind of effort is it for a newbe?
jeff

[VileZambonie]

Well if you don't have a lift it'll be a little messy if you're not careful. You HAVE to flush the oil cooler. You'll need a floor jack and a trans adapter helps. Time and patience and basic tools and wrenches.

[chevyh20]

thanks for the advice. if i choose to go with the self install i will definitely need a walk through. I am looking at other options also. like:
1)getting a commuter car and just using this as a yard/local plow truck.
2)there is a 89 1 ton flat bed dump with 9' plow for sale locally "needs some work" that looks interesting. the ad says it needs rockers, cab corners, rear brake lines, and a small spot on the frame. The small spot on the frame worries me though.
I will let you know. I can only commute at 40 mph for so long without going crazy!

[Blazin]

Jeff let me talk to my friend, you pull yours out, bring it down here and he could do it over a weekend / three days. Probably in the $500 to $600 dollar range.
I agree with rebuilding for the cost too. By the time you swap over to a TH 400 or Th 350 you might as well have spent the money on a rebuild. 700R4's got a bad rep because the early ones had issues. The newer ones GM had all the bugs updated etc. They go just like any transmission. TH 400's / 350's, C6's, 727's, they all wear out.

[chevyh20]

hey Harold,
thanks a lot . Let me know if your friend can do it. I would like to do it in a week or so. I guess that is the best route to go. I know what i will have when it is finished.