700R4 Transmission TV Cable Adjustment

[@Bige4u]

I did the same 3yrs ago with a running SBC and a 700R4, along with a holley 4bbl carburetor, the aftermarket TV cable that was used at the time by the last owner of the car was worrysome. It was setup using the OEM throttle/TH350 bracket that was bolted at the rear of the intake manifold and connected to the TH350 kickdown hole with stud at the bottom of the primary throttle arm. The geometry looked a hair off, but the transmission worked correctly for many years some how, but i decided to do things right and immediately replaced the aftermarket cable with a original GM TV cable, i got lucky and found two brand new ones that i needed, but are no longer produced. I wasnt familiar with 700R4 at the time, especially using the correct geometry and cable adjustment, i spent hours online reading articles, forums and watching YT videos to get an idea on what to do correctly. Since i had to change the transmission fluid, i kept the pan dropped as i installed the new GM cable, bought the holley 700R4 throttle/tv cable brackets, one that mounts to the throttle arm and the other to the base of the holley carburetor. Since i was working alone, i had bought a remote camera so i could actually see how the transmission lever and shaft was positioned as i was adjusting the cable top side at the carburetor to make sure its where it should be, while also keeping the cable on the tight side. If you know what you are doing, adjustment wise, theres no need to drop the pan, but for the inexperinced like me, i wanted to do it right the first time because thats a lot of time and effort to remove said transmission along the cost of a rebuild if you burnt the clutch pack within a block's driving. The thing about the mph adjustments, from what i've read, do not use the cable to adjust for mph speed, the cable should just be adjusted correctly for proper operation only and it makes sense, the govenor is what controls the shift points, depending how its set up, light springs, heavy springs, light weights, heavy weights, etc. I was trying to accomplish the same, the cable adjustment was just getting tighter and tighter making for a really obnoxious aggressive shift points, so i went in the opposite direction till it was back at where i initially set it and goes into 4th/OD at exactly 45 mph, the 1st to 2nd gear shift hits at 10mph for me, and to this day, 3yrs later, the transmission has worked flawlessly, i have no history on my 700R4, whomever rebuilt it years ago, did it their way.

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

Thanks for the detailed report. It’s always interesting to hear how people go about troubleshooting a 700R4. I’ve seen a lot of weird things over the years!

[@PACBrian]

been waiting for this one thank you

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@PACBrian glad to hear it! I knew you were getting close! Go drive that thing!

[@hybridmusclegarage4590]

Excellent info. As most people dont understand how the TV cable works

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@hybridmusclegarage4590 for sure. They aren’t complicated when you know what they do and how they work. For sure enjoying the overdrive in my GMC. Love the modern transmissions in older vehicles.

[@tooljunkie6003]

Great video as always, good point as most video adjust are for factory cable and bracket

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@tooljunkie6003 those are the ones folks keep sending me when asking about their universal set up. Figured it was time to do my own video on the topic. Happy holidays to you!

[@tooljunkie6003]

Happy Holidays to you too my friend !!! Are you running lockup torque converter? Appreciate all the content you put up. I’ve learned a lot

[@andrewforster4974]

Another great video hello from Canada

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@andrewforster4974 hey Andrew. Thank you!

[@andrewforster4974]

@MuscleCarSolutions keep up the great work gives me something to do when winter is over

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@ no doubt!

[@VinoRatRodbuilds]

Thanks! Good info.

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@VinoRatRodbuilds thank you sir!

[@scenicyoga1066]

I’ve been looking for a video like this forever and you made it!! Thank you so much!! Where did you get the bracket for the cable?? I got my carburetor second hand

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@scenicyoga1066 I’ve been asked to do this video a lot. Glad you found it! All the links to what I used are in the description.

[@scenicyoga1066]

@@MuscleCarSolutions thank you very much you’re a life saver

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@scenicyoga1066 glad it was useful!

[@jackperry9369]

Great info i am worried about this adjustment switched to a 700r4 from a 350 turbo because it had a bad leak it had a pretty good kit in it with a stall converter automatic manual valve body hoping to keep it working properly the 700r4 that is hear they wotk pretty good and have an overdrive gear should i run a aftermarket lock up switch ? And how would that help out new to this trans ty

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@jackperry9369 you can run a switch to apply the TCC manually or you can wire the TCC to lock up in 4th only. That’s how I have mine.

[@jackperry9369]

@MuscleCarSolutions ty sir appreciate it what does tcc stand for ty

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@jackperry9369 torque converter clutch.

[@yolocah]

what you didn't explain is which way you move the fine adjustment to increase or decrease the line pressure and what button you are pushing to allow the fine adjustment. which is what you are after.

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

It’s simple but generally you are looking to change the shift points, it’s either out or in with the fine adjustment. Getting the base setting is the most critical, which is what o wanted to concentrate on as that’s what a majority of the questions I’ve been asked are about.

[@ivanr5436]

Regarding the spacer being used. If im running your exact setup with the bracket being used in your video, if i add say a half inch spacer should i also raise the throttle bracket by the same amount? Or just use a different bracket that attaches from the back of the carburetor?

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@ivanr5436 using a bracket on the back of the carb can certainly help get the geometry correct for the right amount of travel for the TV link. If you use the bracket like I have you can angle the tv cable bracket to get a straighter line to the carb. No need to raise the bracket up.

[@G_Machine_Joe]

Swapped a 200-4r in my Skylark to have overdrive. Haven't got it on the road yet (Winter 😟) Couldn't take 3300rpm on the expressways anymore. I have that whole Edelbrock bracket setup and a universal TV cable. Your vid helped and pretty much said what I've been reading. Does your 700r4 have lockup? I had to install a lockup kit in the trans (from an '87 Monte Carlo).

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@G_Machine_Joe yeah I can’t deal with those highway miles anymore without a OD trans. It’s one of those upgrades that is soon after I buy a project vehicle. The TCC is set to lock up in 4th gear.

[@iancoachwerksllc]

Will it shift hard when shifting at the shifter itself, ie shifting from reverse to drive or from park to drive if it is incorrectly set?

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@iancoachwerksllc if there is excessive line pressure at idle, then yes it will be aggressive going into gear.

[@iancoachwerksllc]

@ ok, thanks you!

[@ThreeLAdventures]

I just picked up a 83 K10 and drove it 109 miles home with no TV cable hooked up on a 700R4 and it shifted fine so I am wondering how and why it didn't burn the trans up .Now I have done a few things on it and hooked up back up and afraid of what is going to happen now . The trans shifted so smooth I couldn't hardly tell when if shifted .

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@ThreeLAdventures there’s two versions of the 700R4. One that uses a TV cable to regulate the line pressure and one that uses the computer to control it.

[@ThreeLAdventures]

@ nine has the cable to control it but it just wasn’t hooked up. The guy that built the truck was an idiot, been redoing all the crap he should have taken an extra 15 minutes to do right.

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@ then it was driving around in OD the entire time. Must be a miracle! They burn the clutches up quickly at low speed with no line pressure.

[@ThreeLAdventures]

@ I actually think I had it in 3rd the whole time is what I’m thinking. I hope it will be ok but if not it will give me an excuse to order a built one from monster trans. And of course that has to have a new blue print 383 to make it work properly or that’s what I’ll tell my wifey lol.

[@sparetime4914]

is the universal cable always neccessary or can the factory trans cable maybe work? my eventual project is 700r4 out of a g body cutlass going into a 68 cutlass with an avs2 on a edelbrock intake. its eerie you posted this video today as i started buying some parts for the swap recently 😂

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@sparetime4914 I’ve seen some cobbled up systems put together but the biggest reason why the universal cable is better is, there was never an Edelbrock carburetor stock on a factory vehicle. Easier to just get the brackets for your engine and buy the universal cable.

[@GlennManchester]

I've never had an issue using the factory cable w some basic mechanical ability just watch these videos study the pieces the carb. Companies sell and it's not difficult it's not rocket science

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@ if you’ve got all that free time on your hands to make a bracket, go for it!

[@MyMartyb]

Nice video. Haha i noticed i live in the same city. I drive that road all the time

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@ I’m not far away but drive that area as it has roads and a route that have all the speed limits I want to tune carbs, or in this case, a transmission!

[@GlennManchester]

Yeah and those stupid brackets that make the geometry correct the carb companies charge a absolutely ridiculous amount for where someone w mechanical abilities at least you would think if they had the ability to install the transmission then should easily be able to look at the piece that the company wants crazy money for and rerecreate it easily

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@GlennManchester the Edelbrock bracket is $19. Crazy!

[@kenschreiner6465]

Lot at the Bolar system much better

[@MuscleCarSolutions]

@@kenschreiner6465 I’m guessing there’s a number of misspelled words in this comment, but I can’t figure out which ones they are.