Posted by Caleb (In Kansas) [172.69.69.163] on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 11:04:30 :
In Reply to: Changing from manual to 700r4 posted by Gerald Levin [108.162.221.173] on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 10:26:19 :
Gerald, You have 2 options, find the needed length in the front, or find it in the rear. I have done many many automatic swaps and that becomes the real trick. If you were innovative enough, you could possibly lose a few inches on the rear of the 700R4, then a few more by moving the motor/trans forward a few inches, then take the rest out of the intermediate shaft.
I used a short tailshaft TH350 in my WC originally and moved the transfer case crossmember back about 10". I think it could be possible to use a 4x4 version of the 700 and make a cap and support bearing for the rear output. IIRC, the shaft/spline diameter remains constant back to the mounting face for the transfer case. A "hack n tap" method of restraining a fixed yoke could possibly be employed then. If something like that would work, then that should bring you into the length ballpark of the short shaft 350.
The 700 is a very good transmission but does have it's faults, be careful with the TV adjustment, or hopefully the shift kit you speak of eliminates it... I just installed a "reprogrammer" kit in my 47RE which made it a manu-matic that I have to upshift. I've only been driving it for about a week with this kit, but so far I like it. With the electronic lockup converter and overdrive it is really only one more step than driving a real manual.
I have a 4x4 700 sitting on the shelf at home, I can take a look at it to see what might work...