I've been trying to make a 700R4 trans work in a 450 HP 70 Chevelle and I am having trouble getting it to stay in first gear. I have adapted the console shifter over to the overdrive pattern but with the shifter in first gear it shifts by it self. Normal driving it only goes about 20 ft. before it shifts. At the drag strip it will shift at about 3000-3500 rpm. I ve got a about 2800 stall converter. Tried changing gouvner weights but that only changed normal shift points. Is there a shift kit for these trans that will give you control over the shifting without going fully manual? How do I get this thing to stay in first gear till 5000-6000 rpm?

is the TV cable adjusted right?

I can manually shuft mine where ever I want. Fast red might be on to something though I think that you could make some changes to the VB. FastRed i wonder if I have seen you around cruising? Do you go to Continental?

I used the governor out of a V-6 S-10 pickup in my 700R4, set the TV cable tight and it shifts itself at about 5400-5500 rpm at WOT.

Some of the 700-R4 valve bodies won't hold manual low. Install a TransGo Reprogramming kit and it will take care of it.
Don't install the orange 3-4 shift valve spring if you have stock size boost valves.

Jim (p/lineman),

I had the exact problem, ..not being able to hold first gear manually. Jake installed the Transgo kit, in my 700 .... and solved that problem. To get the shift points higher, you might need to "tune" the govenor...changing weights/springs. Mine will shift around 5200 in auto mode. I used the B&M kit. If I recall correctly ... using the #2 & #3 weights ... and the green & the blue spring, gave me 5200. Using the yellow and the blue ....went 5500.

I was able to tune the springs/weights in my 200-4R to shift at 5600-5800 when left in Drive, and did the same thing when I switched to a TH400. I prefer the look of the factory shifter, so I just leave the car in Drive and let it shift by itself.

I have the transgo kit in my 700, can shift manually and it'll hold first gear forever. (had it as high as 7k)

Never got around to tuning the springs and weights for normal Auto/drive shifting, so its a little sluggish in that order...gotta get to that one day.