Hello I'm wondering if someone could answer my question I have regarding auto trans.. When looking for a transmission what are the ones I should not my be looking at. I would like to bolt it up to a 455. The 700r4.. What years are the desired ones. Is there a difference between a v6 or v8 700? The 200r4.. What years are the desired ones. Is there a difference between a v6 or v8 200? The th400.. what's the significance of the long tail vs short tail applications and must I consider this for my 65skylark. Can someone tell me why the switch pitch is so highly regarded and will it go good with a 455. Also what years and models does the switch pitch trans come in. Thanks I'm still learning but everyday I'm getting closer. Thanks guys.
A stock TH400 is by far the strongest trans, used with big blocks up to 500. It is also the cheapest to set up, but a long tail will require a shorter driveshaft. A short tail MIGHT not, but the trans support moves back. A switch pitch (65-67) can act somewhat like a 6 speed, with more torque multiplication, smoother shifts, and a hair better gas mileage (best you can do without a lockup converter), PROVIDING you get an electronic controller. And it can often be optimized with your present axle ratio, this is less likely for a 4 speed. I'll leave the 200 & 700 to others, but they are never straight bolt ins. Bruce Roe
http://www.700r4transmissionhq.com/gm-automatic-transmissions/2004r/ http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/49798-th200-4r-transmission-swap/ https://www.turbobuick.com/threads/200r4-transmission-codes.223081/ http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/switchpitch.htm
That's strange, you can clearly see they are different links. Try typing them into your browser. I'm on my phone now, I'll try and fix it later.
It's true but it's ok. I'll read the S.p. and am planning on just copy and pasting the rest.. I used to drive a sbc with a th350 and it was a joy in the city and responsive off the line but when ever I wanted to go on long trips I would be in the slow lane tapped out of power and reving high. I vowed to myself no more 3speeds and that's where I got it into my head I needed O/D . Because even when i would line up with new cameros and challengers I would do fine for the 1st 60mph but then tank out. Will I have the same experience with a th400, is not the th400 a 3speed? How much difference will a s.p. be.. another thing I don't get is how in a manual transmission the first gear is always short and runs out quick? (I know I might sound all over the place but collectively there's about 20-25 things about a car and how it works I don't understand the theory behind it and how in turn that explains or help understand the next or adjacent concept.. and that's that I took some auto tech classes at my community college already. Those classes helped me so much to understand the how a car works and how all systems with in it work together but you just can't learn it all in a couple semesters).. one more things I don't get is stall converters but thank God for YouTube right lol
Yes, TH400 is a 3 speed with a 1:1 ratio in high gear, just like the TH350 and other 'non-overdrive' transmissions. 1:1 gear ratio means the output of the transmission (and driveshaft) turns the same rpm as the engine. Actually, there will be a little slippage in the transmissions converter, so the driveshaft may turn a hair slower unless the converter has a lock-up function that eliminates the slippage. An overdrive transmission will have a high gear ratio less than 1.0. This means the driveshaft will turn faster than the engine. Ideal for highway use. A higher stall torque converter will slip until it gets to a higher rpm, say 3000 rpm instead of 2000 rpm. This is good for getting the car moving since the engine makes more power at 3000 rpm than it does at 2000 rpm. Downside the extra slipping will reduce gas mileage. The switch pitch can switch between high 3000 rpm stall and low 2000 rpm stall, so it offers the better performance without sacrificing gas mileage.
The nice thing about the 455, is you don't need a numerically high rear end gear(i.e. 3.55 and above) You can run a 3.08 with a 3 spd auto and still have good response from a stop because all the torque comes in down low, and still keep the rpms low on the highway for cruising. You don't need to wind these motors up in rpms to make power. These motors were designed to get the large heavy cars(Electras, Rivieras, etc) moving without revving.
All right I'm getting it. Sounds like the switch pitch you can be more on hands and in charge when you want to shift? So most guys running a 455 with a th400 don't experience what I was in a sbc/th350? Thanks guys Thanks for fixing that Larry
You can also go the way I went. I use a Gear Vendors Overdrive. The GV is rated at 1200 HP, and can be modified to take 2000 HP. You can add it on to virtually ANY transmission including a manual. You can also look into a 4L80E, that is a 400 with an overdrive gear. If I had it to do again, I would go with the 4L80E. When I was doing the GV, that wasn't a choice I had back in 2006. The 4L80E needs a computer to run it, and you have some economical choices today that I didn't back then. I know lots of guys use a 2004R or 700R4, but you really need to beef them up quite a bit for them to last behind a healthy BBB, and that costs money. A 400 will take the abuse, and the GV will take even more. The 4L80E can take it as well.
one thing mad dog didn't mention is development of the 2004r ended in 88 around there. the 700r4 is still in production , and every year in its existence some sort of aftermarket or factory upgrade has been made to it. I asked my old boss ounce what was the difference between the 700 and the 400, I was an R&R man at the time not a builder yet, He said," pick up a 400 and run across the shop, then do it with a 700". So if you want to be quicker and faster get A 700. The 4L80E is a little heavier than a 400 but you may be just as fast but not quicker than with a 700
If development ended for the 2004R in 88, there wouldn't be any of them behind hot GN and Turbo Regals, as well as healthy BBB engines. Development continued in the aftermarket. Both the 200 and 7004R transmissions were never designed to put up with the abuse they get behind big HP and TQ. You have to beef them up substantially for them to live. They help you get more power to the rear wheels because they are lighter, but they may not survive the abuse forever. It all depends on your priorities.
How much power are you planning to put through your trans? Mr mad dog needs to go back to hydramatic school because the gm designation is 200-4r. Any body who is making more than 550-600hp and using a 700-r4 is spending plenty in fancy hard parts and still breaking it pretty regularly. Look at the real fast ls fbodies and they have a th400 or a 4l80e in em. Anyone who reads here regularly knows I favor the 2004r. It can be built to handle 400hp reliably for pretty cheap, and there are plenty of after market pieces to get it handling 7-800 reliably. But with anything if you are going to beat on it it will need refreshed eventually. For easy and cheap the th400 is a no brainer. I think you have to ask your selfhow fast do I want to go and how much am I willing to spend. the 700r4 will need an adapter to bolt to the 455. It does have the extra low first gear. It does make a difference contrary to what Mr mad dog tells us in his vid. I had a 700 in my turbo regal for years.im back to a self assembled 2004r.
I at time want to go the stick shift route but I'm on a budget and can figure something out to put behind it under 1000. would like to see my car run asap. The 4l80e is sounding nice because they are plentiful. Will I need the computer from that same exact car?
Read up Ronnie, http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/got-jiggy-with-it-4l80e-behind-455-bbb.302742/
4l80e will need a controller and am adapter plate to bolt to the 455.. the 2004r will need careful assembly and a tv cable setup with carb brackets a link to my 2004r assembly thread http://www.ihadav8.com/forum/index.php?topic=3729.0 I would imagine most of the pix are gone(thanks for nothing photobucket) if you decide to do a 2004r you need a good core. I used an AA code from a Cadillac, or you can search up one of the turbo regal, monte Carlo Ss, or 442 but be prepared to pay for one of those . when you hit the yard and select the AA trans from that Cadillac get the tv cable, torque converter, and the carb brackets to hook up the tv cable. my thread covers the upgrades I made and if you have questions ill pm you my phone number and we can exchange texts. I don't think trans assembly is near as difficult as some would have you believe. But I guess they gotta make a living too .
