Here is a good article on them, if you haven't already read it or seen it yet! http://www.autospies.com/article/index.asp?articleId=7547 :TU: I definetly am going to be in the market for one of these things someday. A 455 powered car w/ a 6 speed o/d, doesn't get better than that! :bglasses:
Somneone told me that high performance transmissions with overdrive are unreliable..or should i say wear out faster than most. is this true? I was willing to pay for overdrive in my tranny and the guy talked me out of it stating that i'd be back within 2 years maybe earlier to replace clutches and sprags. o No: The sound of an overdrive is appealing.. Just everyone's opinion in this trade/hobby is so scary.. Everyone has different opinions and all don't match up. I guess if they're building it it must work well.. but then again GM built the pontiac fiero and 3rd gen buick regals & 84 vette so who knows? When i had the transaxle replaced the first time in my 89 regal [by the dealer under warranty] they claimed it was a poor design and required mods to make it run better. 2 years later i needed another replacement but the car wasn't under warranty anylonger. I had it rebuilt for 2200 bux and the transmission guys said "yes theyre right it is a poorly designed transaxle" but " the dealer didn't make any improvements neither did gm". The transmission guys replaced a couple of parts with beefier components and added some extra clutch plates. The transaxle is still running strong almost a decade later. What is with GM and thier blatant disreguard for consumerism? Or would you say theese are flukes? [bad apples of the bunch] Cars are really cool and promote so much creativity and inspiration especially when they're old. Transmissions can suck the life out of any car enthusiest very easily. I hope this transmission is reliable and works well for people. I WANT OVERDRIVE DEMMIT...AND MOMMY WON'T LET ME... :eek2:
Well, I guess some people have had some bad experiences w/ certain transmissions, such as an overdrive trans, but the thing is, as far as being unreliable or wearing out faster, I wouldn't say that's necessarily correct. In 1987, it was the year that people realized that the Buick Grand National was the world's fastest(us's fastest?) production car in the 1980's, and it wouldn't have been achieved w/out a 200r4 4 speed automatic overdrive trans.! :TU: My TH-350 in my car went out at around 96 thousand. For a temporary fix, I put in some lucas trans. fix fluid and it lasted untill around 101 thousand, then went out for good, and I had to have it rebuilt, as the bands were slipping something terrible. :eek2: I believe the overdrive trans, is the best transmission you can have. Why? Because not only do they give you better economy and better performance(these are proven facts, just do some research if you don't believe me! :Brow: ), but they are more reliable because they are built w/ heavy duty clutches/bands/and parts, because they were built for both of those purposes! Heck, if Overdrive automatics weren't so desired, they wouldn't be stuffing them in every single automatic car today! :TU: It just depends on who you talk to I guess. Some people have bad luck, some people have ALL the luck. :bglasses:
Transmissions are rated by the amount of torque they can handle. You can have an overdrive transmission that will hold up if you spend enough money to beef it up. In any case, Heavy vehicle +big torque + perfect traction = maximum stress on a transmission. A stock overdrive trans will not hold up under racing conditions if not beefed up. It won't hold up to heavy street action either, at least not for long.
Right, Larry, those are very good points! :TU: In just about any case, w/ a stock transmission, to handle a certain amount of power, the transmission has to be built to handle the specs of the motor and what not, but what I am saying is, these O/D trannys seem like the ticket if you are seeking for good power, low-end and high speed. :TU: Imagine what a 455 car, backed up by a 6 speed automatic O/D, and a 3.23's-4.10's would do? :Brow: :TU:
I think it depends on what you compare it to. The TH200-4R overdrive has this reputation because it followed the TH400 in GMs heaviest rear wheel drive cars. The TH400 is probably the strongest autotrans ever put in a passenger car. I think the 200-4R can hold its own against most other three speeds on the market, if built right you could put it behind a buick 455.
