And the Stupid question is. How can an Auto-overdrive transmission from a 1986 chevy p/u be installed in a 1972 skylark? (Other than changing the output shaft and using an adaptor plate) I guess what I am really trying to ask is this, what controls the O/D function on this transmission? Is it electronic? Is it Vacuum controlled? And here is the reason I ask such foolish questions. I currently have a 1986 chevy lwb truck with a GM 350 crate motor and a auto O/D tranny. Which I am trying to sell and no one seems interested. So I am contemplating two things the first sell the 350 and scrap the truck and install the tranny in the lark. Two, is to do the unthinkable. install the crate motor and tranny in my skylark until I can afford to find and build a 455. Any help would be appreciated...especially if you want to buy by the truck so I can afford to rebuild by buick 350. Richard P.S. I know the flames are coming for option two but I have looked for two years in the junkyards in south louisiana and cannot find a single rebuildable 455, let alone a running 455.
I saw a '71 chevelle the other day in a car show that had an automatic factory console shifter and bucket seats with p-r-n-Od-d-2-1 labeled on the shifter. So there must be some way to do it.....I think they make a adapter kit. The 700r4 (which I think is what your truck has) was electronic and had no vacuum modulator. I wonder if you can get that console shifter labeled for the OD tranny for the Skylarks and GS models? Seems like them chebby guys can get anything they want! :rant:
An 86 OD trans, 700-R4 or 200-4R, would not be an electronic trans. That wasn't done until the early 90's. There should be no modulator as well. What was used in a TV (throttle valve) cable that connects to the carb linkage. The TV performs the function that the modulator would by sensing the load (determined by throttle opening) and making the shifts later and firmer. It also provides the kick down. You should NEVER run a trans that has a TV without one connected. It will cause low pressure and burn up the clutches/bands very rapidly. To my knowledge, the 700 is only a chevy bolt pattern and would require an adapter to fit on a Buick (or Olds/Pontiac) motor. There are a number of guys here that have performed this swap and can provide more details on what needs to be done. Mark
I just put a 200-4R trans in my car. There is a thread on doing it. You can contact me if you have any questions.
An adapter plate and a fourth gear lockup kit is all you would need. You could get both for around $100. I did this a few years ago and I think it was the best thing I have done to the car in 20 years. It is more friendly to drive and I am using it a lot more!! :3gears: :3gears: :3gears:
Not likely, I used a Lokar universal TV cable kit and B&M lockup kit for mine in my Riv. For a tranny plate, Year One and/or Original Parts Group have a console plate for Camaros, Chevelles, and Nova's that could probably be made to work and I doubt the Buick shifter mechanism is radically different mechanically than the Chevy one so the 4 speed shifter mechanism should also be adaptable. The big deal is that you will also have to relocate you crossmember if you got a TH700R4. A TH200-4R was never offered in trucks as far as I know so you pretty much are garenteed to have a TH700R4. Also here's a way to tell if its an electronic or mechanical is look at the name, if its a TH### is a mechanical transmission. If its an #L##E (3L is a 3spd, 4L is an 4spd Overdrive) its electronic. The only exception is that the TH700R4 was called the 4L60 for a few years and still mechanical before it went electronic as the 4L60E.
I looked under the truck this morning and it is a th700r4. When you did your conversion did you covert the trans to a short shaft or was it already set up like that. Other than moving the cross member did you have to do any other mods to it to make it work? Currently I have a Colum mounted shifter, Can you recomend an aftermarket floor shifter. One last question, can you retain the front bench seat with a floor shifter.
yes you can retain the bench with a floor shifter as they are cable operated so you can place them wherever you wish. I recomend the B&M Megashifter as its a solid piece and make it fun to drive but there are cheaper ones out there, especially if you don't have to have a rachet shifter. There is only one tailshaft on a TH700R4 I believe but I got mine from B&M so I don't know for sure, I'd just get a crossmember designed for a TH700R4 into an A-body (just call it a 72 Chevelle) from a vendor, should only be about $150 max, have the driveshaft cut down and balanced for the longer transmission ($100), and add an external transmission cooler ($75). TH700R4's make a lot of heat in thier internals so keeping one cool is a priority.
