Bruce, check out ckperformance.com out of New York. The have an office in Ontario also. They are one of the best known 200r4 builders in the country. Contact Mike at myrenaya@magma.ca He is the Canadian sales rep and can give you some info. Also check out some of the turbo Buick sites, turbobuicks.com, turbobuick.com, etc. Lots of good info out there. I just bought a 200r4 out of an '87 GN and will be tossing my ST-300 in the lake. With the 3.90 posi I have on the way, it should make a huge difference! Good luck, Brian
Hi Brian, Thanks for the reply. I talked to Mike (in Ottawa) from CK Performance, really helpful. But the parts he recommended to put in my tranny came to $2500.00 cdn. I've got pricing for a rebuilt tranny to use from $1400.00 to $2800.00 U.S.D., plus shipping, brokerage, duty, exchange etc. I'd like to find out why the big difference. Why can't I purchase he proper parts and install them or have them installed at a resonable price. I'd also like to pick some brains re tire size / rearend ratio, then I could decide in rear end ratio. I'd like to put the widest tire I can in the rear on 15" rally wheels but can't get any advise on what will fit. It's a 64 Skylark with an 8 1/2" rearend out of a 71 Skylark Thanks Bruce
Bruce, send a PM to Ken Klassen (sportwagon400). He runs a '64 Lark street/strip car and should have some insight on tire size. I know my '66 was pretty limited. I run 15x7 rallies and 235/60's all the way around and I don't think I could go much bigger. My rear axle is off center also, adding to the problem, which is pretty common on these. If you run the '71 axle, it is 1" wider overall and will compound your problems with a stock rim. You might need a custom offset rim to get a bigger tire under there. As for tranny cost, could you drive across the border and have the trans installed down there? You would avoid the shipping, duties, taxes, etc. Not sure where you are in ON, but it can't be too far. Put in a core trans from pick your part and get the linkage, TV cable, kickdown, etc all figured out, and then drive down there and get one of their ready to go units installed, and drive home. Road trips are fun! Brian
i suggest makeing sure the trans is built right even for a stock 455 when i have my 87 t type and the trans went i had tried several trans shops and several thousand $$ before i got a trans to hold up to my turbo v6 second gear will wipe out if not upgraded right and thats with the right valve body im sure the guys at ck gave you the right info i have 15 in rims with 255 60r15 on the rear of my 65 but thats the stock rear the 71 might throw that off .
Thanks For the input. I think this is the one spot where I'm going to have to spend $$$ to get what I want:laugh: It's going to be difficult to drive it across the border and get an installation, the body's of the frame. Thanks Bruce
Hi, I had an off centre problem with my rearend, 5/8" then I put on a 1 1/8" dia rear sway bar which brought it to 1/8" off center. Here's some transmission pricing to review. CK Performance Stage 2 200-4r $2499.00 U.S.D, everything Ive read about these guys is good!! Talked to the very helpful. Bowtie O/D Level 3 $1395.00 U.S.D., I get mixed feelings about there customer support from reading different sites. The Chevelle guys like them and get support on there form from the company. Xtreme 2004r Killer Street $2850.00 U.S.D. good guys to talk to very helpful. There's a guy on the turbobuick site building 2004r's he comes highly recommended and his pricing is competitive. Guarantee good for 600 hp, 5500 shift points a WOT. Anyone use any of these transmissions. Thanks Bruce
you might want to check your control arms and bushings bruce a sway bar shouldnt change your suspension like that thats not its purpose also if you still have 40 year old bushings they are bound to be worn
Hi, All the bushing are new, lower control arms are boxed, I'll go measure it again:laugh: It's off by 1/8". The whole rearend is located with rubber bushings, if there is no sway bar there's nothing holding it latterly other than rubber. Thanks Bruce
Are you meaning to say panhard bar (cross bar)and not sway bar? BTW if you check you will find that the rear end in all cars are not centerd don't ask me why but when i build a car for some one this is an issue that i just have to fix.
Hi, Ok now you've got meo No: I always thought it was a sway bar. It's the one in the picture. A panhard bar what's that? Or maybe I'm backwards and have a panhard bar. Then what's a sway bar? Thanks Bruce
Hi, I thought so. My 66 Pontiac had a bar that ran along the axle from the rearend to the frame, I thought that would be a panhard bar. Thanks Bruce
