Yeah, but wouldn't it be cool to see an 8 or 10 speed trans keep the BBB right in the middle of the torque range all the way down the track?
Here you go Larry.. these are readily available in the scrapyards. Marginal torque rating though. http://www.roadranger.com/rr/ProductsServices/ProductsbyCategory/Transmissions/PCT_308991
Your TR trans will be fine. Again people glossed over the gearing and weight consideration aside from the RPM and timing of when power is applied. A TR drive train is well suited for the GBody in stock form, you can get away with adding a little power. If you're slamming in a big turbo, running alky, and strapping on drag tires you are going need to show some loving to the 2004R.
I have built some 2004R for some stout cars, it’s just not cost effective. You can bolt in every high dollar billet aftermarket part into a 2004R ( or 4L60 for that matter) and it’s weaker than a good condition junkyard 4L80 with a shift kit. If you have to have overdrive and need a stout trans, the 4L80 is hard to beat. Assuming it will fit in the trans tunnel, the money spent on fancy aftermarket parts would go a long way to paying for the trans controller.
Uuummm, that's not the governor, that is the boost valve and spring. Without that you have no internal pressure and therefor no clutch apply and I can see why the clutch and band got scorched. Lonnie is a GREAT builder. Every one in the trans game( and I'm sure a lot of other businesses) is having trouble getting stuff. I'm not sure where you are located but seeing as you have a relationship with extreme, I'd lean towards them again. Or Janis trans in Ohio, or David H in NY Things happen, governors spit the spring, Snap rings come out and the boost setup ends up in the pan. Park and six neutrals happen with the stock shaft on the forward drum. Keep at it, 700r4 will be worse and after even more work you will probably be even more frustrated.
Thats who built my T350 for my GS, and I was going to suggest him for your 2004R also. Before I had Janis do my 350 trans, alot of people were saying "go 2004R", but I was a bit leery about durability, a few extra bucks thrown into the T350 on Janis's advice makes it a stout trans behind my 350 engine. But it would take TONS more money to do a 2004R and I'd still be leery. If and when I want a deeper rear gear and overdrive, I'll go Gear Vendors.
