The other night at our local "shop" night, the guys were talking about my car. We were talking about my newly installed gears and I was stating that they were a little too tall for me (3.90's) to keep. And one of the guys mentioned that I should get a 7004R O/D tranny. I said that the 200's are stronger and highly reccommended over the 700's. We went on about what we knew/heard for about 25 minutes. He was telling me about how they have burnt up several 200's in a local car due to them not strong enuf. And that the 700's were the stronger tranny... Additionally, I purchased a GS hood from Rick Crawford (Buick4Speed, I think) a while ago and he was giving me some input on 200's. He mentioned to not use the electrical lock up, that it was not worth the effort. And when I mentioned thisat our shop night, I was told in no way can you do that, the tranny would burn up in no time from slipping etc. I would really like to know what the deal is with O/D's. If I am not mistaken, the 200R4 is stronger, you do not need to run the electrical lock-up, they are BOP bolt patterns and a direct shoe in from a TH350 swapout. Using the same crossmember and driveshaft/yoke combo. I could be wrong with my memory of things, and I guess that is why I am looking for answers. Thanks for the help all. :spank:
Beamer, This site might help. http://www.ptsxtreme.com __________________________________________________________________ Mac Meece
Thanks for the replies... It looks like the 200 and 700 trannies are plenty strong enuf, but I have always heard that the 200 was acually a stronger tranny. I did not see right away on either of these sites, anything that would lead me to go one way or the other. The prices are up there for me, as I am curious to what I should be able to do a conversion for in cost come a day that I would be able to R & R my newly built TH400. Thanks again... Mike
I've heard both the 700R4 and 200R4 are equal in strength when rebuilt properly. The 200R4 requires less modification for fitment with the Buick 350 and 455 engines. All 200R4's are not created equal. If you can find a 200R4 from a Grand National get it. These are the best but hard to find, you will probably need to look for a Monte Carlo SS or 442, with the 200R4, they are good too.
Seems much nicer in prices there. Not sure if I am ready to go that route yet. How many here are running O/Ds in thier machine? Are you using an aftermarket shifter or stock? If stock, are you still on the column? I ask this, as I really want to keep the stock appearance with my Suncoupe bench seated auto. Thanks for the inputs... Mike
I have the PTSXtreme Killer Street trans and have run it for 3-years now without trouble, That is including drag racing with Hoosier quick-times tires. We had some early problems and Bruce stood behind his work. Alot of what you needs depends on what mods your car has and how you plan to use it. Jimmy's transmissions is in Chicago area and he comes recommended by PTSXtreme. Some boeardmembers here also have a trans from Jimmy's and all were happy last I knew. HTH
200 R-4 trans My question is does anyone know if the later model 200-R4 transmissions will bolt to the early 300 Buick V8 blocks?I want to transplant a 300 cu, in, Buick V-8 with an overdrive trans into my micro-mini toyota motorhome. Thanks Paul Petty
I am in the middle of putting a 200R4 tranny in my car now. It is at Janis Transmissions in Akron, OH. CK Performance would be another good source of information. I was able to find a BRF 200R4 core on the turbobuick.com board quite easily. This is the core that comes out of Grand Nationals. The ones out of the SS Monte Carlos and Olds 442 are still good, but do not have the BRF's valve body, which is the most desireable. I paid $250 for mine. It came out of a high-10 second GN. It had already been "built" but 2nd gear was slipping badly. So it already had some of the good stuff in it. But is still being thoroughly gone through and totally redone to make sure it will stand up to my car's engine. Total should be in the $1300 range. Then there is the converter. I'm going to be getting a billet 9/11 converter, probably from CK. I'm having the tranny built with a lockup setup that I will manually control with a switch under the dash. This way I can just lock it up when cruising the highway. That's another $700. Then I figure another $200 for TV cable, brackets, etc. So total outlay will be in the neighborhood of almost $2500 for the complete changeover with a killer tranny. I went this way because a GearVendors overdrive unit will not fit into a GS without some reworking of the tunnel, and I didn't want to do that. My rpm's at 70 mph will go from about 3200 down to 2150. And with the better gearing, I'm hoping to possibly go a little quicker also. We'll see.
I am going to do this as well. I am going to install my 350 (400 horsepower range) with a 200 4r with lockup and 355 gears. Phillip I would like to hear more about your setup once you get it together. :beer
The 2004r should bolt right up to it I took out my 300CID and put in a 350CID then took out the st300 and pit in a 200r4 no problems at all ken
Thanks Thanks,guys,for the info.I'm new to the site as I usually hang out over on the 348-409 forum but(yes I have those enginestoo!)but I also love Buicks and being a little different from the average run of the mill "Hot Rodder".TSGX do you mean you are putting a Buick in your Toy motorhome also?I decided on the Buick because they are powerful and fairly compact and the torgue is there and it is not with my present 182 cubic inch Toyota V-6(can't even use overdrive with the automatic that is in there now)I want to use either the light weight 215 cu. in. or the 300 cu. in. because I don't want to totally destroy the gas mileage I'm getting now.(13 MPG AT 55 TO 60 MPH)This motorhome is only 21 feet long and has no extra power for towing any kind of trailer and I need to find an engine that either runs good as is or to rebuild and will check the classifieds here on the forum as I'm a retired mechanic here in Alaska,thanks again. Paul Petty
