I was sad to find tonight that the dipstick tube from my original TH400 has too large a diameter to fit into the 200-4R (although it sure looks like it would fit otherwise). I know I could use a dipstick tube that actually came from a 200-4R, but I can't find one locally right now. Is there another tranny that could donate a dipstick, for example something with a TH200 instead of a 200-4R?? Or, I noticed that the TH400 dipstick has an o-ring on the tranny end. The 200-4R has a rubber grommet in the case. If I remove the rubber grommet, will the TH400 with o-ring fit (and seal) in the resulting hole? I'll keep looking for a 200-4R car being parted out, but in the meantime, am I missing something? Thanks!
I found out the hard way that you need the proper 2004r dipstick and tube. afterall it sets the fluid level. I used one from a th350, and overfilled the tranny bigtime, and rebuilt it shortly there afterer, again. But I did find out Summit sells stock type dipsticks and tubes for about 40 bucks...
is this swap for your wildcat? what rear gears do you have? the reason i ask is mine has 2.78 gears and an overdrive would be a bad match with those gears you would need 3.23 or 3.42 at a minimum now this is just just my opinion scott
Hi ! I used the one from Lokar. (Buy the longest one) You can see it in this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ-J...xiolrIRJnvamvqiBRX_cEqP3NO5Y3l8&feature=inbox
Yes, this is going into the Wildcat, and I don't know what gears are in it. I tried to count rotations of the driveshaft and tires the other day, but it's up in the air and I couldn't get both tires to spin together easily (just set up the brakes, they might be a but snug). If OD is not really useful, I'm not too worried. A gear change may be in the works, with a limited slip likely too. These are pretty cheap upgrades from the wrecker around here. I am thinking of getting the rear end out of an early 80s Caddy with a 6 cylinder, but I haven't done the research to confirm it'll fit. I'm guessing that it will, because that's where I got my rear swaybar from, it it sure fit well! Thanks for the tips and advice on the dipstick tube. I was pretty sure I'd need a tranny-specific tube, but so many other things on this swap have interchanged, I wasn't sure.. I got the tranny in today, bolted to the block, one TC bolt hooked up through the original flex plate, and the shift linkage seems like it might just work. Still haven't tried the rear cross member, and I don't have a dipstick tube, rear mount, or TC dust cover, so I'm still looking for a parts car locally. One thing that now worries me is that the TC seemed to spin freely on the input shaft before I put the tranny in the car. Now however, I can grab the TC by hand, and it moves freely for a certain # of degrees (maybe 45* or a bit more), then stops with a "clang". This happens in either direction. Any ideas what's happening? The whole thing went together well, nothing was forced, so I don't think I munched anything in the TC??
Unless I missed it..can you tell us the source or condition of the donor trans ? One thing I would definately check,even if it requires pulling the trans back out, is the stator splines on the front pump. You might try moving the gear selector to each position and see if it effects your results. If you have the trans out to inspect the stator spline try turning the input shaft, and if possible the converter internals to isolate where the issue is. Make sure all the converter holes line up and the pilot fits right. Also I experienced a similar scare. BE SURE THE BOLT IS TIGHTENED DOWN OR IT WILL HIT THE BLOCK WHEN ROTATED. Maybe it is simple as this. lol
Excellent suggestions on things to check. Yes, I think I'll be pulling it out on Monday to check the "clunk." It's not the bolt, I had no bolts in the flexplate when I was trying to rotate the TC. I was told the tranny came from a 1987 Cutlass 442, but the valve body is an HC2 unit, which seems to be from a 1986 Caprice 5.0l. The Caprice source seems more likely too,a s all the date codes I can find on it are 1986. The sticker on the TC matches what it should be for this tranny, so I think that's OK. When I had the pan off, it was nice and clean inside. There were no chinks, the fluid was clean looking and smelling, and no sludge or buildup on anything. That's all I know! But the TC moved smoothly on the input shaft before I put the tranny in, could I have bent something while pushing it around f the TC mushed up against something?
Well, I pulled out the rubber bushing in the dipstick hole, and the TH400 dipstick tube fits just fine! It does sit higher, and the bracket now sits above the bolt on the bell housing, but a piece of flat bar made a quick bracket to hold it on properly. To calibrate the the TH400 dipstick, I understand I can pull the pan and make a notch on the dipstick level with the pan gasket. This is good news, because all the local places that actually HAVE 200-4Rs (not very many) have been unwilling to sell just the dipstick and tube! This technique will get me going, and I will look for a proper tube and dipstick when I can find one. After all, it's a matter of a few minutes to change it when I do find a stock unit! Strangely, TCI sells a common tube and stick for the 350/400/200/200-4R! How does that work??
Aha, that makes sense. Right in line with the threads I've found saying the TH350 tube can be cut 3/4" and then the TH350 tube and dipstick work fine with the 200-4R. I just don't want to cut my TH400 stuff (because even if the stick works, the extra little bracket holding the tube on is a bit silly), so I'll keep looking for a 200-4R tube and stick.
I'll finish off this thread. I put in a tube from a TH200C tonight (1983 Monte Carlo V6) and it was way too long (hit the AC plumbing at the top of the heater plenum), BUT the tube from tranny to bell housing bracket fit perfectly. So, I pulled off the pan, measured where the bottom of the case was, and cut the TH200C tube so that my TH400 dipstick would sit with the "Full" mark just at the level of the bottom of the case. All of this fits nicely, and it looks stock (which I like). Maybe a stock 200-4R tube and stick would fit past my AC/heater fine, maybe not, but I cannot find one around here! So this has worked out OK for me, and it might be a "last ditch" solution for someone else too. Also, the TH200C donated a speedo gear retainer to the cause, and I bet the torque converter dust cover would fit too. In other words, a bunch of TH200C parts seem to fit the 200-4R, so if you can't find a 200-4R, maybe try finding a TH200C for some of the external bits!
An 87 442 was a CZ code transmission. I used the 200-4r dipstick from a CZ code transmission on mine. (70 Skylark)
