I have a 67 Buick GS 400 wanting to keep the original transmission and motor, I want to put a 462 built with a bigger cam, wanting to go with overdrive what transmission does anybody recommend thanks
You have several choices. Lots of guys use the 2004R, but to live behind a healthy BBB in a heavy car, , it needs substantial beefing up and billet parts. Another option is the 4L80E, basically a THM400 with an overdrive gear and lock up torque converter. It's an electronically controlled transmission, so it needs a stand alone computer to run it. It is a stout transmission. The third option is the one I went with since 2006. It is an add on overdrive. The Gear Vendors Overdrive gives you a 4th gear .78 OD. The extension housing of the THM 400 is removed, and an adapter is bolted in it's place, then the Gear Vendors unit is bolted to that. The drive shaft is shortened. The GV unit is good to 1200 HP. https://www.gearvendors.com/index.html If I was looking to do this today, I think I would look to do a 4L80E. I do like the Gear Vendors OD though.
Are you going to race it or street and highway cruise it? I have a locally built Turbo 200-4R that is pretty solid. I've had it for about 10 years now and it rips second gear like my old SP400 race trans from K-B. I've never had it hooked up on slicks and don't intend to so I'm pretty sure it will live for quite a while behind my aluminum-headed 462. If you are going to beat on it with slicks, what do you want to be the weakest link? Probably not the trans. Go with the 4L80E.
No I’m mainly going to drive it on the street maybe to the track a couple times a year, I have 410 in the rear, i’m building a 455 right now, i’m just wanting to pull the Original motor and trans out and keep it so I can put everything back original one day, really need the overdrive Because it Rev to high ,out driving it around,And like I have a bout a 2500 stall, thanks for the info
Also, look at the turbo board, There is a lot of info on the 200 4r there. Do a search here too, there have been several threads about overdrive trannies.
You might want to consider swapping out those 4:10 gears to mid 3:00’s. Even with a 4L80E or Gear Vendor setup you’re gonna be turning a lot of rpm on the road. An 8L90 with a 3:42 rear gear would be sweet with a built 455. A lot of newer 1500 series Silverado’s came with the 8L90 (I have one in my 2017) so you might be able to score one for a reasonable sum.
As far as I know, there is no way to run 8l90 without using the newer LT1, LT4, LT5 computer system. I'm pretty sure these all ran on direct injection so reprogramming to a port injection setup as of now is next to impossible in the lines of code There is no stand alone system and seeing the crazy amount of information that thing needs to receive, unless gm makes a stand along it will be many years if ever we see a stand alone setup for thst transmission. It wont even bolt to out bolt pattern and I doubt an adapter will ever be made to. With no way to control it what's the point
Will the 200r4 hold up with a Buick 464 with 410 in the rear,I really like my switch pitch in my 67gs I was thinking going with overdrive or gearvendor
The 2004R can be built pretty tough, but it will cost some money. You will also need to buy a converter. Will it stand up? That will depend on how you use it. Just a cruiser with occasional hammering? Probably will be fine. If you go racing with it with sticky tires, not sure it will last forever. The really fast GN guys have a 400. If I was looking to go overdrive today, I would go 4L80E. I am perfectly happy with my GV though.
My vote, 4L80e. Sure people are running 200-4Rs/2004Rs - If you are planning to keep the 4.10:1 gearing I imagine the force distribution with the lower rearend gears as compared to 3.42:1 would keep the 200R4 alive. Otherwise, its best in my opinion to go with the transmission that was designed and engineered to replace the THM400 and that is the 4L80(e). Plenty of threads now exist on this topic to include my own. But here is the main thread that people can refer to https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/got-jiggy-with-it-4l80e-behind-455-bbb.302742/
on a 4L80E you also need a throttle positioning sensor. That could be a pita if your carburetor does not have the provision for one. Just one more thing you need to consider. The GV is a simpler set up, even thou I run a 4L80 in one of my cars and love it, but it's a lot of work and today I would really consider the GV. Fernando
I would recommend anyone doing that.....with all the inputs the pressures inside the transmission are right and cause it to eat itself......
I did the 2004 trans but I run the 350 but I have put a lot of nitrous at it and was making probably 500 hp and tq and has held up. I have launched out of the hole with a 1.60 60 fts a lot of times and I also have a very tight suspension to handle corners. I run MT DR's and have a 373 gear. 3000 stall with lockup. I have had this since 2005 and ran nitrous then too still going I had Vince Janis build it in Akron Ohio. I do know Vince said he is doing a lot of 400's for the Turbo cars I thought he said as soon as the cars get under 10's then they do the 400 trans.
No one runs more HP through a 200-4r than I do. But my tranny guy and I are starting to look at other options if I want to hook up the new 900 hp motor.
