!STRAIGHT UP! Which Trans Is Better. TH350 or 200-4R?

Which trans will be my best bet, had a well built th350, 2500 stahl, it went bye-bye. So I am standing in my garage staring at two trannys. The 4R or the 350, which one to rebuild? The car is already obviously set up for the 3 speed. I have BBB 462 that has dyno'd at 425hp-500ft/lbs. If either trans was well built, with the right parts, which one is better, and who is going to cost more?
One other question, I believe I would have to buy a new converter for the overdrive?
Basically I am looking for you to decide for me today?

 

The r4 is going to cost more. You will need a new converter, have to do a little wiring and setup the TV cable. I will never go back to a non overdrive trans for a street car. It is so nice to shift into OD lock up the clutch and get in the big boys lane on the expressway.

 

NO easy answer. Sorry to be honest but.....

350 more for the strip. (cheaper, can be done locally likely)
fine for factory gears
historically more reliable...(GASP)

200 for more street (more expensive, need RELIABLE builder)
better if you have "steeper" gears or want better fuel economy.

Both can be built to do both things.

Ask Chris at CK Transmission what he thinks.

ElectraJim

 

It is a tuffy decision. I take the highway to get to strip or work every blue moon. Other than that pounding the pavement locally. Having an overdrive may not offset the $4+ for premium. I think the easiest decider at this point is to see if my current stall is filled with metal, if its good, then 350 it is, if its junk then highly consider the OD> The gearing is soso, I have 3.50's in a Ford 9 with a TruTrac.

 

200 by far at your power level a good street rebuild with no special parts and a good TC and you'll love it. Best guy I know is Vince Janis in Akron Oh, 330-753-6609. he builds them for many of the 9 second TR's you can tell him i told ya to call.

 

350 trans will be more reliable for less money
convertor for 350 trans is cheaper the 200r4 lockup or non lock conversion
for what a good 200r4 will cost you could build 2 350 trans
2004r is good if you want overdrive and are willing to pay the $$$ for
a good build and convertor/add wiring for lockup,setting up detent cable
350 trans can work without detent cable ,200r4 wont
200r4 you need to install the right speedo gear before you build trans as
it does not have a removable tailshaft so speedo gear change requires the trans to be taken apart from the front
i personally like the 350 trans anyway

 

I have a 200-4R trans in my car and love it. Worth every dime to me and it's holding up on the street and on the track. Vince Janis in Akron, OH did mine.

 

keep em' coming - thanks

 

BUMP - startin' on the rebuild tomorrow...............still deciding. All input is good.

 

2004r ---

here's who built mine:

http://www.ptlv.com

 

What is your rearend ratio? If it is very tall (2.93 etc.) then OD won't be all that great.

-BC

 

3.36 ('66 Chevelle 10 bolt posi, but I still have my original rear)

 

IMO, the 200-4r is the best of both worlds. You get a better first gear ratio, compared to the TH350. And of course, you get 33% OD in 4th.

Add in a lockup converter and you can have a higher stall and still be able to lock it up on the highway.

As far as strength goes, they can be built up to take some serious power. Much more than the typical street car puts out.

You can easily run 3.73 gears and not get the gas mileage penalty that you would with a TH350.

 

Do the 200-4R. And that's all I have to say about that.

 

Just to let you know, I have 3.73 gears and a 28" tall tire. At 70 mph going down the highway I spinning about 2100 rpm's. It's great.

I will say that you don't want too tall of a rearend gear or the engine will really start to lump down the road. But with that 3.36 gear, if you stick with a 26" tall tire, the factory size, you should be fine.

 

Voted against the overdrive......... so I have one for sale if any interests?

 

well the br or bf i cant remember which code is the the ones from montes and gns had

they lived behind 13 sec cars from the factory. so i cant see why they hold up to some decent power with just a few mods.

 

And that's all I have to say about that.

what can you tell me about shrimp?

 

its delish