Hi, I intend to buy a 200 R4 for my 76 Buick Regal coupe from a US professional builder like Art Carr, Bowtie overdrives or CK Performance. Here now the heard problem. For example: My current 350 Transmission shifts from 1 into 2 at about 1300 RPM and from 2 to 3 at about 1700 RPM. I can adjust that at the vacuum modulator. This is fine for low speed cruising. So, what i have heard about the professional built High performance 200R4, that it shift from 1 to 2 at about 3000 RPM and 2 to 3 at about 3500 RPM. This is for low speed cruising to much. Can anybody confirm this ? At which Part can I adjust the low speed shift on 200 R4 ? Or will it controled from the TV Cable ? Or i have to give the order to the builders, at which RPM the tranny shall shift ? How do you think about the 3 Transmission builders which i have mentioned at the top ? Where or how i can adjust the WOT shifting ? The 350 has the governor. Does the 200 R 4 have also a governor ? So, i hope you can understand my german-english, because i live in Germany. Thank you in advance for your answers. Best Regards Michael
200R4 has a governor just like a 350 does. That controls the WOT upshifts. Depending on which code 200R4 you get , the governor will be set differently. You can buy performance governors separate from the transmissions at -for instance- CK performance. You should be able to talk to the builder about the shift RPMs you are looking for. I have spoken and dealt with Chris at CK performance and he is a VERY knowledgeable AND helpful guy. Talk to him, he will help you. The TV cable can be set in or out a click or two to alter shift points in a minor way. But that is more of a fine tuning thing. Not the right way to achieve desired upshifts.
Just to let you know, Art Carr Transmissions is no longer owned by Art Carr. I've heard they bought the name, and quality has slipped. Art Carr owns California Performance Transmissions.
Hi, thank you for your answers. @70gsconvt Are you driving also a 200R4 ? Could you tell me, whehter the upshifts at low speed will really shift so late at 3000 RPM and up ? Can you confirm that ? Can you also tell me how is the shift feeling at WOT and at part throttle and at low speed ? Will the 200R4 shift hard at part throttle ? Will the 200R4 shift hard at WOT ? Art Carr is my NO.1 favourite. I have also read, that with his name there are some confusions. The only one "Art Carr" is right now at Huntington Beach. Is that right ? He is able to offer the 200R4 from 200 - 1000 HP. That will give me a save feeling when i upgrade from my 400 to a 455 engine. Are there some other poeple with experince with the standart or high performance 200R4? Best Regards Michael
I do not own one YET but when I do Ill be getting mine from Lonnie Diers at www.extremeautomatics.com He comes highly recommended from the boys over at turbobuick.com. Just another vendor but Cali Performance, PTS, or CK are good choices too. Your builder should be able to change the shift points to where ever you would like it to be.
dont forget about janis transmissions for a fully built one with my xcore, he quoted me 1800 that incluced all billet parts, with non lockupconverter. it'll be a bit higher if you opt for the lockup converter and/or transbrake or dont supply a core this setup was good for around 700-750hp anything over that he reccommends a th400
Are the shift points affected by the stall speed of the converter? Sounds like he wants a stock converter for cruising... - Bill
All transmissions will shift at different RPM's depending on throttle opening. They will shift at low RPM at small throttle openings(low speed), and much higher RPMs at wide open throttle. The shift feel will also automatically increase depending on throttle opening. Much of that is controlled by the TV cable adjustment on a 2004R. It seems like you are thinking that the transmission will always shift at the same RPM. No Automatic Transmission does that.
@regal81455 Thank you for the internet adress @12lives That is correct. I dont need a high stall converter. Yes i like to cruise and once per year i go to the dragstrip. So therefore i need a transmission like for a daily cruiser with the strength for high speed, high acceleration action. @larry70GS Do you mean that only for the 200R4 ? My current 350 will always shift at the same RPM. When i drive slowy, it will always shift at 1300 RPM from 1 - 2, and from 2 - 3 at 1700 RPM. For that i modified the vaccuum modulator. At wide open throttle it will shift at 5300 PRM in second, and 5000 RPM in third gear. For that i modified the governor and the shifting is always at the same RPM. There is no exception. Best Regards Michael
Yes, At minimum throttle, any transmission will shift much lower RPM wise than it will at part or full throttle. The 2004R does not have a separate kickdown or vacuum modulator, so the TV cable controls minimum throttle shift point, feel, and kickdown. The governor controls full throttle shift points.
So, ok we are a step further. What i still whould like to know is, whether the 200R4 will shift at low speed from 1-2 and 2-3 only at approx. 3000 RPM, which would be much to high for my prefered cruising drive style. Is it possible to adjust the TV cable, that the 200R4 will shift like my 350, that it will shift at 1300 to second and 1700 PRM to third at very low speed and very light throttle? My 350 is really a good transmission, with all features what i like, exept that this tranny doesnt have 4.th gear and it is too weak for the motor performance and it shifts too hard at part throttle. I dont like that. For example: 1. It must shift at low speed with light throttle in the next gear at low RPM. 2. At part throttle it shall shift quick, but not hard 3. At wot throttle it can shift hard I hope you understand what i prefer. Best Regards Michael Groh
I think Larry answered your question. Any transmission will shift at a lower rpm when you take off or drive slow. My 200-R4 shifts at a lower rpm if I take off easy. It doesn't go anywhere near 3000 or 3500 rpms unless I'm on it. Bob H.
ANY THM2004R or ANY transmission for that matter will shift at a lower RPM, probably very similar to the THM350 in your car now. I don't know who you heard this 3000 RPM from, but you either misunderstood, or that person does not know what they are talking about. You have no concerns about buying a 2004R. It will shift automatically, and vary the shift points according to throttle opening. Most transmissions under light throttle will shift 1-2 at 9-12 MPH, and 2-3 at 20-25 MPH. You won't get any where near 3000 RPM. Exact shift points will vary with rear gearing.
Thank you for your answers. I know one Guy in austria. He would sell a high performance 200R4 behind a 468 Chevy BB. It was build from a US Tranny Builder. And he told me something about the features and the fact that his tranny shifts only at 3000 RPM and higher in the next gear at light throttle. Below 3000 RPM the tranny will not shift. So i said him, that with this feature i dont need the transmission. I was little nervous about that. OK, and now the last question. How ist the shift feel at WOT and at part throttle ? How would you classify from 1-10 soft shifts| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |hard shifts Best Regards Michael
Michael, Think about this. How can a motor at light throttle reach 3000 RPM? There is something wrong with that transmission, stay away from it. Your last question is impossible to answer. It depends on how the transmission was built and/if it has been modified. Sorry, I don't have a crystal ball:laugh:
Michael my 200-4R shifts nice and easy when cruising but firm when I'm on it. It never bangs into a gear change but it's a solid firm shift at wide open throttle (W.O.T.) When cruising it has a nice shift. Not really soft but comfortable. As Larry said the guy with the 200-4R that shifts at 3000 has a problem or it's a race only transmission? I would suggest going with a 200-4R but make sure it is done right and has all the right parts for your powerful Buick engine. There are guys on here that are racing there 455 Buicks with 200-4R transmission with no problems.........Good Luck Bob H.
@ Larry70GS Thank you for your help. Yes, maybe the tranny of the austrian guy doesn´t work properly. @rmstg2 This is the answer, what i like. You describe all the features what i prefer. Thank you very much. Can you tell me, which Tranny builder made this Transmission ? Can i generally say, that for Shift characteristic, shift RPM and all the other features i have to tell it only to the Tranny builders, and he can build it ? Best Regards Michael
It would be very kind if anybody else Performance 200 R4 driver could write their impression about the transmission regarding shifting characteristics, shift feel at light throttle, part throttle and W.O.T. Thank you @ rmstg2 I guess, that you dont like to say, which builder made your transmission. :ball: Best Regards Michael
Michael I guess you didn't like my description of how the 200-4R in my car operates. You are still asking.:laugh: I will give you the name and number of the guy who built my transmission. That doesn't mean I'm recommending him I'm just telling you who built it. John Kozac BCA#38743 1580 Red House Road Richmond Kentucky 40475 859 623 1883 Bob H.
The th200r4 in my car shifts so smooth in normal driving, you can hardly feel it. When I get on it, I can get scratch when shifting to 2nd.:3gears: It all depends on your right foot on the throttle.
