seems like a built jimwiese th400 w/ gearvendors(cheaper if you go with us gear i think it is) then a built 4l80e....buils jim weise sp-400 and gear vendors comes out very similar to price of 4l80e 4l80 does have a better od ratio of .03 lol heres two good vendors for the 4l80e sean http://www.the-transmission-center.com/ http://www.performabuilt.com/4l80e.html www.gearvendors.com http://www.usgear.com/v2od_appprice.htm http://www.trishieldperformance.com/transmissions.htm
Yes, about 70% of the parts interchange... The coolest thing about them is that you can run paddle shifters on the your steering wheel as well as tune shift firmness with a laptop. Like you said though it is a fairly easy swap if you go manual shift. I have heard about mods to the floor of the car as well but that does not really bother me.
oh, and for the original poster, i'd either just rock the th400 and then eventually install either a gearvendors or us gear unit...or just get a fully built 200r4 as you'll be under 600hp i'd only use a 700r4 if it was a truck application...due to the 3.06 1st gear ratio :-D
The 700r4 is great off the line with the 3.73 gears in my 91 2500 even with 2 Buick 350s chained in the back for winter weight. The cruise rpms are great with the lockup torque converter on demand via toggle switch after I get over 65 MPH. MPG is decent.
SO what is it exactly that burns up or blows out the 200r4's?? Is it just hard launching? OR is it because it just cant simply handle all of the torque and HP at all speeds? My BBB is prolly around 400 HP and I guess about 500 TQ.. If I were to install a stock 200r4 rebuilt or in great shape and just used it in a street car weighing 3600 lbs with normal driving, crusing and the occasional launch here and there.. HOw long would the doctors give it? Sorry, not trying to Hi-jack the thread, just trying to get and give an idea about 200r4 capabilities.. I've also been scratcing my head for a while about this conversion... Keep this one moving.. ~Vin
I don't think that it would last very long. Are you talking about a stock 200r4 from a family car, or one that is from a Grand National? The Grand National 200r4 has very specific pieces so that it could handle the power from the turbo v6.
What would be the difference besides shift points and better clutches? The Turbo V6 only produced about 175-200 HP and about 275 torque at best (dont quote me on these numbers).. So, even if you put the 200r4 from a GN behind a BBB your doubling up the HP and torque. IM no expert at trannys but the way I see it, this tranny wouldnt survive behind a BBB for long unless you do some major upgrading..However, i have hear of people using them for just crusing and occasional romp in stock form with no problems.. ~Vin
"IM no expert at trannys but the way I see it, this tranny wouldnt survive behind a BBB for long unless you do some major upgrading..However, i have hear of people using them for just crusing and occasional romp in stock form with no problems.." ~Vin Hey Vince yes if your going to baby it then it will last you some time.... "UNTIL" You do a few full rpm shifts....:3gears: . then you will have no second gear or reverse.. as I did when I first had the brite idear to put my Olds 410 cu in my 82 Fleetwood bro ham, I thought oh I never beat on it... Right smoked the tires forever.... That's when it went to Pat at Level 10.. Where basically pat turned my 82 caddy 200r4 into a GN or Monte (can't remeber) unit.. iirc he stated that the changes were, the input shaft,valve body,drum,Govener,etc.ect.... he basically used my shell or housing if you will to build me the trans I still have today! one thing I must say is that it never really did feel right to me in the caddy, we did the Holly tv cable adapter on the carb, 4:10s in back, 27 and 30 in back.. it seemed like it was either drive normal and it was fine or wot threw the gears and it was great... But try to punch it some where in between and you wound'nt know where you'd end up... It is now in my 67 GS 400 with a 468 in front and a 3:90 4 pinion posi in the back with p235 60r 14's and it is just as it should be all the way around:3gears: +1
i've already answered that question pror to the question...stockl rebuild wouldnt last long...you'd have to get billet internals...a fully built 200r4 will cost around 1800+ and will easily handle around 550 650..anything over that you'll end up doing constant refresh builds on it every year or 2..perhaps longer if you baby it or dont take it to the track often i bet a stock gn 200r4 could take a bolton 455 for a while
No you did not answer his questionp p p Vinnie asked "What would be the difference besides shift points and better clutches?" After you answered "billet internals" I tried to give him a brake down, although it was a poor one, it added to your comments to which I agree....JJJ:3gears: +1
Thanks guys I really dont think I'll be building my big block over 550/550 anyway. I was already thinking of the 200r4 I just wanted to see if a few of you were running it and how long they lasted. The gear vendors or too expensive as is the 4l80e. I think the 200 will hold up fine as long as it is built for performance. I was thinking of going with 3:73's hence the need for the Od.
Talk to David Husek over at turbobuick.com, he's running specials right now and I THINK you can get a decent build that will hold up for $1300+/- right now - Ill be upgrading myself here in the next few months, just trying to save up the cash - the kicker is that I have to rebuy a torque convertor which could be about another 400-600 so figure spending right around 2k for something you can depend on.
hey guys... i am very intrigued by the conversations here... i built a 455 olds for my brothers 88 cutlass lv2 sport coupe and it has a fresh th400 he has decided to go with an overdrive also. here are a few options that may help you guys... the 4l80e does not necessarily require a $1,300.00 computer to run it you can run a megasquirt series two i believe and it has the ability to run the 4l80e just tune in the parameters with a laptop and go. TheSilverBuick on here has a 77 skylark with a home built efi 455 buick and a tremec tko600 overdrive manual transmission. he has alot of experience with them and i am sure would lend some advice on the how to's my brother is saving up for a trans kit and we are going to rebuild a 700r4 ourselves and install it in his cutlass. we are also doing the trz 8.8 mustang rearend swap in this car do to the stupid amount of money people want for 10 and 12 bolt units and his 10.5:1 compression 455 is sure to destroy the whimpy 7.5 posi he has now.
I know the 200r4 can be built to reliably go 10's in the quarter (behind a Pontiac engine in a GTO) and drive thousands of miles a year. For the costs the gear vendor's unit is pretty reliable. The MegaSquirt group has just come out with a trans controller that will work with the 4L80e (or is about to...I didn't find it for sale yet...), it should retail around $350-$400. I've been thinking about one in my Centurion. Junkyard 4L80e, fluid change, trans controller and install. I don't want to spend the money needed to trust the 200r4 in a <5,000lb car with a 455.
just so we don't look stupid to the chevy dudes the (2004r) is what gm calls that transmission. 70gsconvt got extra points for getting it right:laugh: :bglasses:
200r4 was to throw the Cheby guys off :Brow: :Brow: :Brow:..... now dont I feel like a dumb ass..... I have been saying that for years, and hearing it also even at trans shops... it must be the 700r4 that cheby labeled wrong... should be 7004r... see it' chebys fault...
I see a way to make money with the cheby guys always thinking their rightp :laugh: :laugh: :bglasses:
There is a guy that advertises in the Buick Bugle that did my 200-4r that is in my 53. So far so good and it has been in there for about 3 years or more. I haven't beat the snot out of it but have nailed it a few times. His name is John Kozak His transmissions are $500.00 to $750.00 depending on what build you want. When I bought mine there was no core charge and the shipping was reasonable. It came with a GN converter which was a little extra. If I remember the total was just over $900.00 to my door. His phone number is 859 623 1883
