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Post by BowtieGuy on Jun 10, 2004 21:30:04 GMT -5
So far there has not been a truck with a factory equipped 200r4 transmission. But if any of you are like me and can not keep something original, always trying to upgrade ;D, You might have swapped in a 200r4. These transmissions are good also. My wifes 85 Monte Carlo SS has this transmission in it. If there are enuogh members using this transmission and want more information on them I will add a board dedicated to that transmission.
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Post by mightyy on Jul 21, 2005 23:57:39 GMT -5
I just recently installed 200r4 in my kids 76 GMC 2wd long bed….
Here’s the story.
The truck started out as a 6cyl automatic. No A/C complete “strippie” over the last year. We have been cranking away at this rig. One of the last things we did was to install a nice stock 4 bolt main 350 – behind this I really wanted to have an overdrive, so off to research camp I went. I found out the 200R4 is really quite nice little Trans for a 2wd application that is not hauling or towing much. However, the real misunderstanding is the TV cable set up and the converter lock up.
I found that “bowtie overdrives” was a wealth of information. As well, they have great kits for everything you need to retro a 200R4 into your old ride. For about $200.00 we bought a wire kit, new TV cable, brackets and edelbrock, carb cable kit. I must say……this thing runs great! Tons of low end. Not to mention the great “top end” OD and lock up.
As far as installation, it really was a snap. The trans is the same length as a “short tailshaft” turbo 350 you need to move the trans cross member back, in my case I had to lengthen the drive shaft 2 inches (because my turbo 350 was the medium length. No need to change the yoke, it slips right in. Linkage and Speedo cables hook right up. Bowtie overdrives lock up kit was real simple to install. The only problem that we have overlooked was speedo gears……once you figure out what you need, you need to drop the pan to switch the gears. Again, Bowtie overdrives have all of the resources to assist in this situation.
If you want to pick up a few mpg’s and get a great off the line “launch” you must consider the 200R4 for your ½ ton.
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Post by 19_Chevelle_69 on Jul 24, 2005 18:22:30 GMT -5
I have a 2004R in my shed waiting to be swapped in when the TH350 that's currently in my 86 1/2 ton blows up... (no such luck yet though, no matter how hard I beat on it...LOL)
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Post by mightyy on Jul 28, 2005 21:50:50 GMT -5
I'm surprised that more people don't go this way..... maybe I'm missing something. but if you are not hauling, (even if you are they build rather nice) the gear ratios are excellent! and the transmissions are found rather cheap! I think that many installers have been frustrated at wiring and tv setups. many times ignoring them both, thus early failure, poor shifting, and never really acting like a transmission should.
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Post by 19_Chevelle_69 on Jul 31, 2005 17:47:22 GMT -5
Exactly. If it's not setup/adjusted properly, you are just asking for a failure.
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Post by Pontiac1976 on Aug 4, 2005 23:17:48 GMT -5
mightyy : You got trans cooler on it and are you running the stock oil pan?
Because I forget but one company does make a Alum deep pan now with longer pick up, that will help the Trans . Think it was around $175.oo not sure now have to find it again.
I run Trans coolers on ever car or truck heat kills Trans
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Post by mightyy on Aug 5, 2005 0:13:18 GMT -5
AT this point the transmission is completely stock. running stock cooler lines. and pan. we have not experenced any heat problems. however it is just running around town. a deep pan would be nice. I believe that my stock pan got a little bent in shipping, and I am having some leak problems. I love transmission leaks!!!!! another GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Post by Pontiac1976 on Aug 5, 2005 18:33:46 GMT -5
 sorry to here that your pan leaking that sucks
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Post by mightyy on Aug 7, 2005 21:35:51 GMT -5
Leaky pan makes it feel better because we need to change out the speedo gears... you see, as I mentioned......The money pit now is fitting new 20" rubber. We have been testing out several tire sizes for best fit. The challenge is not to really alter the suspension or cut anything, but give the truck that cool 20" tire look. yes.... We have looked into lowering it. but it has practical purposes also.. the truck tows a little trailer now and then. it gets use in a Utah winter. and all of the other changes. I really don't want to worry about possible suspension problems. in the winter the old 15"" and studded snowies get mounted up so the kid can climb the hill to school!!
The whole point of this is to let all of your 2004r owners know that in order to change the speedo gears, you have to drop the pan. there are two gears. from inside in order to calibrate your speedo.
how fun eh?
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Post by 19_Chevelle_69 on Aug 7, 2005 22:07:03 GMT -5
If it was easy, it wouldn't be an adventure, LOL  |
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Post by Bent on Aug 7, 2005 23:36:45 GMT -5
[glow=limegreen,2,300]Watch your boy with all his ladies if he's gonna be rollin' on dubs! lol![/glow]
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Post by BowtieGuy on Aug 15, 2005 17:45:19 GMT -5
The 200r4 does make a very nice tranny for these trucks for anyone looking for overdrive. Some info that I found out also to share with you guys about the 200r4. There are several different valve bodies that these came equipped with. The best beeing the ones equipped in the Grand Nationals, second the ones equipped in the Monte Carlo SS both not beeing alot different but alot better than stock which is the last. If you plan to swap one of these in your truck, a great idea is look thru some of the GN websites for a replacement valve body or junk yards for this or the Monte version. The shifting governor and servos are also a major inprovement.I found this out when swapping a Caddy version 200r4 in my X wife's Monte when the tranny went out. I had to hunt down the old tranny to remove the valve body. Just something to keep in mind. Also the kits sold to make these and the 700r4 trannies lock up are very simple and cheap to make yourself if you choose to do so. I did this with my 700r4 and have some of this covered in the 700r4 section.
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Post by Pontiac1976 on Aug 28, 2005 9:24:43 GMT -5
Ok found one of the places I was off a bit on the price hear a link to the 200R4 trans pan. www.yourcovers.com/tp_9917.shtmlMightyy and any one else they do have other pans and other stuff trans related. |
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Post by Pontiac1976 on Sept 4, 2005 16:53:45 GMT -5
Well I let the 3/4 frame from states go to long some one got it now .so I will toss that Idea .
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Post by mightyy on Jul 8, 2006 22:19:21 GMT -5
OK one complete year has passed and I have indeed learned a few things about the good ol 200r4.......
#1) by far....it is the cheapest and most simple upgrade to an overdrive in your 1/2 ton
#2) this could be the most confusing transmission in the world
#3) Not all 200r4's are not the same there are over 250 versions (according the the guys at transgo)
most of the differences are in the programing, separator plates, valve body, 2nd gear servo, and other goodies.
so here's my story...
After buying a "generic" 200r4 off of ebay at a bargain price, sold as a fresh GM rebuild, installing and setting it up properly with correct TV kit for the edelbrock, the transmission was real sluggish from 1st to second. it had a perpetual leak that we could not identify.
We made the attempt of installing a transgo kit and a stiffer 2nd gear servo. however after this install the trans leaked even worse and it refused to pump to the cooler lines, grrrrrr however it shifted well and seemed to run OK with the exception of heat!
Enter the 1979 Monte Carlo H.O.
After searching around for a few months for a suitable replacement I discovered that there were many options of nice sturdy replacements to be found. I learned that it is important to find a transmission that was set up from the factory for heavy duty use...... lots of them out there that were behind V/8 cars such as
Cadillac Fleetwood
Buick estate Wagons
Mote carlos V/8 H.O or SS
Oldsmobile Wagons V/8 and Diesel
Buick Grand Nationals
and many other late 70's V/8 powered sedans
In todays day and time there are many cheap candidates that are still running and not in junk yards. We had the pleasure of driving several, its kind of nice to check out rear end ratios, sniff dip sticks, and drive these cars and fell the "personality" of the transmission.
Low and behold, we came across a 79 Monte Carlo with the H.O engine and a nice clean transmission, the owner mentioned that his extended warranty replaced a torque converter at about 60K the car had about 120K on it. the body was a basket case and the engine smoked missed. it was a perfect purchase at $300.00
We extracted the transmission and sold the car to a Carlo "guy" for $150.00
After a careful steam cleaning we removed the pan and everything was very clean sweet smelling with practically no residue in the pan or on the magnets!
We installed a Transgo kit, rewired it for our non computer lock-up changed a couple of goodies like speedo gears and stuff. flushed the converter and really deep cleaned everything inside.
once this was installed and very importantly "set up" with proper Throttle valve settings, this baby is a real strong runner, it shifts very nice locks up perfectly, runs nice and cool and gives great hole shot and best of all the truck runs at 2500 rpm at 93 MPH !!!!
so my advice.
Cheap overdrive is out there! the installation is really quite easy with very few modification, but you need to find a V/8 not a 6 cyl unless it is a grand national turbo version.
Best of all you can do it real cheap if you have a little patience.
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sorry to here that your pan leaking that sucks
