2004r Trans

[dfosh]

I would like some info from anyone who is using this trans . Like were you got it and what all it took to get it working and if you dont mind the cost . Thanks

[shawno72]

x2

[chevy88]

Do a search on this site for a 200-4R and you will get a whole bunch of posts.

[davepl]

Just installed a 200-4R in mine, replacing the original TH400. As for sourcing it, I can't help, as I've had this one for years. I bought it from FB Transmission out in New York (they were, and perhaps still are, pretty well known for their 200s). It was about $1800 at the time, and it ran 12s in my 4300lb car. So it took the abuse in stride.

Bolting it up was easy enough. In my case I have the dual-bolt pattern 200, which not all of them are. So make sure whatever you get will indeed bolt up to a Chevy bellhousing.

I used a TH400 mount and it worked perfectly. I would say it was maybe 1/8" out of alignment with my factory crossmember holes, but close enough I didn't have to fab or modify anything.

I picked up a TCI bracket for mounting the TV cable to a Q-jet. It doesn't clear the intake (our trucks, at least the big blocks, have a very low intake manifold) and will require some fab.

In my case I do not have a lockup converter, so no electronics whatsover.

I believe the cooler lines are reverse from the TH400, so keep that in mind.

The transmission guy that I had "refresh" the trans and fix a leak was a little dubious about my using a 200 in a truck. Apparently the planetaries are small. But it held up in a drag race situation nicely and so I'm hoping it'll survive the truck. Make no mistake, though, they're not strong in stock condition. But many builders are out there making stronger variants. Once built most claim they're stronger than the 700/4L60E.

The yoke on the 200/350/Powerglide is different than the 400. Since I had a 400 I wound up buying a 1350 Powerglide yoke only to discover that the driveshaft is also 1350 everywhere -except- the front, where it's 1330. So I'm running a 1330/1350 u-joint in the front. If you were using a stock 200/350/PG yoke it could also be 1310. Short version is once you have your yoke you might need an adapter u-joint.

I have not installed the driveshaft, actually hope to do that today, and will report back if I remember what was required, but at this point I'm assuming the length is close enough to my TH400 that it won't require any modification or replacement.

- Dave

[cdowns]

i had a 200 from www.fbperformance.com too i knew them from the local dragstrips and streetracers on long island wwas an easy change from a turbo350 as i did not have any problems used the stock driveshaft // i did make up my own throttle cable tvcable mount // put well over 50thousand miles on it b4 the truck got killed by an oaktree in the hurricane, mostly haulin stuff long distance to fleamarket swapmeets even a couple trips to florida towin very heavy trailer when i moved here// never had a hicup with it and i think it is still alive in a suburban down here/// i too went with not havin the lockup converter but i still gave me a noticable increase in milage as well as the acceleration was excellent with the 4:10posi

[davepl]

Because of the fairly deep overdrive (0.67:1) I wound up installing 4.56 gears in the rear, which would equate to about 3.08s with the overdrive.

[WIDESIDE72]

I have a 200 4r behind a 383 in my 79 Malibu. My brother had one behind a 355 in his 72 swb stepside. THey are great trans, a little harder to find cores than a 700r4, I don't think they made as many 200's a 700's. I Have a 72 swb stepside w/ a 700r4 in it and prefer the 200 since it does not have as deep of a first gear ratio, so there is not as much of an rpm drop from 1st to 2nd as a 700. Either one is a good trans if built right. Be sure to get the TV cable set up right the first time or you will kill either trans!

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by davepl

Because of the fairly deep overdrive (0.67:1) I wound up installing 4.56 gears in the rear, which would equate to about 3.08s with the overdrive.

actually the overdrive for the 200 is 0.71 and for the 700 it is 0.68

[LockDoc]

-
I just put one in my '69 Burb. I used the BowTie Overdrives TV Made EZ kit and Lockup kit. Everything seems to work OK with that. I'm having a little trouble with it but I think it is because I have to high of a rear end ratio...

LockDoc

[dale3goodwrench]

I am getting ready to buy a 200R from these guys for my monte Carlo SS.
I have heard nothing but good about them.

http://www.extremeautomatics.com/tra...ons/2004r.html

[GuyO]

Me too, I paid $600.00 and swapped out the Powerglide for a 200-4r after doing what you are - looking, reading, researching because it was the same length and could handle 350hp out of a 327. Got mine from a wrecking yard, it had a multi case housing and came with Oldsmobile Torque Converter. I pulled it apart, added a torque converter lock up from BTO and TV made easy kit from BTO. I pull a small 16' dual axle camper trailer. It has a good/solid shift range. Added in a transcooler and a trans temp gauge just to be sure. I love the overdrive as we spend a lot of time on I-90. I certainly recommend it for 2 wheel drive, sport trucks.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by dale3goodwrench

I am getting ready to buy a 200R from these guys for my monte Carlo SS.
I have heard nothing but good about them.

http://www.extremeautomatics.com/tra...ons/2004r.html

didn't your monte come with a 200 in it? Or are you just buying a beefed up one from them? (love the monte ss's, had an 85 for a while - very fun car )

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by GuyO

Me too, I paid $600.00 and swapped out the Powerglide for a 200-4r after doing what you are - looking, reading, researching because it was the same length and could handle 350hp out of a 327. Got mine from a wrecking yard, it had a multi case housing and came with Oldsmobile Torque Converter. I pulled it apart, added a torque converter lock up from BTO and TV made easy kit from BTO. I pull a small 16' dual axle camper trailer. It has a good/solid shift range. Added in a transcooler and a trans temp gauge just to be sure. I love the overdrive as we spend a lot of time on I-90. I certainly recommend it for 2 wheel drive, sport trucks.

GuyO,

Do you know what your rear end ratio is?

LockDoc

[AustinScott]

I just swapped out my TH400 with a new BTO TH200-4R.
My truck had a 3.08 rear & the truck was not happy locked up on the freeway at 70 running 1200 RPM.
So I Just got finished rebuilding my rearend, put in a posi & 3.73 gears. WOW what a difference!

SO I have some observation on the TH200-4R after the first few 100 miles.
1 - had to go back and forth to get the best matching Governor for my full throttle shift point, out of the box it was shifting WAY to early.
2- When locked up in 4th, if you slow down without hitting the brake, the tranny stays locked in forth. so you can slow down to a crawl 40mph and the tranny stays locked in 4th, you either have to hit the brakes or push the throttle 3/4 way to the floor before it will down shift or unlock.
3 - The tranny locks up really fast in 4th, so if you have real high rear gears (3.08) you will find that driving slow in 4th is painful.
4 - The TH200-4R and a rear gear of 3.73 is a match made in heaven, what a fun ride & freeway cruiser.


I have alot of images of the install, feel free to check them out here,

TRANNY INSTALL ALBUM

A few from the Album,









Any questions, feel free to hit me up!

Good luck!

[MusicMan70]

Thanks a Bunch AustinScott! Subcribed for future reference.