Tranny confusion

[ffrob]

Hi all, new to forum,Im currently redoing 66 C10 Fleetside longbox. Purchased a rebuilt 283/275 hp I want to put an overdrive auto trans behind it. After much reading I am leaning towards a 200 4r (rebuilt and beefed up of course) but tranny shops in my area are all trying to talk me into a 700 r4 saying a 200 4r won't stand up, this seems to be contrary most of the info im reading on this and other forums. Should I keep trying until I find a shop that will help me or go with the 700 r4. Thanks for your time.

[jchav62]

Welcome!

200r4's are originally car transmissions. They can be beefed up but I would say to go with the 700r4.

[TJ's Chevy]

I would go with the 700r4.

[ob1monkey]

I have found that the 200r4 is a better fit dimensionaly, and can be built to handle everything a 700r4 can handle, even cost is about the same. The problem with the 200r4 is that they were only around for a little while, and most transmission guys don't have as much experience building them.

[billd5string]

I've had excellent luck with 700r4's in trucks, and only 1 200r4 which was in a car (all with v8's) and the 200r4 gave out before 100k, so I'd recommend the 700r4 as well, especially for a truck.

[63burban]

Originally Posted by ob1monkey

I have found that the 200r4 is a better fit dimensionally, and can be built to handle everything a 700r4 can handle, even cost is about the same. The problem with the 200r4 is that they were only around for a little while, and most transmission guys don't have as much experience building them.

Just installed a 700 in my 63 and would agree with this entirely.I had to lower the rear of the trans to clear the floor.
They guy that built my 700 told me the 200 is basically the same as a 700 but with a smaller case. Most early Hot Rods (1920-40s) require the use of a 200 because of the size.They can take a lot of HP.

[chevy_mike]

The biggest thing I didn't like about my 700R4 that I put in my '68 C10 years ago was first gear. It's 3.06. If you have a high ratio rear end (4.10's) it makes first gear almost useless unless you like burn outs. Then the other issue was the 1st to 2nd gear drop. There is a huge gap between these two gears. For me, unless I got some smokin' deal on a 700, I would install a built 200R4. They can be built up to be just as strong as a built 700, they are just not as common.

[hop sing]

Originally Posted by jchav62

Welcome!

200r4's are originally car transmissions. They can be beefed up but I would say to go with the 700r4.

200r4 are great same length of a p/g so no drive shaft issue ,also Art Carr opened a new shop in CA i think california perfrmance transmission Art sold his carr trans biz and started this one he builds three stages of 200r4 by far the best o/d on the market ,also if u call you'll proably talk to Art personally

cpttransmission.com

[hop sing]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

The biggest thing I didn't like about my 700R4 that I put in my '68 C10 years ago was first gear. It's 3.06. If you have a high ratio rear end (4.10's) it makes first gear almost useless unless you like burn outs. Then the other issue was the 1st to 2nd gear drop. There is a huge gap between these two gears. For me, unless I got some smokin' deal on a 700, I would install a built 200R4. They can be built up to be just as strong as a built 700, they are just not as common.

X 2 on the first gear i have a 61 stock rear 3.90 and i spin the tires constantly in the rain forget about it ,,lol ,,but trans came in a trading deal good for a 4x4 but 2wd i would defintely go with a 200r4 plus if u are switching from p/g or a turbo 350 the 200r4 are the same length ,so u save $ not having to cut down shaft just my 2 cents

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by ffrob

Hi all, new to forum,Im currently redoing 66 C10 Fleetside longbox. Purchased a rebuilt 283/275 hp I want to put an overdrive auto trans behind it. After much reading I am leaning towards a 200 4r (rebuilt and beefed up of course) but tranny shops in my area are all trying to talk me into a 700 r4 saying a 200 4r won't stand up, this seems to be contrary most of the info im reading on this and other forums. Should I keep trying until I find a shop that will help me or go with the 700 r4. Thanks for your time.

Imo, u will like the 1-2 gear ratio better on the 2004R. U might save $ on the d'shaft(?), but else you'd not notice any difference. Maybe a tad of difference in the od/final ratio(like .70 vs. .65, or so) but u'd never notice that. So, it'd be close to tit-for-tat.
BTW: The Buick Regal G-Sports w/turbo-chargers came, factory, with the 2004R!!! That should tell us a lot about how they can be built to stand up under lotsa power/torque! The # of tranny techs who are familiar w/building the 200's may be far fewer than those w/knowhow on the 700R4--likely due to sheer # of 700's out there vs. the smaller # of 200's.
Sam

[ffrob]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Up here 700's seem to be the same price in some cases cheaper. 63burban mentioned lowering the rear of the tranny, I do not want to cut my floor boards, is this a viable option? if so how many degrees.I don't mind shortening the drive shaft, my last trip out it broke at the center bearing yoke. I will send some pics later. Thanks again

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by ffrob

Thanks everyone for your replies. Up here 700's seem to be the same price in some cases cheaper. 63burban mentioned lowering the rear of the tranny, I do not want to cut my floor boards, is this a viable option? if so how many degrees.I don't mind shortening the drive shaft, my last trip out it broke at the center bearing yoke. I will send some pics later. Thanks again

On your '66 pickup, you do NOT have to lower the rear of a 700R4 to install it. Just put one in my '66 C-10 a couple years back.
Sam

[gimmy 64]

I have a 2004r in my tuck built by gear star. it is built for 400 hp. that is there starter trans. they even recommended it over the 700. no drive shaft shortening or anything. runs really nice.

[Irishbleueyes]

Originally Posted by ffrob

Hi all, new to forum,Im currently redoing 66 C10 Fleetside longbox. Purchased a rebuilt 283/275 hp I want to put an overdrive auto trans behind it. After much reading I am leaning towards a 200 4r (rebuilt and beefed up of course) but tranny shops in my area are all trying to talk me into a 700 r4 saying a 200 4r won't stand up, this seems to be contrary most of the info im reading on this and other forums. Should I keep trying until I find a shop that will help me or go with the 700 r4. Thanks for your time.

Are you going to do any towing?? If so better use the 700r4, or if your using it for a work truck and will have the bed loaded down, again, use the 700r4. Just street use, basically like a car, use the 2004r. Easy decision..

[cortcomp]

200-4R's were used in Buick turbo grand nationals i believe. You can build either for more power than a 283 will put out...BOP guys love 200-4Rs because they don't need adapters to bolt up. They can be built to take a ton of power, as can 700-R4s, but i'm told by my tranny guy that it just costs a bit more to build a 200 to take a certain level of power than a 400.

[Jolby]

I have an Olds 403 in my truck and the 200-4r went in with no major modifications. All I had to do was move the crossmember back, the TH350 I had is the same length. I went with this trans due to the BOP setup as others have said. Truck should be back on the road next month, it a ground up build from the frame. There are some differences in the cases, mine is from a Gran National which is one of the preferred ones, I think it has to do with strength around the valve body.

[likaroc13]

Hmmm...glad I stumbled upon this thread...been thinking of a 700R to replace my Powerglide, but now ya'll have me wondering if the 2004R might be the best route...mine is being built as a cruiser...it has a basically stock 327

[Psycho75]

Originally Posted by luvbowties

On your '66 pickup, you do NOT have to lower the rear of a 700R4 to install it. Just put one in my '66 C-10 a couple years back.
Sam

I just converted my 65 to 700r4 from the 4 speed granny. I didn't have to lower my trans to install. I did use an after market cross member to install mine but I had ordered it before I ever pulled the original running gear. I don't know how much a 200 can handle or how much it would cost to build but my trans guy built mine to handle 625hp at a cost of around $1800. That was with out a core. I did have to do the driveshaft though.

[fleetsidelarry]

it's a 283 guys! come on. we all like to talk hp but torque is what breaks things and the 275 hp 283 isn't a torque monster. 700r's are easier to come by and are great and I have one and like it, but I don't care for the big gap between 1 and 2. And that's with a 350, the 283 would feel the rpm drop even more. the 200-4r would be fine IMO

[ffrob]

Again guys thanks for all your help. I feel strongly about the 200 4r and I just have to try and find one I am of the same opinion as fleetsidelarry. I will keep you posted

[chevy_mike]

BTW, when I keep seeing the title of this thread, I want to answer with this,

"If you lift up the dress and you see twig and giggle berries, it's a guy, if you don't see any, it's a girl". Confusion solved.

[MikeN]

I drag raced a 69 Chevelle with a mild 350 and 200-4R regularly for several years. The car ran low 13's in the 1/4 mile. Built right, they are very durable.

I put a 496 BB into the car a few years ago and went with a TH400 at that point, but I kept the 200-4R and plan to install it into my 64 C10 behind a mild 350 as soon as time and funding allows.

[lbspd]

Have a his and hers salt & pepper pair, white 62 fleet side and black 63 step side, went with a 2004R from Bowtie Overdrives for my wife's 62, and because of that am currently replacing the T400 in my 63 with a 700R4. Both trany's are great and can be built to handle just about any practical load but my recommendation would be the 700R4 because there are more 60-66 C10 friendly options, for example bolt-on cross members 700R4 yes, 2004R no.

My wife wanted a smooth less aggressive shift so for her truck the 2004R was perfect, and the reason we chose it for her over a 700R4.

But even though 2004R's can be, and usually are, modified to shift more aggressively for me an aggressive shifting “manly” 700R4 with the readily available bolt-on cross member options just seems the better choice, of course my 700R4 is still sitting there in it's crate waiting to be installed so...

Note; both transmissions were roughly the same price and both advertised as able to handle a steady diet of around 450/500 hp and 400/450 ft/lbs.

Quick plug for Bowtie Overdrive's TV Made EZ system, all the overdrive throttle valve cable horror stories had me worried but the 2004R now has 10K+ miles, still shifts great, and more importantly has not stranded my wife on the side of the road saving me the inconveniences involved in attempting to point out that if she new she was going to be driving halfway around the state and back that maybe her car might have been a wiser choice for a 250+ mile shopping trip!