powerglide needs to go ! can i get some opinions for a replacement .

[250powerglide]

hey gang . im not very knowledgeable on transmisions and i need some ideas on what a easy replacement would be instead of the powerglide ? i have done searches and whatnot im just curiouse whats being run in your truck. if i had something with atleast 3 gears i would be happy 4 is even better ! the truck has a 250i6 atm and no plans for a v8 at all its making its way to bags and wheels so it realy just a lowrider ( dont really like calling my truck that but thats what it is ) for me and my son to cruze to grandmas house on sundays .

[96blazr]

Originally Posted by 250powerglide

hey gang . im not very knowledgeable on transmisions and i need some ideas on what a easy replacement would be instead of the powerglide? The truck has a 250i6 atm and no plans for a v8 at all its making its way to bags and wheels so it realy just a lowrider for me and my son to cruze to grandmas house on sundays .

Well then, you just can't beat the Tried & True and Bullet-proof 350. I've been using one behind my 350 engine for close to 9 years now and it's just as solid as the day I had it rebuilt. It has 3 gears and will do you just fine. Not to mention you can buy them for pretty cheap and have them built to any spec you want. I wanted mine to shift FIRM, so the Tech made sure it did.
I'm sure everyone else will tell you about the 700R4 and all the other tranny's out there, but if you're planning on just crusin around and not worried about doing 100, then a 350 is just what you need. Plus it'll bolt right up too.
You're truck sounds cool. Have fun.

[Tmwoodall]

I am going with a 200-4R. Same length housing and bolt pattern as the 350 with overdrive. I have a rebuilt 350 I have never run, and am ditching it for the 200.

[Beat68CST]

Can't beat a Turbo 400, unless you want overdrive.

[bmfm64]

I have a th350 and have BEAT it... never changed the fluid or filter and she loves it! (I don't recommend this but it was a temp deal until it blew up and now it's more of a challenge LOL) I would say if you're going with big wheels and a decent rear gear (3:73, 3:55, 3:07 or 2 something) then stick with a 350 or 400 if smaller wheels or lower gears (4something) go with something that has an overdrive like a 200r or 700r. My .02

[250powerglide]

nice ! keepem coming guys i like the sound of something just bolting right back up . how would the linkage for the 350 or the 200 work out ? or is it something that ill just have to figure out ? now again my engine is a 6 cylinder 250 . if its
an easy swap and has 3 gears im game .

[Indyuke]

Like was said before, and I believe it, the Turbo 350 is probably your best bet for ease of installation, reliability and cruising comfort. I have the 700r4, but that one takes a little effort to make it work right. Driveline length changes, rear gearing changes, TV cable setup, etc.

[72freak]

The only one that is a SIMPLE direct quick swap would be the TB350...you will need a bracket for the kick down cable up on the manifold but I believe the linkage, tranny lines and drive shaft are all a direct or close hook up depending on the length 350 you get. Your pointer on your column will be a little off but that can be adjusted or replaced at a later date. If time ans money was not really an issue then I would do some type of overdrive swap like a 700R4 but them you get into some mods.

[Pop's C-10]

TH350 or 2004R

[Tmwoodall]

I just stumbled upon a thread at hotrodders where several guys flamed a dude for wanting to put a 200 in an 85 C10. Said trucks carry too much weight, it was designed for a v6 car (Buick Grand National, etc). Though lots have said they use/want the 200.

Anyone ever had issues with a 200? Seems like you build it up to handle the HP or your truck and run it, no?

[R.L.]

You may have you're heart set on a auto but Saginaw made a great 3 speed std. they were mated up to the L6s for decades. Clutch pressure plate throw out baring and a aftermarket floor shifter for a little more than 200.00, but you will have to have you're drive shaft cut I would think you're power glide is not the same length as the manual.

[stich626]

Originally Posted by Tmwoodall

I just stumbled upon a thread at hotrodders where several guys flamed a dude for wanting to put a 200 in an 85 C10. Said trucks carry too much weight, it was designed for a v6 car (Buick Grand National, etc). Though lots have said they use/want the 200.

Anyone ever had issues with a 200? Seems like you build it up to handle the HP or your truck and run it, no?

the 200r4 is in every monty SS from 84-88, old 442, pontiac grandprix and that bodys (g body) wagons. and the g/n
they are strong when set up correctly, the t.v. cable is where/reason most fail..
yes a 350hp v8 will kill a stocker in short order..
but when built they'll power a g.n. down the strip in under 9 seconds

you have 2 good choices.. that are bolt ins
the th350 3speed bolts in place of your powerslide
you need to add a vacuum line for the modulator and carb linkage for the kickdown cable.. it'll use your 2 spd driveshaft yoke, and you may have to change the speedo gears in the tail shaft..

the 200r4 bolts in, uses your yoke, and like the th350 no driveshaft work needed, you may need to change out the speedo gears in the tranny to match whats in your rearend..
and instead of a vacuum line to the modulator and a kick down cable ,you'll have a t.v.(throttle valve) cable.. this sets the line pressure and has to be set up correctly. this is where most guys fail..
or you can go with the bulletproof th400 , totally overkill in a inline 6, but..
this you'll need a th400 yoke and shorten the driveshaft.. and add a electic switch for your kick down gear..

the 700r4 is as strong as the 200r4 but you still need to get the t.v. cable set up correctly and it requires the driveshaft to be shortened.. not sure what yoke it uses..

depending on what gears you have in the rear end, a th350 might be fine..
but what is the reasoning for jetsoning the 2spd anyways,

[fastwillie 696969]

i would rebuild the P/G my self ,but if your just want the basic 3 speed auto drop the 350 in

[250powerglide]

you guys are great . it needs to go because well i figured i could save a bit on gas when making trips on the highway (to grandma and grandpas house ) and the engine is so dam noisy at high rpms its just nerve racking . ok so its going to be the 200 or the 350 ! my next question is what cars,trucks and vans can i find these in ? i have no problem taking a used one and rebuilding .

[Pop's C-10]

G-body & Some B-bodies have 200's..jus make sure it's one for a chevy or has dual patterns. And 350 is about as easy to find a junk yard as a penny on tha ground..

Here is some info on wring tha lock up

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/lockup.htm

[stich626]

Originally Posted by 250powerglide

you guys are great . it needs to go because well i figured i could save a bit on gas when making trips on the highway (to grandma and grandpas house ) and the engine is so dam noisy at high rpms its just nerve racking . ok so its going to be the 200 or the 350 ! my next question is what cars,trucks and vans can i find these in ? i have no problem taking a used one and rebuilding .

used, th350
they come in a few flavors, long tail shaft and short..
if you don't want to short'n the driveshaft, you'll want the short.
almost every g.m. car/truck from late 60's to 80's has a th350. there are two bolt patterns chevy and everyone else(pontiac/old/buick/catty)
you want chevy..

the 200r4 is in 84 up g bodys monty carlos(all) malbu wagons, pontiac grand prix and the small g body wagon, old cutlass(all models) buick g.n./t type,regal ,
some are chevy only bellhousing bolt pattern some are dual pattern some early units have the p/o/b/ pattern only..

both units you want to grab the kickdown cable(th350) and brackets
t.v. cable(200r4) and brackets and for a th350 the vacuum modulator line,dipstick

to tell a th400 from a th350
the vacuum modulator will point straight back on a th350
the th400 it points to the pass side..

[dmack91]

I am no expert by any means, but I thought powerglides had a 1.00 final (2nd gear) ratio. Therefore, any TH350 or 400 would have the same final drive ratio (meaning you would still be running the same rpm's at speed in top gear as you do in the powerglide).

The only way to drop your rpms would be to swap rear ends or get an OD trans.

[chevytruckluver]

Originally Posted by stich626

used, th350
they come in a few flavors, long tail shaft and short..
if you don't want to short'n the driveshaft, you'll want the short.
almost every g.m. car/truck from late 60's to 80's has a th350. there are two bolt patterns chevy and everyone else(pontiac/old/buick/catty)
you want chevy..

the 200r4 is in 84 up g bodys monty carlos(all) malbu wagons, pontiac grand prix and the small g body wagon, old cutlass(all models) buick g.n./t type,regal ,
some are chevy only bellhousing bolt pattern some are dual pattern some early units have the p/o/b/ pattern only..

both units you want to grab the kickdown cable(th350) and brackets
t.v. cable(200r4) and brackets and for a th350 the vacuum modulator line,dipstick

to tell a th400 from a th350
the vacuum modulator will point straight back on a th350
the th400 it points to the pass side..

stich626 has given you lots of good information, along with the others.
Based on what you have said about high rpms and better gas mileage You will need to go with the 200r4 or 700r4 to get a reduction in rpms at highway speed. or as pointed out by dmack91 a rear end gear ratio change

[250powerglide]

seems like replacing the trans (200r4) would be ideal otherwise changing the gear seems like it would be a turd in the power dept ?

[250powerglide]

Originally Posted by dmack91

I am no expert by any means, but I thought powerglides had a 1.00 final (2nd gear) ratio. Therefore, any TH350 or 400 would have the same final drive ratio (meaning you would still be running the same rpm's at speed in top gear as you do in the powerglide).

The only way to drop your rpms would be to swap rear ends or get an OD trans.

see these are the things i have no clue about !

[rsavage]

The 200 4R (or 700 R4) will require fabrication of a TV cable bracket for your straight 6. There is a lot of info at Bowtie Overdrives or Art Carr's sites as to the TV cables/adjustment. They were never mated up to a straight 6 from the factory that I am aware of and I don't know of any aftermarket bracket setups made specifically for the 6. The TV cable adjustment is critical. If it's not right, the transmission will be toast. If your powerglide is good, it might be cheaper to get a lower numerical rear gear to lower your rpms at highway speed.

[250powerglide]

Originally Posted by rsavage

The 200 4R (or 700 R4) will require fabrication of a TV cable bracket for your straight 6. There is a lot of info at Bowtie Overdrives or Art Carr's sites as to the TV cables/adjustment. They were never mated up to a straight 6 from the factory that I am aware of and I don't know of any aftermarket bracket setups made specifically for the 6. The TV cable adjustment is critical. If it's not right, the transmission will be toast. If your powerglide is good, it might be cheaper to get a lower numerical rear gear to lower your rpms at highway speed.

im all about doing like you say and going with a taller gear but then we are looking at some super slow take off speed right ? im totaly for it . i like the factory drive train but what could we do to keep take off speed peppy enough to be safe on these memphis streets so i dont get ran over

[Tmwoodall]

Everything you are saying is that you want to install a TH350 (me too). But what would be ideal for your wants/needs are a 2004r (Same for me as well), but the work/cost suck.

Seems it is going to come down to which you are willing to live with, cost/time/frustration up front (2004r) or dropping a Th350 and being done in a few hours.

[250powerglide]

from what i understand the 350 wont fix my problem as far as high rpms. now its just finding a decent 2004r . time,money and frustration are expected . i realy think its going to be worth it !

[Tmwoodall]

Originally Posted by 250powerglide

from what i understand the 350 wont fix my problem as far as high rpms. now its just finding a decent 2004r . time,money and frustration are expected . i realy think its going to be worth it !

There is a seller selling cores on eBay right now for around 200 shipped.