Was thinking to swap my350 turbo for a 700R4..... then I read this on GEARSTAR high performance site: 2004R According to Zack, this underrated transmission is the best four-speed overdrive automatic that GM has come up with. Because of its compact proportions, many people assume its not particularly strong; however, it will handle 800 horsepower or more with the proper modifications. Extremely efficient, thanks to a unique bellhousing bolt pattern; it will bolt to any GM engine. I dont know much about the overdrive transmissions..... If this is true, It will save me fabbing up a new crossmember and save me shortening a driveshaft as I THINK the 200R4 fits up same as a th350????????? anyone hear running the 200R4??? what can you guys tell me about the 200 v/s 700???
The 200 4R will bolt up to standard Chevy and BOPC bell housing patterns. I don't believe it will bolt to 2.8 V6 engines as these have a different pattern. I have heard good things about both, one difference is the 1st gear ratio. The 700R4 has a 3.1 or so ratio, so it is pretty stout on takeoff.
I'm not a Chevy person what so ever but was talking to a mechanic buddy a few months ago that is a Chevy guy through and through. He told me that anyone ever tried to sell me a 200 4R there was only two words I needed to remember "fuuuuuck you!" Just what he said, I've got no experiance with them.
if built, installed and adjusted right the 200r4 is all the trans that most rods will need. i ran one with a 454 in my old nova and it held up no sweat.
If I find myself in a position to use an overdrive, I'll try the 200 for sure. I've not been happy at all with the few cars I've owned with a 700 for various reasons. The 200 fits better in most cases, and it's taken quite a beating in many Turbo Buicks
200 4r transmissions are overdrives and probably have lockup converter clutches, th350 is just a 3 speed auto, so I would have to say they are different converters.
I was told that 200 4r's have a better shifting point through out all the gears and they are better for racing. The 700 r4 has a really low first gear but second gear is longer. Its seems to be a lot cheaper to build a strong 700 , maybe because they were more common. I have personally seen a 200 4r with a different bell housing than that of a 700 or turbo 350. Most have an Olds/Buick pattern and a Chevy pattern. But I have seen them with ONLY the Buick pattern. Most of these 200's came behind 307's. So make sure that it WILL fit your small block Chevy or whatever your running. I am not sure but I do believe that they are the same tourqe converter. NOT SURE though.
Doesn't sound like he has either, at least not one built correctly. I have two friends that have been ASE certified trans techs for about 27 years between them and they LOVE the 200-4R. They've built them for a lot of rods and performance cars including an Olds Vista Cruiser with a 455 that ran 12's, it held up fine. Stock both transmissions have their weaknesses and it costs about the same to build a "good" 200-4R or 700R4, a stock rebuild isn't going to cut it if you're making any power. The 200-4R has a more even gear spread and a slightly deeper OD, it's the same length and output spline as a short shaft TH350 and the same size overall and most have the dual bellhousing pattern. 1st gear in a 200-4R is 2.74 vs. 3.08 in the 700R4 but 2nd gear is almost identical so there is a pretty noticeable RPM drop n the 1-2 shift with the 700R4. The 700 would be a better choice for a tow rig or heavy vehicle but for a rod or performance street machine, especially a small block, the 200-4R is the way to go. Whatever engine I finally settle on for my Stude is going to have a "tweaked" 200-4R hanging off the back of it.
Thanks for advice guys..... Am trying to figure out a way to keep my thames quick on the strip but work out better on the street..... Am running chev 350/350 trans...horses around 375....car runs high 12's.... the rear end ratio is a way too low 4.56......puts your ass in the saddle but no good for highway runs... Soooooooo: 200r4 has better ratios for me.....especially the 4th ratio.....BUT the low 1st may complicate keeping the wheels down even more on the launch! do you guys think that maybe I would be better off changing rear gears to 3.54 OR 3.90.......and leaving the 350 trans in??? how would that affect my quarter mile times???
I had a lame ass shop rebuild a 200-4r, many times, never freakin adjusted it right. I swore them off, bt I may consider them again. But first I am going to run a 700r4.
I was told by a tranny shop, when I questioned them about the use of a 700r4, that its very important to have the correct set-up for the TV cable, or you'll burn up the O/D clutches quickly. Cetain carbs require specific throttle arms and such to maintain the correct 'pull' or geometry on the TV cable. Also, its rumored? that a 200r4 is the "lighter duty" tranny and doesnt consume as much HP to run as the 700r4... anybody else heard this?
the 200r will run forth full throttle and the 700 wont itll kick down so as you go beyond half throttle, its sucks but i like runing biggest resonable equipment so i dont have to change it all the time
I grew up???? in a junk yard too.......and still have one and I love it... lots of stuff growin old layin around...even me!!!!!!!!
That makes no sense to me whatsoever. Bad shop - rebuilds trans You're not happy - take trans back Bad shop - rebuilds trans again You're not happy - take trans back Rinse. Repeat. You decide you aren't using bad shop anymore. You decide you may consider them again. So you're putting a 700 in.
If you go the 200R4 or the 700R4 make sure you use an 87-90 core to rebuild, the earlier ones had a lot of weaknesses that were corrected in the later models and the 87-90 are also pre-computer.For the parts and best tech advice check out www.transmissioncenter.net they have everthing you need to make it bulletproof.
Most every tech article I've read states ,that the 700r4 requires a valve body modification to make it shift properly. Otherwise you risk burning the clutches. The 200r4 was said to be a better choice for street rodz, because of the easier installation. I'm going to try and hang one behind my '64-394 Olds. Really sick and tired of the Slim Jim trans, plus could use the extra MPG's from the overdrive. Thanks for all the info.! J.T.
Jeff, thanks a bunch for the link to Transmission Center. This a great webpage and should be saved/bookmarked on everyones computer. Tons of useful trans parts all in one spot.
I am a big fan of the 200r4, had one in my Henry J behind a stout 350, had one in a buick wagon behind an Olds 307, abused it to no end. I really like that they about replace a TH350, no tunnel surgery like with a 700. They do take less power to run than a 700 as well. I like the gearing better. For the same money they are just as strong as a 700. It's very important on either to adjust the cable correctly as well as having the converter lock up in O/D.
You might be confusing two different transmissions. There is a 3 speed 200 (Metric) transmission that is not a good transmission. The 200 metric and the 200r are two completely different transmissions. John
Differt torque converter than 350. If racing all the time I'd stay with a 350. For a driver the 2004r is sweet. So is the 700r4. Around here it's hard to get the trans guys to do a 200. Friend just put one in an A sedan. After he got it adjusted it works fine. As with either one of the overdrives you need a slighty lower rear gear. The 200 takes up less space than the 700. Much easier to stuff in the frame.
Bowtie Overdrives has a lot of information anyone considering swapping to an overdrive in a Chevrolet or BOP application should read. For me the 200-R4 comes out on top. They also developed a top-notch TV kit for Edelbrock/Carters, Holleys, Demons, and Quadrajets plus a few more. Here is the web page on the TV Made EZ portion of their very large website. At the bottom is a link to the "TV System 101" that explains how the TV works and the correct geometry built into their bracket kits. Bowtie Overdrives | TV Made EZ
I put a 700R4 behind my small block in the Henry-J and love it. The guy I bought mine from builds them and this was one he ran before me. It has a 27 spline input shaft and he went in and cut off the first say 3/8 to 1/2 inch of the input shaft that goes into the converter to do away with the lock-up and get more fluid flow so he say's ??? He is the GURU around here and I have seen his rebuilds behind 600 HP big blocks!! Some confusion now though, I have read here that the 27 spline 700's will over heat without the lock up installed. Is this a different version of 700 or did the shaft cut off cure this problem??? I will ask him this week!!
I have a 700 in my 35 coupe with a 383 sbc. First gear is so low as to be almost useless and I wish I had the 200r instead. I had a 700 in my 91 caprice with a 305, and it made perfect sense-- that is, in a big, heavy car with a fairly weak engine, the low first gear is just to get the car moving from a dead stop so the motor doesn't have a stroke. I have a 700 behind a 261 inline 6 in my pickup, and again, it makes perfect sense for hauling, towing, etc. I'm putting a 200r in my roadster, again, because it's a light weight car with plenty of power, so the super low first gear seems inappropriate. I should add that my vehicles are for street and highway use, not the drag strip, so you may want to make your calculations accordingly. Good luck with your project.
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