I've considered the 200r4 but with 3.0 gears behind my sbc its just not worth it. If I were getting a different gear ratio anyhow that'd be a different story, but wiwth the 3.0 its just a waste of effort. for me anyhow
Thanks Norby48, I guess I got dyslexik on that one. Anyway, fact still ramains that OD trans allows you to run a lower rear gear ratio so you can get off the line spiritedly, and still get decent gas milage.
I generally find that those that don't like O/D transmitions USUALLY are not as well versed in final gearing of a vehicle. Have a friend here in AZ that asked me about doing a 200R4 in his 250 powered '54 Chev truck, and I said of course, do it. "Just make sure you have either 3.55 or 3.73 in the rear." He went ahead and did it, then *****ed and complained how it didn't work right, shifed back and fourth, got ****ty milage, blah blah blah. I told him i would take a look for him and figure out why. Long story short, he never changed up the rear gears and was trying to pull a 2.73 final... Not so good! We put in a set of 3.55s and man what a difference! Much quicker out of the lights than the old TH350, and about 7mpg on the freeway than the TH too. Do the 200R4 and some 3.55 or 3.73 and your lif will be much happier...
It's 200-4R. I disagree. This is the trans used in the Turbo Buicks and routinely gets built to hold 700 HP for those nut jobs. Most of what I've read about them suggest that a couple of upgrades makes them stronger than a 700R4. You can also install a TC byp*** allowing the use of a non-lockup converter. (not sure why you would want to, aside from dedicated drag racing) TCI also sells a constant pressure valve body that prevents and TV cable concerns and improves holding power in all gears. Less than $200. I'll be installing a shift kit in one next week that includes servo, governor and TV valve improvements for a whopping $40. All in all, it's the most affordable of the GM OD ******s. I think my only complaint is that I like the deep 3:1 first gear of the 700R4 better. Properly geared, this is a non-issue.
I had an '85 Monte Carlo with a 4.3 TBI, TH250C and 2.29 gears. It was totally gutless but got 28 MPG. I always thought a 200-4R and some 3.42's would have made a real sweet combo with the 4.3. A friend had one behind a boneyard 305 in a '63 Bel Air with 3.08's and it ran fine. It was no race car but it cruised with 4 adults just fine and di not constantly "hunt" for the right gear. It would have been a lot nicer with some 3.55's or so but it "functioned" just fine with 3.08's. His brother has one behind a warmed over 327/250HP in a '64 Impala SS with 3.73's and it works REAL good!!! With the 200-4R a 4.3 will probably be happiest with a 3.42 to 3.73 gear but keep in mind most of the late 80's to early 90's 2WD 4.3 S-10's were running a 700R4 with 2.56 gears. I had a '92 LWB S-10 with a 4.3, 700R4 and 3.08 gears and it would run fender to fender with V-8 Dakotas and got 26 MPG all day long. The 2.56 equipped S-10's got the same mileage. My current OT DD is a lowered '88 C1500 with a fairly tired TBI 305 out of an '88 Camaro, 700R4 and 2.73 gears with 235/75-15's out back. It pulls over 18 MPG and while I won't win too many drag races it cruises down the highway just fine. It's mildly hilly here and it doesn't shift any more than anything else I've ever owned. It's all in what you want out of your vehicle but the OD trannies CAN work with tall gears but the total package has to be set up to work together.
The Jalopy Journal
