also the sp vs 200-4r from what ive read the 200-4r really wakes the car up due to the lower take off gears
Sound like something i might want to do. I sure could use the OD for mileage on the highway, and better take off is always goooooood. Is it easy to find a 200-4r for $50 or do they usually go for a lot more?
Hey Necked, First gear in a 200-4R is 2.78; first gear in a ST400 is 2.48. Nothing gained here if you're not changing rear gears. The jump comes when you use the 200-4R along with a high numerical rear end. A 3.90 or 4.11 9" Ford would give you the first gear jump. What you gain is that with the 3.90 or 4.11 is that the car is still streetable because the o/d puts your engine back to a livable rpm range on the highway. With the 200-4R's .67 overdrive, the 3.90 would become a 2.61 on the highway and the 4.11's would become a 2.75 on the highway. In it's day, one of the fastest '66 nailheads on the strip was running the factory option 4.45 rear gear with a 4 speed manual. NOT something you'd want to take cross country, but if you could find one of those and run it with a 200-4R, your highwar gear would still be a very liveable 2.98 (lower than what you're currently running.) To gain some first gear jump using your stock rear end, you'd gain some with the 700-R4's 3.06 first gear. BUT, if you do that and you're running a 3.23 or 3.08 stock rear, your highway gears would be 2.26 or 2.16 respectively. You'd be cruising at 1500 rpms at 70 mph; not much throttle response on the highway without downshifting. Also, what you gain in first gear is lost with the wide gap between 1st and 2nd, you'd bog down after the shift. Ed
I think i'll stick with the ST400. I think it's the strongest GM trans made. I've had a few Chevelles with TH400 and found them to be very strong and without any problems no matter how much i beat them up. The ST400 is even better with the variable stall. I'm not a racer but like a good beafy street machine.
GM's 480LE is the TH400 with an electric o/d. Takes some electronics to get it to work, but it can handle all the horse power you'll ever be able to put to it and has the Chevy bell housing for which adapters are available for the nail. Or, stick a Gear Vendors o/d unit behind the ST400. Ed
Sounds good. I've always wanted a TH400 with OD. I'll check into those trans. Which models came with those from the factory so i know where to get a donor? Cheers,
all hd gm trucks/vans after 92 bad thing is you will have to have a controller for them which is usually at least 500 bucks. plus you will have to make it fit which is a little work. also the 4l80 takes a bit of power to turn it. you could take a 200-4r put 500 bucks in it making in stronger. it will fit perfect in place of the st300 and get over 20 mpg with your car and wont have hardly any parasatic loss through the tranny.
