Besides the billet input shaft and drum, hardened stator tube, super servo and all the good clutches and steels and a shift kit what else is needed for a 200-4r to handle 500 ft lbs of torque?
You need to talk to Vince at Janis Transmissions in Akron, OH or Chris at CK Performance in NJ I believe. They're both great at those trannys. And of course Art Carr's place, California Performance Transmissions. Vince built the one in my car. Dyno'd at 396hp and 476tq if I remember right. No problems.
I'm going to be doing all my own work. I like it that way but ill deffinetly check out the websites. Already going to get parts from art Carr
CK performance has a book that details all the mods/upgrades required + a full on rebuild instructional ( IIRC ). Chris can also supply all the necessary parts and advise you could ever need. Id give him a call before going anywhere else if you intend to do it yourself. www.ckperformance.com :TU:
I have one small question that's been in the back of my mind lately. Does a shift kit (one that makes the shifts more firm) increase the torque capacity of a transmission? I think I read some where that if you put a shift kit in a 4L80E trans that it ups the torque capacity of the trans or could it be just for that trans?
As far as I know a shift kit may extend the life of your transmission but torque capacity is usually tied to the strength of hard parts. A good shift kit may stave off slipping the clutches and band but that just means your weak link goes from the clutches to the hard parts like the input shaft. Not an issue if you use heat treated or billet parts but with stock components things can get ugly.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/threads/attention-new-version-strengthening-the-2004r.31365/ There's more than one way to skin a cat, but some things are agreed upon.
Just tried to email ck performance but the email will not go threw. Are they having technical problems or something?
Here is where I get parts from. http://www.extremeautomatics.com/ give Lonnie a call and he can set you up with parts. I run my trans behind a supercharged 455.
Wow that extream auto site is good. I tried to call ck but the phone just keeps ringing. Are they even still in business? They have a good looking manual for the 200-4r but its kinda hard to buy something when no one answers the phone.
Yes he is still in biz but he is hard to get ahold of!! Lonnie D. is also a VERY good 200 builder -- widely used by the Turbo guys with great results -- I was just trying to keep you close to home -- couldn't go wrong though if you used or worked with him either!
Does anyone no if there is a performance difference between art cares kolene hardened intermediate drum and the 4340 billet shaft drum that I find everywhere else?
Is art carr's still better than stock? With all these billet parts out there from ck and extreme I wonder why art Carr does not use them or have his own?
Not all that impressed with Art Carr stuff. My trans builder is better than Art Carr. Lonnie and Vince Janis are the only two builders I would go to if I did not have a great local guy. There are a few others that are good but I like to stay in the midwest.
I think I read once a couple of years ago art Carr sold out to a guy and moved to L.A. The new owner keep the name and was getting complaints. The real Art Carr owns a shop out of L.A. under a defferant name. 2 years ago when I was shoping for my 200-4r I was calling CK and couldnt get past a older ladie on the phone that was relaying my qustions and I really didnt get any anwsers. I have heard Chris builds good trannys. Went to turbobuick.com and got Lonnie at extremeauto.com and talked twice and ordered my tranny. Lonnie bent over backwards to help me out. Great guy:TU: As far as handling 500lb tq, Thats about what I am putting out with the nailhead and the tranny holds up good
How big of a difference does it make if I am not running slicks or sicky tires. I plan on just running all seasons, kinda cheesy but the roads I drive on a lot have leaves and gravel on them and I would rather have some better tread then a tire that's just for performance ya know what I mean?
I ran Nitto drag radials and turned low 12's. Did not break anything just wore out the clutches after 5 years. Best 60 ft was 1.6x This was with stock forward drum that came out of the trans perfect. Usually the splines of the forward drum start to deform with this much torque on them. I replaced the forward drum with a billet and Brad did a performance rebuild with some his own secret tricks. I made a conscious decision to use no tire stickier than the Nitto's. Rather spin tires than break transmission.
