4 speed auto for the wagon, recomondations needed

I am thinking about doing a 4 speed automatic TH200r4 or TH700r4 in my Sportwagon. What would be best the 200 or the 700? It is a 350/4 with headers. but eventually looking to build it or put in a BBB. I have heard the the 200r4 is a better trans for a swap. Will it bolt up to the block or do I need an adapter? What is the best doner vehicle to get one from? I know this is about the 10,000 time this has been posted. But I haven't found the info in a search. ( maybe searching the wrong thing)

Tim

 

My 462 BBB is in front of a 200-4R with lockup 2500 stall. If you already have a 350/350, the drive shaft should work as is.

The 200-4R, when prepared properly, will hold a decent 455 if you don't race it every weekend on slicks.

 

Cal Lonnie at Extreme Automatics 2004R with electric trans brake

http://extremeautomatics.com/th2004R.php#th2004r

 

200-4R is simplier (Re: 4 speed auto for the wagon, recomondations needed)

Dear Tim, Greg, lhbarrett, and V-8 Buick overdrive fans,

This is the usual debate of simplicity of installation versus the GM designed ruggedness. The 700-R4 was designed for heavy-duty service so it appears to be logical choice. However, it requires an adapter to hook up to a Buick engine and will require a modified drive shaft. The 200-4R will bolt right up to any Buick engine (but the nailhead) and it is the same length as the TH350. So you might not need to change your drive line. The 200-4R can be hardened to take anything a sane Buick guy would put in his engine bay and they are reliable. Certainly there are a lot more 200-4R on this board than 700-R4, all those guys must be on to something.

Cheers, Edouard

 

The 700R4 1 to 2 shift is to much of a drop...

 

Re: 200-4R is simplier (Re: 4 speed auto for the wagon, recomondations needed)

Don't fall into the misnomer that the 700r4 was designed to be more hd than the 2004r. The engines it was designed for went away and so did the 2004r. There weren't any more rwd cars and the stragglers were fitted with the 4l60e. That low gear in the 700r4/4l60e were designed to get heavy stuff moving. Like towing or trucks. With the aftermarket stuff available now either can be built to handle 4-600hp relative easily.
To me I is a no brainer to do a 2004r that bolts to the rear of the bop, fits where the pg or th350 was by moving the cross member back, and the driveshaft fits back in. Hardest part is finding a competent builder.

 

I pulled up an old thread to ask where folks are buying their 200R4's?

Thanks!

 

Art Carr is a safe choice. (Re: 4 speed auto for the wagon)

Dear Bill and V-8 Buick fans of overdrive!

The current 200-4R in my trusty wagon came from Art Carr's California Performance Transmission:

http://www.cpttransmission.com/

It is certainly a safe choice.

Cheers, Edouard

 

Lonnie D, and Vince j in Ohio
Chris K at Ck performance and David H at turbobuickperformance in New York
As mentioned the original Art Carr California performance trans

Any of these guys can put together anything From mild to wild

 

When you go from a 3 speed to an overdrive, you may need to change the axle ratio
to get it right. Bruce Roe

 

Yup - Switched to 373's!

 

Are they at Extreme Automatics? Near Cincinnati?

 

I would highly recommend Dave Husek in LI............his customer support is second to none.

 

Lonnie D is Extreme Automatics
Vince J is in Akron

 

2nd for Dave Husek

 

CK Performance is pretty good, they did the trans that I have to go into my Skylark and it was in my old car making about 600 HP at crank and it was reliable. As people have said the 200 is the easier swap.

Look out for late 80s Caddy cars at the junkyard if you want to go that route... For a mild engine a stock trans is fine. I have gotten a few 200R4 trans out of 88 Caddy Broughams with the 307 olds engine. They come with the TV cable brackets and everything you need.

 

Thanks! I 've been checking the turbo board and they are the same ones listed there!