GN trans behind a BBB

I'm thinking about a 455 build for my `65 Skylark and I have a 200R4 out of an `87 Turbo T-Type car I parted out. The trans has around 48,000 miles on it, has a shift kit, and it worked great. It has a stock converter but I may change that. Is this a good trans to put behind the 455? The turbo cars seem to dish out just as much abuse to these transmissions as a big block does at the track.
Bill

 

An excellent choise Bill, especially if you run gears. The BBB has never been known for its great gas milage. I'm sure lots of guys will chime in here, it's a very popular swap.

Dave B

 

I have one in my convertible. I did have it built to the max by Janis Transmissions in Akron, OH. Vince really knows what he's doing. I love the thing. Nothing like cruising down the highway at 70 mph at only 2100 rpm's.

 

I am installing one behind my Buick 350. I am presently installing the trans in my 72 GS. :beer

 

Which converter is everyone running with this trans? Stock GN or aftermarket? I have been told that the stock GN D5 converters are a higher stall than all the others but it wasn't noticable to me because the car I got it out of had a tremendous amount of turbo lag. I want to keep the lockup. www.bowtieoverdrives.com has a stand alone wiring kit for this swap for about $70.
Bill

 

I am running a D5 that has been tightened up with lockup.

 

I just used a modified D5 with mine. There are a lot of threads on this. Biggest headache is the TV cable and setup. I used bowtieoverdrives setup but it requires a lot of modification on a stock q jet.

 

Should consider upgrading your servo, and maybe the Throttle Valve. The guys in the trans section of turbobuick.com will set you up well.

 

I have a 3000 stall from CKPerformance.

 

Are all 200R4 the same? Will any 200R4, in good condition, work behind a BBB?

- Bill

 

Big Block and the 200r4!!

Currently I have two of these trannies with my small blocks. One thing to remember build the trans to hold up against the torque!!! Art Carr has many articles that state that the 200r4 is better than the 700r4 when properly built.
I have picked mostly 1987 and newer cores to have rebuilt. The reality of this up grade is that motoring down the freeway at 2200rpm and 75mph with 342 ratio and getting 18 mpg in my 72 LeSabre is just cool. :bglasses:



Notice the TV cable to the throttle for proper shift postions very important.
The 69 is getting the 500 cuin stroker with the 200r4/3000 stall very soon.
we will keep you posted. :laugh:
Enjoy!!!

 

All 200-4R's are not the same. One of the big differences is the valve bodies. The one you REALLY want to look for is the BRF trans that came out of the Grand Nationals. If you go over to the turbo buick boards, you should be able to get one reasonably. Or call G-Body Parts. He always has a lot of GN stuff. Here are some of the sites:

http://www.t6p.com/forums/

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/

http://www.gnttype.org/forums/index.php?

http://www.gbodyparts.com/

And no stock 200-4R will live behind a 455 for long. Simply too much toruqe. You would have to really baby the car to just throw one in there and expect it to last.

 

Thanks Phillip! I thought I had heard the same thing!

- Bill

 

TH200-4R's use TH350 driveshaft lengths and TH400 mounting positions. For you early A-body guys that means new frame ears to mount the tranny crossmember too but the same driveshaft as an ST300 is the same size as a TH350 from the driveshaft perspective and uses the same yoke too if I recall.

 

Right, unless you have a convertable boxed frame there isn't enough room. You have to either cut off the existing frame ears and reweld them on further back or fabricate your own need ears in the right spot for the TH400.

 

When you say "early" are you talking 65/66 or 65 to 69, or what?

- Bill

 

64 to 66, in 67 they came with the TH400 as an option therefore the frame has the holes in it already. After that it was available till the conversion to the "coulonade" body style in 73 where my knowledge laspes till 78 with A/G body platform that was missing the mounting holes for the TH200-4R, and consiquently the TH400, till 84 when the TH200-4R debuted and they changed the frame and firewall design to drop the manual trans option and add the mounting points for the new crossmember for the TH200-4R.

 

So in 67, it sounds like the TH400 and the 200R4 use the same mounting holes? Is it the same cross member?

- Bill

 

it was available, only the GS400 had it standard and I'm not sure whatelse you get get it behind however the big deal is that the frame is drilled for it so you take the stock crossmember and slide it back to the TH400 position and that will work for a TH200-4R. The driveshaft out of a TH350 or ST300 car will work as they are the same length as a TH200-4R. The TH200-4R wasn't available till 1983.