GS455 Stage 1 Turbo 400 not kicking down

Discussion in 'The "Juice Box"' started by OZGS455, Jul 8, 2018.

  1. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    Just bought a 1971 GS Stage 1 hardtop drove the 500 miles home over 2 days.
    Trans changes up seamlessly on medium throttle, but once in top gear wont kick down when I floor it...the engine just pings!, got forged pistons so itll handle it but its not good.
    Rang a mechanic mate who reckons these cars have an electric kickdown switch?
    any ideas?...dont wanna burn up the trans!
    Starting out in Low itll lay 2 strips of rubber till I manually shift to second, gears are on the column but.
    Gonna be on the dragstrip on the 21st of this month so Id like to have everything tip top by then.
    Help!
     
  2. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Look at Larry's timing thread before you flat foot it again. The pinging is a warning and you could damage the engine.

    Adjust the kick down switch under the accelerator pedal.
     
  3. BYoung

    BYoung Stage me

    Could also be carburetor/vacuum related.
     
  4. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    Looking through all the reciepts I got with the car it appears the car may have a 200 4R Trans fitted.
    Whats the go with them?. why would it be fitted not a Turbo 400?
    and is kickdown issue the same? switch under the pedal?
    Thanks for your replys by the way, getting a few on my suspected overheating/bung gauge thread too
     
  5. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    When your car was built there were no 200R trans in the world. The Th400 could have been replaced in order to get a 4th gear overdrive. Unless specially built it is not rated to handle the torque of your 455. I am unsure what is in there now for a kickdown.

    http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/49798-th200-4r-transmission-swap/

    Share:

    [​IMG]
    Stock 200 4R Overdrive

    Maximum HP Rating: 300
    Maximum Torque Rating 275
    Standard Gear Ratio: 2.75/1.57/1.00/0.71
    Optional Gear Ratio: (none)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 8, 2018
  6. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    We should probably add, for the OPs benefit, that the 2004R can be built to handle the 455 with power adders. There are lots of Turbo Regals out there with built 2004Rs running 500-600HP. I had one. (Just noticed your statement "specifically built". :D
     
    OHC JOE likes this.
  7. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    Good to know, and the guy that built this car went to extremes judging by all the reciepts and records, Im looking at one from Bowtie Overdrives right now that lists the trans of the vehicle as a 200 4R, for complete TCC brake kit, SBB UNI lasser bracket with kickdown stud and hardware. Inside snap ring yoke. $190+
    thats all Ive got on it though I do have a phone number for the guy who did a lot of the work on the car, just tried ringing but its Sunday morning where you are I think.
     
  8. OHC JOE

    OHC JOE Mullet Mafia since 2020

    That must be an awesome ride with the overdrive and big Buick power N torque we have a 200 4R for pops car that hopefully will get installed this summer
     
  9. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    Overdrive hey...well its turning 3000 rpm at around 110kph (70mph) if the tach is correct, it goes a bit wild once past 3500 dances a bit, and the one big pull I did in second I was watching the road not the tach, being LHD on the wrong side of the road commands full attention, I could try ringing Bowtie Overdrives but Ill try the other guy again later as the receipt is dated late 2011
     
  10. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    Congrats on the "new" ride. Show us some pics. Did you get a build sheet with your documentation? :)
     
  11. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    no build sheet was found in the car but I got a good breakdown of all the original equipment.
    Dunno how to post pics, well busy going thru papers on the car and tryna find stuff out at midnight here so Ill get it sussed in next 24 hrs or so..its triple black and a very nice car.
     
  12. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    Here ya go, my 47 Hearse in the background.
    On the road home.
    Sunset in the hood.
    Bad to the Bone.
    Fill er up!
     

    Attached Files:

  13. DasRottweiler

    DasRottweiler -BuickAddict-

    No GS Grille? Sharp looking ride.....git it sorted out before ya flog on it. Jim
     
  14. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    Really nice GS. Enjoy it.
     
  15. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    flog on it???speak strayan mate!....,
    looks like a '71 GS grille to me mate, watcha talkin about?
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2018
  16. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    Looks like a GS grille to me, too!
     
  17. DasRottweiler

    DasRottweiler -BuickAddict-

    Ahh, misread ,thought I was looking at a 70. Jim
     
  18. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    First 3000 RPM at 70 MPH is not what a 2004R transmission would produce unless it isn't going into OD. I'm assuming you can feel when it shifts, is it shifting 4 times? Second, all of the transmission shifting is controlled by a TV (Throttle Valve) cable. It's adjustable, but if you adjust it wrong, you can burn up the transmission.
     
    chiefsb30 likes this.
  19. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    well its that smooth you cant really tell.
    Now I was under the impression it still had the Turbo 400 fitted so now I know other wise I will count the shifts.
    I managed to ring the guy on the receipt for the 200 4R bits, seems the trans was in the car when he got it there was quite a few things needed tidying up.
    He said he finetuned the TV cable so it was operating perfect and also added the Grand National brake switch to cut out the lockup convertor and added an underdash switch to manually lock it up.
    Just crawled under the dash at 2am and the switch is no longer there.
    Ron said he was informed the trans was out of an 87 Grand National and they can supposedly cop the grunt factor of the 455.
    Now I'm getting somewhere...also the original Turbo 400 has gone missing somewhere along the line, Ill see if I can track down its wherabouts...
    I have a mate whos game is transmissions so Ill ring him when its daylight and a reasonable hour.
    I need to get a roadworthyness check done in the morning too then pay the rego charges and stamp duty and get her on the road all legal, once the trans issue and temp gauge issue are sorted the game will be on!
    Next weekend Im volunteer flag marshal at the historic motor racing at Morgan Park Warwick so I may drive the GS out there, as long as its all good, or I may ride the Victory if not.
    Thanks everyone for your help, Im hitting the sack now but keep the ideas and comments coming iof you like, this is only the first chgapter of my V8 Buick!
     
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    You should be able to feel the shifts especially 1-2, every GN I have ever been in, the 1-2 is crisp. The cable controls line pressure, shift points and kick down, and if the line pressure is low, the transmission will destroy itself in short order. Years ago, I went with a Gear Vendors Overdrive, added to the 400, it's a great combination, and nearly indestructible.

    http://www.gearvendors.com/index.html
     
    Harlockssx likes this.

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