TH-400 or 200-R4?

I'm in a dilemma.Should I go back to the yard where I got my 350 motor this weekend and get the TH-400 it had with it or would it be worth while to find a 200-R4?.I really don't intend to race the car exp for an occasional street race.I will probably be doing a lot of burnouts as I'm 25 and have never really had a car that would do a good burnout and have never really gotten it out of my system.I don't do neutral drops,as I know that'll mess up a tranny quick,just spinning the tires against the brakes.I know the 400 is a strong tranny but I don't know about the 200-R4.Any opinions?

Thanks,
Brian Craig

 

the 200r4 is not that great in stock form although they can be built to take well over 600hp. on the plus side, they're normally pretty cheap from a junk yard. overdrive will reduce engine revs at highway speed and give you a HUGE bump in fuel mileage.

the TH-400 is reknowned for it's durability and is often called the best auto trans GM ever made. extra rotating mass and overall weight, taller 1st gear ( 2.482 vs 2.741 for the 200r4 ) will all work to make your car slower off the line with the 400. but you'll likely never replace it again.

 

350 engines like big rear gears (3.70-4.10) and with the 2004r you can get mpg and still launch with big gears plus the first is rear low and will add to the rear gear
i would run with the 2004r,it will cost a few to make durable(check CKpeformance.com)
if not i would actually go with a 350 trans on the 350 engine with the cable detent itwould be more responsive on downshift and a lower first gear then the 400 trans and the is heavyier and requires shortening driveshaft/new yoke
and i can tell you the 350 (nonlockup) can hold up to plenty hp and torque
as i have on the back of my 430 and is over 19 years old on rebuild
still lays rubber all over the street into second and a chirp into third
a good builder can do lots with it

 

I went back to the yard yesterday and got the 400 in-case I did decide to run it.After reading Alec296's post I prob-ally will try to find a TH-350 and drop in there if I get anxious about getting it back on the road and don't want to spend the $$$ getting another cross-member and having the drive shaft shortened.I only paid $98.95 for the 400 which I didn't think was bad.

Brian Craig

 

then the 400 trans and the is heavyier and requires shortening driveshaft/new yoke and i can tell you the 350 (nonlockup) can hold up to plenty hp and torque

not necessarily true that the driveshaft needs to be shortened. a short tail TH-400 is approximately the same length as a TH-350. that's the whole point of the short tail housing.

what car are you getting this out of and what car do you intend to put it in?

 

Hi! Brian I'm a little curious as to why the 350 engine had a 400 Turbo behind it. What did it come out of? If you don't go with a 200-4R go with a 350 Turbo. They use less horsepower than a 400. You may already have a 350
instead of a 400. Its easy to tell the 400 doesn't have a throttle pressure or kick down cable coming out of the passenger side of the tranny. The 400 has an electrical connector on the drivers side with either a 1 prong or 2 prong connector depending on the year. Good luck with your project.:TU:
Bob H.
.

 

My 462" broke 2 200-r4's, one was from my T-Type. I think they'd be fine behind a 350 though.
If you're looking to smoke your tires, a 200-r4 with a 4.56 gears will light 'em up real easy and cruise on the highway like a 400 with 3.08's.

 

t-400!

 

Go with to 350. It can be built very easily and will hold up, will bolt up at the rear. I have one in a 82 Sport Coupe behind a done 350 and 3.42 gears in back, about 3268lbs and and is gone with the wiggle of my big toe. First time out with street tires running in low 13's. have been doing more work on heads, exhaust manifolds, and new down pipes. Looking for 11's.
Not bad for a T-top, deluxe interior.
Diver

 

The tag on the passenger side of the tranny has this code PB-68-1228 it has a "B" on the tail-shaft vacuum port and governor? on the drivers side and and electrical connector with one prong on the drivers side.It looks to have been green in color from the factory.If theres anymore codes y'all need to help me identify what I got I'll power wash it tomorrow and let y'all know.My father in-law and check-out guy at the yard both said it was a 400.It's got a long pan on it.It came out of a '72 Lesabre 4-door.I got the engine(350 Buick) and tranny to swap in my '87 Cutlass.

Brian Craig

 

Don't mean to sound dumb but is that a good or bad thing?.Is the THM400 any diffrent from a normal TH400?

Thanks,
Brian Craig

 

Is the THM400 any diffrent from a normal TH400?

'TH' and 'THM' are two different ways of abbreviating the same words; 'Turbo HydroMatic'.

yes, they're the same thing.

use this thread to see if you've got a long or short tail:
http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9781

 

I have the long tail shaft tranny.I've heard that these transmissions have and electrical downshift solenoid and will shift themselves if you start off and leave it in 1st.Is the electrical connector on the drivers side the solenoid for the electronic downshift and if so what do I need to do to make it work in the Cutlass?

Thanks,
Brian Craig

 

you are going to have to get the accel pedal setup from the lesaber of get a kit from summit racing that has a switch the hooks up to the carb and run wires to the trans
also you will leave it in drive for it to shift

 

ou: ou: I ment to say that you can leave it in 1st and it will go thru the gears.Guy at yard said his firebird would do that.

Brian Craig

 

guy at yard is looking at the D not the 1
1 is first only

 

Turbo 400 locked in L1 will shift into L2 .I have done it many times . Several advantages to using 350 ,its about 75 lbs lighter than 400 and takes less horsepower to run it . I had a 350 in my car for nearly 10 years only been out twice , once to check and see how the clutches looked and they went right back in , second time was to change converter . Personally I think the 350 when built right is a real good tramsmission and will handle a good amount of power . For awhile Randy New held the G/SA national record in a 72 GS with a 455 using a 350 transmission and pulling the front wheels on every launch .

 

i like the cable detent when adjusted right on a 350 trans
400 trans dont always downshift when you really want and not much adjustment on them
when you stab it you want to go

 

Another of the many things I lilke about the 350 , But durability is the main factor . I have mine set to sgift at 6500 everytime , it took a lot of time and time trials to get the govenor set but now that I got it is as good as an air shifter and SOOO much cheaper . NO I did not buy the high priced kit , I used the parts I had and they work as good as the kit . My son has a 4L60E thats a pain in the a-s . keep having problems in the front ( pump, clutches , and shell and of course convertor ) Any suggestions ??