My stock GN shifts harder than my built th400. Just wondering, anyone ever runs a 200r4 behind a built 455? Any advantages/ disadvantages?
Plenty of discussion to be found using the search feature but the 200-4r and decent cores are near gone the way of the dodo. The 200-4r had enough problems living behind the turbo V6. We don't all agree, but having done two, I wouldn't again for a 455; there's too much torque for the relatively fragile internals unless you're planning to use it as a cruiser. Mine had had all of the good internals and a reputable builder and it was still three hail-Mary's and gritted teeth every time I punched it. No more trips to the drag strip after a deadly 1-2 shift. I suggest it is better to invest in a 4L80 or GearVendor, and probably comparable in price after all of the right hard parts installed. If you decide to do it, find one of the 200-4r experts and get it done there. Some have better luck than others, but the proportion of hard-luck cases is high with the 200-4r.
I run a $3800 2004R and it’s great however next time I do this I will use a $500 junkyard 6L90E 6 speed.
Several folks do, many on this board. Hopefully they will speak up. I'm planning on doing it this summer. 455 will be mild and no racing. Also, skinny tires. Trans was built to stage 2 from extreme automatics.
IMO, either do a 4L80E or a THM400 with a Gear Vendors overdrive. At least those transmissions were designed for the abuse they will surely take. Nobody builds a 455 for Driving Miss Daisy.
I have a 2004r behind a 430. If I could do it all over again I would have used a 4l80e. At this point the 4l80e is almost cheaper. Your local junkyard has 100s of them kicking around and probably less than 5 2004rs. A 4l80e doesn't require a bunch of hard parts to be replaced to survive. A warm rebuild and it'll take all sorts of power. While a 2004r needs a lot of work to handle power. Any trans shop can work on the 4l80 too. Standalone controllers are expensive but can be had for less than 500 bucks. Its easier to program the 4l80 than it is the 200. Is anyone out there happy with their part throttle upshifts?
Do you need to modify the tunnel, will the controller allow you to manually shift and will it work in the factory location without relocating the console?
Yes thanks to you there is an old 55 Chevy with 4.56 gears running your button shifter on the steering wheel. 4L80E
My money is on the 2004R. Art Carr from California Transmissions in Huntington Beach. https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/ccrp-0903-th-200-4r-transmission-build/ Good read here! Also Mr. Sunset has a 4L80e in his 67 GS with a 455 under the hood.
That sounds like a great idea. Seems like with the extra gears and with a 1st gear ratio of 4.03 and 6th gear at 0.67, you get the best of all worlds.
