cchristo

After finally coming to the conclusion that it will be a very long time before I find the time to change my tranny myself, I broke down and am going to let someone do it for me

I didn't know it till I posted a thread about area tranny recommendations, but as it turns out, I live very close to Bowtie Overdrive.

I drop it off next Friday and they will be transplaning a beautiful, shiny level 2 700r4.

Sorry for wasting bandwidth with this, but I'm stoked!!!

Just in time for a long drive up Hwy 1 next month. LA all the way up to Washington.

Xakk

You'll love it. Congrats!!

kona

Your goinna Love it!!!!!!!!

Kona

markdtn

You will love it.

windsoreight

I have also come to the conclusion that a 700R4/4L60 is the way to go for me. I need that extra gear. I plan on adding some gear at the same time.

redwingvette

I love my BTO 200-4r

rastadr

last night i installed bto's 700r4 lockout kit. pretty easy installation considering ive never seen the inside of my trans b4. i think your smart letting them do it all, especially if it acts up. looking foward to hearing what a dialed in 700r4 is like.

jdmick

I've only got a few miles on my 700r4 so far but I can tell you IT IS SWEET!!

Zoomin

I wonder what kind of MPG improvements you can expect by going to an OD tranny.

20%??

cchristo

I've heard as high as 30% but........

There is a sort of funny disclaimer on the BTO website. In summary, it says that many people realize very little mpg gain with their transmission because they have a tendency to drive faster with it!

I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't really heard anything bad about them, with the exception of some frustration while installing and adjusting the tranny. I won't have that problem since they are doing it.

682XLR8

Am running a BTO 200 R4 level 2 with 3:73 gears, the difference is amazing!


BTW cchristo, noticed you plan on driving up the Coast Highway, the Devil's Slide section south of Big Sur is closed (as the name implies, because of a landslide), looks like it will be for a while, Cal-Trans website should have detour info

cchristo

That's good info Thanks!

Highly unlikely that it will be repaired for quite some time but as I get closer to leaving, I'll check on alternatives. It now looks like I might end up having to fly anyway

UKPaul

I put a BTO 200-4r in my '81 & noticed an improvement in economy in that I didn't need to stop for gas so often! The big test was on a trip to the UK Vette club Nationals. The 2 years I'd done it with the stock th350C trans, I'd filled up the night before leaving & had to stop on the way home for a top-up. Estimate both years I went it took 1 1/4 tanks of gas. The following 2 years I did it with the 200-4r & filled up the night before going. I got home from the show with the gauge showing 1/4 tank. And that was without stopping for a top-up!!!! The roads are mainly highway with cruising speeds of about 80mph. Last year, due to roadworks & heavy traffic I was doing an average of about 60 mph which means the engine was just burbling along in OD. As the traffic was so slow moving I accepted that it'd be a tedious drive so went for maximum economy by only feathering the throttle. When I got back home the fuel gauge was showing 1/2 full I doubt the fuel gauge is anywhere near accurate, but highway cruising is definitely much more economic with the OD gear.
If you see Steve at BTO tell him that he's got a very happy customer in Limey-land (if you're gas prices ever hit what ours are then you'd understand why happiness is an OD gear)

redwingvette

On the highway I went from 11mpg to 17mpg with my 3.55 gear

Kalway

What does BTO charge to do it?

carl a

i went from 9 mpg to 17 mpg,,373 rear end, the th 350 had me doing 3200 rpms at 60 mph,now im at 2200 at 80 mphand when you peg it its at 135 before your can realize,,well the 431 hp 532 torque probably helps a little

cchristo

It's going to be a little over $2500.00

That includes the tranny, torque converter, crossmember, TV cable, drive shaft work, etc.

Obviously, I don't know what type of MPG I'll be getting, but I figure it will work out at least this good.......

Miles Driven Avg MPG $ Per Gal $ To Drive $ Saved
50000 13 $2.85 $10,961.54
50000 17 $2.85 $8,382.35 $2,579.19

Arrgh, I can't make these columns line up! Well, bottom line is that it will take about 50,000 miles of driving for the new tranny to have completely paid for itself!

carl a

2500 sounds about right, i paid that much in 2002 for my 700 r 4 and my cousin built it and did the install

Zoomin

Has anyone had experience with a Gear Vendors overdrive unit?

UKPaul

Thanks Carl, I was wondering what effect a 3.73 rear would do for the rpms