Considering OD Transmission
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,115
Likes: 0
From: VA
Considering OD Transmission
I am considering replacing my TH400 in the '75 with an OD transmission. I have a few questions to start with.
1. What is the difference between the 700R4 and the 200R4?
2. How difficult is this swap?
3. Besides the transmission itself what other parts need to be replaced?
Thanks,
Ron
1. What is the difference between the 700R4 and the 200R4?
2. How difficult is this swap?
3. Besides the transmission itself what other parts need to be replaced?
Thanks,
Ron
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
If your gonna do the swap, do it with the 700R-4, 88 or newer.
87 and older are weak in hard parts.. this is a proven fact..
You will be so glad you did the swap, and first gear will be alot
of fun. get the crossmember from www.700r4.com
87 and older are weak in hard parts.. this is a proven fact..
You will be so glad you did the swap, and first gear will be alot
of fun. get the crossmember from www.700r4.com
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
1. What is the difference between the 700R4 and the 200R4? The 700 is longer making it a little more work to put it in. The drive shaft needs to be shortened and the crossmember has to be changed.
2. How difficult is this swap? Not much harder that it is to pull the current trans and putting it back in.
3. Besides the transmission itself what other parts need to be replaced? The shifter detent, a TV cable has to be attached to th carb, the nuetral safety switch has to be readujusted. If you have a TH400 then the yoke and front universal need to be changed. If you have a TH350 then they are the same as the OD trans.
Trans install
2. How difficult is this swap? Not much harder that it is to pull the current trans and putting it back in.
3. Besides the transmission itself what other parts need to be replaced? The shifter detent, a TV cable has to be attached to th carb, the nuetral safety switch has to be readujusted. If you have a TH400 then the yoke and front universal need to be changed. If you have a TH350 then they are the same as the OD trans.
Trans install
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
the easy way is to put the 200 in, the better way is the harder way
with the 700. Big deal you have to do a little extra, but its worth it.
Do it right the first time, unless your on a super tight buget.
with the 700. Big deal you have to do a little extra, but its worth it.
Do it right the first time, unless your on a super tight buget.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Meg is in favor of the 700, and I have one too, but I think in retrospect, from everything I hear on this forum, that in fact I made a rong decision and should have used the 2004r, not only lighter, but more durable, the apparent list of mods to get it to live is much shorter than the some 200 items ANY 700 takes to get it up to snuff......the great failure of the 700 is the 3/4 clutch pack and it's because of inadequate cooling an inherent design flaw, apparently.....I am on my 3rd set now in 8 years....
for the fittment problems, the smaller, and 50 lbs lighter 200 is better, my '72 convertible shark here needed the floorpans cut a LOT and reglassed over on the pass side to get the pan and servo to clear......
being as you have an automatic now, the swap is easy for you, I had a muncie....so went nuts with the frame crossmember....
you use the 200, it's damn near a bolt in...use the same shifter, just index the thing so you don't need bother with first gear being indexed....course you could mod the shifter, but why bother??
the 200 is far superior in gear ratio, first 3 gears similar to what you have NOW, plus the overdrive at same ratio as the 700,....
I used the 700 because the C4 used the 700, never even knew of the existance of the 200.....
GENE
for the fittment problems, the smaller, and 50 lbs lighter 200 is better, my '72 convertible shark here needed the floorpans cut a LOT and reglassed over on the pass side to get the pan and servo to clear......
being as you have an automatic now, the swap is easy for you, I had a muncie....so went nuts with the frame crossmember....
you use the 200, it's damn near a bolt in...use the same shifter, just index the thing so you don't need bother with first gear being indexed....course you could mod the shifter, but why bother??
the 200 is far superior in gear ratio, first 3 gears similar to what you have NOW, plus the overdrive at same ratio as the 700,....
I used the 700 because the C4 used the 700, never even knew of the existance of the 200.....
GENE
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Yes, do your homework first. If your looking for the easy way,
then 200 is it.
Like I said 87 and older 700's suck and had alot of weak points,
if you can get or pull one out a 88 or newer CAMARO or TRANS AM,
I'm sure they came in other cars to. You will not have any problems.
If you plan on keeping your car all stock forever and content with the
way it is, I agree with GENE
, do the 200 
.
then 200 is it.
Like I said 87 and older 700's suck and had alot of weak points,
if you can get or pull one out a 88 or newer CAMARO or TRANS AM,
I'm sure they came in other cars to. You will not have any problems.
If you plan on keeping your car all stock forever and content with the
way it is, I agree with GENE
, do the 200 .
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
The 200 will need an adaptor, I think. It isn't a big deal, but as far as I know the 200r4 comes with the old B.O.P. bolt pattern on the bell housing. The 700r4 was the trans of choice for Chevy. The only f-body that came with the 200r4 that I know oif was the Turbo Trans Am that had the Buick turbo v6 with Pontiac heads. The 4th gen f-bodies that came with the 3.8 v6 may have also used the 200r4. If you can, buy a new or rebuilt trans from one of the performance tranny companies. Is there anything on a car that is more neglected by most owners than an automatic trans?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
The 200 does not need an adaptor. They were used in the Monte Carlo SS, so Chevy bolt pattern units are available. It is easier to install, lighter overall, and it doesn't have some of the weaknesses of the 700 (like the 3-4 clutch pack issues).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: SF East Bay CA
I used the 700. Swappped from a th350, so there was a noticable difference at speed with the 3.55 rear. New crossmember and driveshaft. Crossmember cost about ~125, shortened driveshaft locally ~75.
I recently swapped in a Tremec TKO 500... If I were to do it again, I would not have done the 700r4, but instead went traight to the manual conversion.
Either way, you WILL notice a noticeable improvement in speeds above 50+. If you end up goiong with a manual, the lower 1st/2nd REALLY make the driving fun...
Good Luck
I recently swapped in a Tremec TKO 500... If I were to do it again, I would not have done the 700r4, but instead went traight to the manual conversion.
Either way, you WILL notice a noticeable improvement in speeds above 50+. If you end up goiong with a manual, the lower 1st/2nd REALLY make the driving fun...
Good Luck
