Scored a Tranny today
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Scored a Tranny today
Well, finally found a deal on a used 2004-r today in Ft Lauderdale, got one from a tranny shop fer $100. Doesn't look bad from the outside, not beat up, input shaft and main pump shaft are not chewed up and the juice was nice and red.
So now for the fun part;
Who has the best rebuild kit? I have been looking into this some, got a video on the rebuild, looks like I can do it myself. There is a LOT of parts out there on Ebay for these things, Bigger servo, hardned sun gear shell, Kevlar bands, clutches...
Any recomendations for whats the best parts to put in?
This will be behind a slightly modified 81 350 about 300hp or so, not a monster rocket, but I want a good hookup and of course the overdrive.
TIA
So now for the fun part;
Who has the best rebuild kit? I have been looking into this some, got a video on the rebuild, looks like I can do it myself. There is a LOT of parts out there on Ebay for these things, Bigger servo, hardned sun gear shell, Kevlar bands, clutches...
Any recomendations for whats the best parts to put in?
This will be behind a slightly modified 81 350 about 300hp or so, not a monster rocket, but I want a good hookup and of course the overdrive.
TIA
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The only tip I can give you is to buy only American made parts. Have you checked with Bowtie to ask them if they have a kit you can buy from them to rebuild with, or even a list of parts that you should look for?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
If you haven't rebuilt one before, you may want think about having it rebuilt. Costs about a grand - give or take - and they usually give you a warranty of a year - better than nothing. With your own work, you get nothing, so if it doesn't work or fails you are hosed. Check the difference in price between a kit+your time+1 year warranty, and you might find it is worth the difference to have it done. You may also want to think about using yours for a core charge and get a rebuilt one. Some have longer warranties and only cost a bit more than having it rebuilt. Plus, there are several companies who have them built to different specs so you can get what is right for how you have your Vette set up and your driving style.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I figure its a weekend job to do it start to finish. So far I am looking at several kits/mist parts at around $300 to $500 depending on what I want in it. There is nothing majic in there (I always thought there was). Pretty much a matter of removing each internal group of components (keep together) clean it up real good, inspect the "Keep" parts, replace as necessary or with "Hot Rod" parts and reassemble.
I was very supprised at how easy the video made it look. I have better than average mechanical skills and now that I have seen it done I am pretty sure I can do it. I also took a look at the guys doin this for a living, LOL.
There are only a couple of "Adjustments" inside the thing and there are some tests to perform on the subassemplies as they go together.
No Problem, LOL
I was very supprised at how easy the video made it look. I have better than average mechanical skills and now that I have seen it done I am pretty sure I can do it. I also took a look at the guys doin this for a living, LOL.
There are only a couple of "Adjustments" inside the thing and there are some tests to perform on the subassemplies as they go together.
No Problem, LOL
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
6', you may want to call me, and we can talk much faster than over the net.....904 375-0151......
the 4th gear clutches only have 2 friction discs, they work fine for ME, but I have no real mileage on them yet....as you know mine is on the road about 2 months now....and so far, I LOVE IT.....I would just off the bat replace the TCC solenoid....I didn't and had to drop the pan....50 bux at NAPA....in stock item....
I highly recommend the Trans Go kit, over the decades I have had extermely good luck with them, but not so much so with that Superior/fairbanks kit in the 700 I tore out, so I went TG with this 200 4r, and it's shifting FINE.....
the 4th gear clutches only have 2 friction discs, they work fine for ME, but I have no real mileage on them yet....as you know mine is on the road about 2 months now....and so far, I LOVE IT.....I would just off the bat replace the TCC solenoid....I didn't and had to drop the pan....50 bux at NAPA....in stock item....
I highly recommend the Trans Go kit, over the decades I have had extermely good luck with them, but not so much so with that Superior/fairbanks kit in the 700 I tore out, so I went TG with this 200 4r, and it's shifting FINE.....
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
While I have never tried a 200R but I don't think it is a easy to build as a 350 or 400. I have the same thought about rebuilding a 700r myself but after getting a manual and talking to people in the know I chickened out and had it done.
They are not that easy.
They are not that easy.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
You may want to ask the trans guy you bought it from to get you a kit. I paid $150.00 from a trans supply house for the masterkit. Seals. steel plates,clutches, gaskets,and filter. This doesn't include the pump bushing or the tail bushing. The thrust washers and selective washers are seperate also. I upgraded the known weak links. It has been an interesting build compared to the P/G th350 and 700. Just don't rush it you should do well.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Not rocket science, but there are a lot of subtleties on how parts fit together. I redid my 350 last summer and botched it. I had a little time over the holidays so I pulled it appart just out of curiosity. I found two errors, both of which were fit and assembly related. I'd imagine that since the 200 has more parts, it would probably have more spots like these. If you don't mind doing it a couple of times, I'm sure that you can get it done though.
Congrats on your purchase by the way. Cores for these are getting hard to come by.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The first automatic I opened up had me thinking "What am I doing?".
Just go slow, lube the heck out of everything, and go slow.
I use a feeler gauge to install the lip seals/pistons back into the housings with lots of lube, and then check them with 5psi air to make sure I didn't cut one. When you tear it down, do one clutch pack at a time and make sure you get the seal lips pointing the right way. Your book will have all the info.
Plus the kit, I'd get the parts for the front pump too. New bushing, 10 vane pump, hardened rings, and vanes too. The Trans-go kit (IMHO) is as good as you get. I've also used a Superior kit and it's as good. A good trans parts supplier will be able to guide you thru the parts list to get the best stuff.
Just go slow, lube the heck out of everything, and go slow.
I use a feeler gauge to install the lip seals/pistons back into the housings with lots of lube, and then check them with 5psi air to make sure I didn't cut one. When you tear it down, do one clutch pack at a time and make sure you get the seal lips pointing the right way. Your book will have all the info.
Plus the kit, I'd get the parts for the front pump too. New bushing, 10 vane pump, hardened rings, and vanes too. The Trans-go kit (IMHO) is as good as you get. I've also used a Superior kit and it's as good. A good trans parts supplier will be able to guide you thru the parts list to get the best stuff.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Tim, have you dug into a TH200R4? I'm still debating if I would want to rebuild my 200 before I drop it in. I bought it under the pretenses that it was built a few months before I bought it...so I'm not sure what I want to do.