In my '73 vette, I have the Hydramatic 400 tha tonly has speeds, as we all know. I'm suppose to have the 3:08 rear. according to the codes. When I take the foot off the gas, boy does it slow down fairly fast? Is this normal? Also, I just know that somewhere we can go to a salvaged yard and find a 4 speed, with or without overdrive, that should fit this vette. Has anyone tried this or do we all have to pay Thousands of dollars ($$$$$$$$$$$) to buy either Keisler or Trmec trans? If anyone can supply more info an this subject, please chirp in.

Thanks

 

The '60s & early '70s Hydra-matic transmissions were 3 speed units having a 'high' gear ratio of 1:1. These units also had no 'free-wheeling' stator in the converter, to there was "engine braking" when you let off the accelerator. That worked pretty well until the EPA [and lots of people concerned about air quality] required better fuel mileage and reduced emissions. Those issues drove the need to produce transmissions with an overdrive final range for better fuel efficiency and, therefore, lower emissions. The addition of the "free wheeling" stator eliminated engine braking, which also used excess fuel. Lockup converters also helped by eliminating the losses in the converter in higher gear ranges.

You can go a number of ways to install an overdrive/lockup transmission in your car. Buying one ready-to-install is one way. You can buy a used unit and install it...hoping for the best. You can buy a used unit and rebuild it yourself. Or, my favorite, buy a used unit and take it to a reputable/quality transmission repair place and have them do a good rebuild on it.

 

Good idea on all that you said. Where do you buy a used overdrive/lockup tranny? How much do I expect to pay fo either used or new? Are you sure that no other GM tranny withoverdrive will fit the '73 vette?

 

The most common 4 speed auto swap into these cars is probably the 700-R4 since The General put then into the Corvette in '82. You can buy all the parts to do the swap. The length of the tailshaft housing on the transmission is the first consideration. Try to get one the same as or at least close to what was used ont he Corvette. You'll have to shorten your driveshaft, modify the crossmember, and a few other things, but its a pretty straightforward swap. If you do a search on this forum, you'll find lots of info. I swapped my TH350 for a 700-R4 in my '79 and went from 16 mpg. to 25 (Imperial). I have 3.55's. It would work even better with 3.08's.

 

As mentioned above, the 700-R4 transmission was introduced into the 1982 Corvettes. From that time forward, the electronically controlled transmissions were managed by the central vehicle computer. The 200R transmission can be installed in Corvettes, also, without too much modification. With either transmission, you will need to purchase a transmission management controller for your car, since it doesn't have an ECU. They are available from several sources for less than $100 and that will provide the proper control for converter lockup function.

 

That's one way of doing it, but as far as I know, most 700-R4's are not computer controlled. I believe the computer controlled version of the 700-R4 is the 4L-60. I had my 700-R4 set up by the shop that built it so that the convertor only locks up in 4th gear. I don't remember the details any more, but there is lots of information available on how to set up the lockup function, a number of aftermarket kits, and a variety of ways of doing it. That is is the least of the issues to be worked out in performing this swap.

 

YOU have a bad habit of cross over and miss mash terms so badly I really wonder if you know jack diddly of what you type on most topics here....seriously....

the above posts show nothing about the transmissions in question....

I have called you on that mis match of knowledge a few times, but it's time to toss the glove....

there is a HUGE generational distinction in the electronic controls of transmissions, the lock up of earlier converters are about the SAME for the 700 r4 and the 200 4r even the 4 pin plugs are the same, the lockup is typically controlled by a 4th gear pressure switch in the hydraulic brain internal to the tranny, sometimes with a series temp switch to allow that to happen when it it warm enough...
which is strange to ME, but that is another topic...

I have installed both a 700 and now a 200 in my '72 shark...true I have EFI but really now, I CAN flip a switch between computer at 50 mph or to lock either of them at 2nd gear and stay locked ...I did it for the fun factor, normal driving these daze is left in the computer controlled position...but at any rate that 4th gear lockup switch is supposed to be active....

the second generation was with NEITHER of these trannies, and they are the ones that share GUTS only, but the case/brainplates are totally different...and require the computers to run them costing about a GRAND or so in bux....outside the tranny itself....

the 700 r4 and the 4L60 are nearly identical...except for <87 to >87 then you get into the brain plates and aux valve bodies....

but the 4L60e and the 4ZL80e are totally different animals and will take a expensive act of God and CONgress to install in a Shark Vette...

CASE CLOSED.....

 

Thanks for clarifying things. What got your 'panties' in a bunch??

 

The 4l60e will fit perfectly with no modifications to the car period.

I have a complete kit with the 4spd shifter conversion new crossmember and all for $3695 less the forum discount. A good customer of mine has already put several in with out my kit.

To the OP you can buy a used 4l60e or 700r4 they will fit into your car.
There are several company including us that make a crossmember. The 4l60e will be more money because you need a controller. However it shifts better and is more efficient. No messing around with valve bodies or tv cables. Set it once and roll on.

 

You guys have all contributed well to this forum, but NONE of you have answered my MAIN question!!!!!!! Is there and has anyone has gotten a used trans from any other make of car from a salvage yard, that will fit without too much modification, with 4 speed auto , with or without overdrive and it worked. Like maybe a camaro's or something else? I can not afford almost $4000.00 for a tranny, not with doing all of the other restoration work. Yes, I do want better gas mileage, but it will take a lot of driving to have it pay itself back.

 

There are 700-R4's all over craigslist and ebay. Or you could just find a parts car with one like a camaro like you said. I don't have a 4 speed yet but I was thinking about upgrading to a 200-4r because it's lighter than the 700r4 and it's practically the same length as the turbo 350. From what I've heard, the 200-4r and the 700r4 are pretty close on performance too. The 200-4r is more rare though. I think it was used on the turbocharged Grand National.

 

i just finished rebuilding and am ready to install my 200-4R. I got it at a wrecking yard for $95 from an 83 Cadillac Fleetwood. I will have about $300 total in the project when I'm done including the rebuild kit, hardened stator support, correct speedo gears and the switches to make the lock up function. I'm more of a cruiser than a drag racer, so I didn't beef it up much, if something fails, then I'll know exactly which part to upgrade. I couldn't justify hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of upgraded parts to make it bullet proof. I read that the one I got from the Caddy has an OK valve body since it was originally used on a 4.1 liter V8 and had relatively high shift points.

 

 

I put a 200-4R in my 73. I bought the whole kit from BTO for $1800 delivered but that was about 5 years ago. The 200-4R is the same size as the TH400 so you don't need a new crossmember or driveshaft. You just have to replace the front universal with a GM stock offset one that will fit the yoke to the front of the driveshaft.

 

To answer the original question, yes you can get any 700r4 trans from a f-body, truck, caddy, they are all over the place and cheap. You will then need to shorten thedrive shaft, buy a cross member or fab one, and set up the tv cable.

This is a very easy conversion, I did mine in an 81 for about $1100 including a complete rebuilt trans,crossmember and drive shaft.

bowtieoverdrives.com is a great place to look at for what you'll need to make the conversion. They sell everything you'll need even if you buy a salvage yard trans.

Good luck

Bill

 

The 200 r4 is THE way to fly for cheap and ease of install, too boot it's about 50 lbs lighter, and you dont need shorten the driveshaft...the unit would be well served to install a TRANS GO shift kit, which is well worth the money....you will need the yoke from a 350 shark vette for the output shaft is that size....I had a lot less trouble putting my 200 together than the 700....

 

One thing (don't know if it matters in USA though) is that the 700R4's installed originally in Vettes are different from all the others in this regard: you can cruise at high speed and the Vette box will upshift to or remain in highest gear. With others the box will remain at 3rd gear and will not upshift or if you are at OD it will downshift to 3rd. Really only matters when driving on Germans autobahns (or long desert highways) but I thought its worth mentioning.

I think a non Vette 700R4 can be modified to do the same by changing some internal part like this.

 

Will the 2004r's stand up behind higher hp. engines? I just bought a '72 with a 2004r and roller cam 305 in it. I would like to put around a 400hp. small block in the car but was afraid the tranny wouldn't hold up. I believe the engine and trans came out of a '87 Monte Carlo SS.

 

Bought my 2004r locally, took it to a local trans shop, they "built" it to handle upwards of 500hp. Bolted right in with the exception of installing the above mentioned TH350 yoke.

 

Yes, when building my 200 I put in a new ten vane pump, did all the TRANS GO kit mods, and put in the best clutches my supply house had, the job was not all that bad....my engine is supposedly 425 ft lbs and <400 hp.....not an issue so far....

but without a TG kit in there, I would not bet on ANY tranny to last worth a damn.....