I'm looking into putting a 200 4R trans into my 1981, powered by a ZZ4. I'm interested in who (what supplier) you guys would recommend buying one from. Since it currently has a T350, I will need a whole conversion kit.

Thanks in advance.

 

I bought my 200R4 from: http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/index.shtml
Avner

 

How long ago and what has been your experience...good, bad?

 

It was 3 years ago but I made only two test drives with the car and it change the gears very smooth.
they have all the parts you need for a full conversion but if you have 3.08 differential I think you will have to change the ratio, I put 3.55 instead of 3.08 and run at 70mh => 2200RPM.
Avner

 

I had mine built up by a local trans shop, from a used tranny I bought locally.

Mine is behind a ZZ4 also, and I have 3.08's like Avner had. I didnt change out the rear gears. I am tach-ing 1600 rpms at 60mph and get in the mid 20's for fuel mileage on the highway, around 18 in town.

Bolts right in, I had a TH400. No problems and I have over 3500 miles on it.

 

I did this swap a little over a year ago, very easy, just have to take off the rubber mount from the trans and have to do some wiring for the lock up, took me like 6 hours to finish it. I got a used trans and had it rebuilt buy a local shop with all bowties transmission parts. great swap, I did a lot of highway driving, makes a world of difference.

 

I have an 80, with a rebuilt "mild " 355, and 3:31 rear gears. I swapped the TH350 for a BowTie Overdrives, Stage 2, 200 4R trans about 3 1/2 years and 20,000 miles ago. Easy installation and original drive shaft. I've had some mixed results, with the pump being replaced free, including the labor at the BTO shop in Hesperia, CA, about 2 hours drive from my home in San Diego.

I really like the trans: the .67 overdrive really brings the rpms down, at freeway cruising; and the stage 2 package has very firm and quick shifts, especially if you choose to shift manually like me. I run 2200 rpms at 70 mph now, but plan on installing 3:73 rear gears to get off the line faster- probably raising the rpms to 2400 at 70 mph.

Overall, the 200 4R trans was the best improvement on the C3, after rebuilding the engine..... but after all the recent suspension stuff, I'm really liking that too..... the hobby is never finished.
BTO has a "complete" Package, including the new linkage for the carb, and the crossmember, made in house. I got mine on sale for about $1800 complete. The usual price is about $2200. They are a pretty small company, and I would call them to see if they would negotiate their current price, with shipping and at least a 1 year, 12000 mile warrenty.

Check Monster Transmissions and GearVenders too.

 

I have a 2004r behind the big block in my 81, and got everything from these guys http://ckperformance.com/index.html I built my own and Chris was a great help. This place does great work, sells very high quality parts and they really know what they're doing. A friend of mine just ordered another rebuild kit for a 200 from CK and we built the trans yesterday.

Chris sells complete transmissions as you can see from the web site, but you'd have to have your cross member modified, or buy one. You can get them from bowtie, Summit, and lots of other places now. It's a great swap, one of the more straight forward up grades. And if you have the stock carburetor, the TV cable attaches in the same place the TH350's does, with the correct geometry too.

 

Dave above here knows WTF he talking about, I agree, and have done the same thing but a SBC.....in my '72 vert,.....

he got the better LOOKING ride, for a can of paint, but I got the better ride.....nanner nanner nanner.....

nuttin' personal, he's a friend of mine.....

 

Better ride??? Hey buddy, mine doesn't vibrate!!!

 

+1 for Chris at CK. I got his book and all the parts for my 200 from him and asked several questions during the rebuild which he patiently answered.