I'm wanting some input from you members who have installed an automatic overdrive transmission in your corvette. What I'm wanting to know is whom you bought your transmission from. I was certain that I was going to purchase one from Monster transmission until i read some reviews from some of their customers and to put it mildly they were not happy. so if you had a some what stout 350 C.U. ( about 450 h.hp ) who would you purchase from

 

Manual or automatic

 

sorry automatic. looking at 200r or 700r

 

I used a TCI and it worked great.

 

200R4, easier installation, Bowtieoverdrives.com has everything you need.

 

Built my own 2004R with parts from CK performance.

 

Chose which model you like ,, go to craigs list buy a core and find a reputable local re-builder ...Often times a local corvette club will know of a good trans builder ..

 

I bought Bow-Tie's Stage 2 700R4 with the following items from them:

Transmission
Converter (I think around 2,000 stall)
Dipstick
lockup wiring
TVS cable and bracket at carb
Crossmember
TV Made EZ adapter for my Quadrajet
Pressure gauge and hose for setting line pressure
Detailed installation and setup instructions including measurement for having a shop shorten my driveshaft (easier than I thought it would be)

This was back around 2002 and I had to have a few adjustments to get it right including:
New slip yoke. Bow-Tie said my stock TH350 yoke would work but I had leakage. Bought a new yoke from them and resolved it
New selector shaft. Seal leaked and found the shaft in the trans was scored. They sent new shaft which I installed
Crossmember - the bracket for the parking brake was in the wrong position; I ended up clearancing (read 'punching a hole in the floor') to get it to work. Had Van Steel moving the bracket when they rebuilt my trailing arms.

I performed this conversion in my garage without help. Setting line pressure is a CRITICAL step and instructions must be followed to set correctly. I found having the pressure gauge/hose essential to setting this pressure correctly at both idle and driving.

My 700R4 conversion was part of a larger, overall refresh of the drive train rear of the engine. Local shop in FL shortened, balanced and installed Spicer u-joints on the driveshaft. I had a local gear shop in Clearwater blueprint and install 3.54 Spicer gears in a NEW rear diff (mine was showing its age). Van Steel rebuilt half-shafts and my previously rebuilt Van Steel rear bearing assemblies. This all ensured the rest of the drivetrain was up to the new transmission. The DEEP first gear of the 700R4 makes for an exciting driving experience

 

Running a Stage II 200R4 from Bowtie Overdrives behind my 383.... installed it almost eight years ago, no problems yet

 

Extreme Automatics 200-4R in my junk.

 

Bought the same set-up as TedH, 2yrs. ago no problems, installed myself. Great service from Bowtie.

 

I bought a 2004R from monster a couple years ago. Stay clear. I bought the heavy duty and it was supposed to have a shift. It never did seem to work correctly. Took to local tranny shop that specializes in high performance. It was missing some internals and the shift kit. Cost me an extra $600 to get it right. It performs as it should now.

 

2004r in mine from bowtie, no issues.

 

Stage 2 700r4 behind my 406

 

216,000 on my '89 GM 700R4 in my '34 350 SBC truck....

I'll rebuild it and put it in the Vette project car....(for lonnnng trips!)

The Vette A/T will be rebuilt and go in the '34 truck since I need to increase the rpm for carrying items in the bed.

WIN/WIN!

 

My 73 has had a BTO 200-4R with no issue.

 

I'm getting ready to pull my th-350 in the morning. Winter has begun here in central Washington so I wont be driving Vette for awhile. I like Bowtie because they take alot of the searching for parts out of the project. They can deliver to my door a total package for install. But I am still looking around, I cant wait for spring to come and jump out onto the open roads not revving so damn high.

 

I put a 700R4 in my 81 over 4 years ago. Kurt at Monster built it, I ve had zero issues with it .. Works beautifully behind my 383/525HP Stroker. 3.73 rear, Shifts at 6500rpm have no effect on it.It seems bulletproof! You will not believe the improvement one will make in your C3. I highly recommend a 700r4 swap

 

Exactly.......adding another "gear" in the best RPM range never hurts!

 

Exactly Right. It makes it possible for me to run 3.73 gears to match my big cam, and yet, do 80MPH on the interstate at just 2550RPM! Its having your cake and eating it too.