I’m having trouble finding a 200 4R transmission,have seen several 700r4 though,but going to look at a caprice which should have it in it,and even considered buying a rebuilt one, but that’s even more expensive not to mention shipping and $500 dollar core charge,but do see on eBay a case with no guts for $200 not sure if that would sufficient.but,actually considering using the 700r4, I know the drive shaft would have to be cut,which is no problem,for a machine shop that is.lol...and maybe the cross member,what else to swap this.

 

They are getting tough to find locally..I looked for a while. they pop up on facebook classified in my area from time to time. there are already beefed up built options for sale on ebay.. at least there was plenty last year when I looked. the 700r4 will work but the trans is longer so you need to modify the things you mentioned like a shorter driveshaft to make it work. it does have a very low first gear which you may like if you are keeping the stock rear end gears.

Monte Carlos had the 2004r as well as the buick GN and some olds cutlass and caddy models... ive read the 87 and newer versions are improved and a bit stronger.

 

Seems weird, since G-bodies had the 200r. There were a great many G-bodies that were turned into short track stock cars with manual trans, so where'd all those 200r's go?
Maybe try putting a WTB ad in areas around Midwest short tracks, maybe some racer has one stuck under a bench?
Or did the aftermarket 200r builders scoop them all up?

 

You need to become a pick-n-pull junk yard warrior! Arm yourself with a battery operated impact gun and reciprocating saw, a hand truck, homer bucket, ratchet straps, proper clothing and shoe's. The satisfaction of scoring something for a fraction of what people want on Facebook marketplace is priceless. 700-R4's are plentiful at the Pick-n-Pull yards.
$83 for that puppy.

 

I think this is it. $200 and already was pulled out.

Cant see the tag very well but it has 84 MT 6260 and has a big F at the top.


But going through the gears,I still only count 3 plus reverse,neutral and park.

 

That a turbo hydramatic 400. Definitely worth $200 but it's not what you're looking for.

 

Yep,turned it over and it had 13 pan bolts,suppose to be 16. Now have to drive a hr and half and take it back,hopefully get the correct one,it’s a huge salvage yard.

 

Not sure I'd return that.. even a TH400 core is worth at least $200.

 

Yea,but I don’t have room for it,but would be nice if you had something to put it in,there’s not a thing wrong with the th350 I’m going to pull,and I know it’s in great shape,and only 80k on it.

 

You're doing the right thing, go with the overdrive, damn I wish I had!

 

Or swap to overdrive stick, but that's another big can o' worms...

 

Well,still can’t find a 200-4R yet,but have found several 700r4 transmissions,so,is the cost of rebuilding a 700r4 much cheaper than a 200-4R,and do see bow tie overdrives have them stage 1 for $1,600,2 year warranty + 500 for core,which is why I need a core of some kind to trade in or rebuild.but from what Incan tell to rebuild one,just in parts would be about $1;200. And that’s not counting a tc,but most of the suppliers that sell rebuilt tranny’s supply tc free with it,I think like 2100-2200.and of course could always send it off to have it build,I’ve gotten several names on here from people who build these,but not sure what they charge,

 

Here my thoughts between the two. Let's say for whatever reason years from now you need to find another 2004r transmission or 2004r hard parts. It's going to be harder to find 2004r stuff.

 

Yea,very true,and I thought I read some where,you can swap out the tail end to a short so you don’t have to cut drive shaft.

 

I'm pretty sure you're going to have to shorten the drive shaft. Here's what I would do if I was in your position. Get a good used yard 700-4R, 87 or up. Change the fluid, filter, front and rear seals, and upgrade it with a Corvette 2-4 servo all of which you can do yourself and send it. You also need to rethink the rear end gears you were planning on changing.

 

The last whimpy 205hp 84 c4 vette I owned had the 700r4 and 3.07 rear gears. It felt like it had more power taking off than my 74 did and got like 27mpg on the highway.... I also had an 85 camaro with a high torque tpi 5.0 and the 700r4.that had the 2.73 rear end...

The first gear on the 700r4 is very low and designed for the weaker rear diff for better mileage overall. This is where it depends on which cam is in the engine. if its a smaller cam that builds decent torque at lower rpms the new rear gears arent necessarily a must depending on goals. a 3.3+ rear gear set would make it more fun at streetlights but if highway cruising is also important keep in mind the low first gear of the 700r4 will be a noticable improvement with the stock rear gears over what you had regardless. the overdrive on the 700r4 is also not as extreme as the 2004r which helps if you dont plan on swapping your rear end. If you do put something like a 3.73 rear with the 700r4 you will find 1st gear might feel a bit like a 4x4 stuck in 4wd low taking off.

If you built the engine with a large cam for more, higher rpm power at the cost of shifting all the power out of the overdrive rpm range it would see... Then yeah you might find the engine will be a dog and also lug and not hold speed well in overdrive possibly even with the 3.08 gears. then those 3.73 gear make more practical sense.

I talked to my transmission builder today, my 2004r is ready for me to pick up, nothing crazy since I planned to draw the line at 400 crank hp but $900 out the door with the converter and the shift kit and lockup kit I bought installed.. and thats outright with no core. So the deals are still out there.. just have to look harder but a 700r4 is a good choice too... thats what the 82s came with stock (with 3.08 gears). maybe you can find a driveshaft from one of those to bolt in.

 

I spoke with a guy the other day,someone told me about him on this site,from NY,and he says that’s all he builds is these two transmissions,but the problem with that is shipping it.but,this guy at the salvage yard,says he has a 200-4R but has to find it,and from what I’ve read I don’t want a early model one,this is a family owned salvage yard,and I think this family has had it over 20 years,so,a couple son’s that don’t get along,one of them is the one that told me the th400 is what I wanted,when I’m telling the lady at the counter I wanted the 2004r with the overdrive,which I took back first thing the next Mourning.so,kind of worried now what I will get.

 

Both can be built up grab whatever one you can thats affordable and go with it.
Or do it the hard way put a GV on that T400..will never break thats for sure

Get one from a reputable builder not an unknown place off Ebay amazon etc with a cheap price
The warranty isnt worth the paper the fine print is written on.
Check any local trans shops, they like machine shops usually gottons of cores they are sitting on and may have one ready to go.

 

Golfer to which is cheaper, the 700 conversation is probably cheaper than a built 200. There so many upgrades needed to get the 200 up to snuff will exceed the cost of a shorten drive shaft and new cross member. Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but how does a transmission (200) with internals half the size of a 700's internals become stronger by throwing a bunch of pricey parts at it? I knew somebody who was a mechanic at a Buick dealership and he told me he didn't think any of those 200's in the Grand Nationals made it through the warranty period. Ditto for the 231 also.

 

As far as the 700 it will need a cross member modification and drive shaft shortened 3 inches that the 200R4 doesn't need . 700's are stronger and parts availability is every where . 200R4 are tiny transmissions with tiny parts inside compared to anything else GM ever made are really a 4/6 cylinder transmission sometimes mated to odd ball smaller Chevy 267 2 barrel V8 , Olds 260 V8 and Pontiac 301's , the Grand National is the most powerful engine ever mated to ia 200R4 and obviously the best core you can purchase if you really want a 200R4 and are lucky to get one... early 700"s 82-88 are trouble makers (probably why the Buick GN didn't get them) easily fixed if ever overhauled while the best 700R4 cores are from 1989 to 1993 from V8 Suburbans , Pickup trucks , Z28 andTrans Am . I used a 1990 700R4 from a two wheel drive Suburban on my 1980 Vette