2004r Rebuild ......lessons learn.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1
2004r Rebuild ......lessons learn.
I am almost done. I would have been done already had I used the
#1 Haynes Chevy transmission manual. It is grade A!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not express this enough how well it is written and all the pictures. The ATSG manual I had was good for disassembly, the reassembly instructions were lacking.
#2 Also the snap rings are a major BIATCH but with some worm drive clamps you can expand them and compress them easily.
#3 Petroleum Jelly is not just for first dates. It is AWESOME for reassembly, screw trans gel. I have a few friends that are builders, they said it is the best since it holds parts in place, makes pushing gears together easy, and reassembling the 20+ needle bearings that fall outta the middle of a planetery when you remove the wrong snapring.
#4 When reassembling the output shaft likes to move in and out and make you start over 10 times when the clutches fall out. Instead take a board, drill a hole part way through for the shaft and stand the tranny up, then the shaft doesn't move and you can just about drop everything in.
#5 When putting the sun gear I think it is on the shaft (gear to gear) wiggle the shaft( no pun intended) and it will slide right in.
#6 Teh rubber mallet is your friend.
#1 Haynes Chevy transmission manual. It is grade A!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not express this enough how well it is written and all the pictures. The ATSG manual I had was good for disassembly, the reassembly instructions were lacking.
#2 Also the snap rings are a major BIATCH but with some worm drive clamps you can expand them and compress them easily.
#3 Petroleum Jelly is not just for first dates. It is AWESOME for reassembly, screw trans gel. I have a few friends that are builders, they said it is the best since it holds parts in place, makes pushing gears together easy, and reassembling the 20+ needle bearings that fall outta the middle of a planetery when you remove the wrong snapring.
#4 When reassembling the output shaft likes to move in and out and make you start over 10 times when the clutches fall out. Instead take a board, drill a hole part way through for the shaft and stand the tranny up, then the shaft doesn't move and you can just about drop everything in.
#5 When putting the sun gear I think it is on the shaft (gear to gear) wiggle the shaft( no pun intended) and it will slide right in.
#6 Teh rubber mallet is your friend.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 81 Vette
How superior, if at all, is the 200r4 and the 700r4 to a th400?
I'll put like this. I have yet to see someone on the forum complain about the 200r4. Go to turbobuick.com and guys with the same tranny some with billet shafts some not, are in the 9's and the tranny is holding with the same rebuild kit. It is also a direct bolt in and has an overdrive.
700r4, heard many ppl that loved theirs with about 500hp and many ppl that have problems getting them to last more than a month. Not sure if it is the builder, parts or more. Patsnitro has a good one I think.
th400, heard good things other than powerloss through it, supposed to be supertough...no overdrive, I would have just built up my th-350 instead.
Given this I got a 2004r.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
Originally Posted by munday
Given this I got a 2004r.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1
The kit I got was from www.ckperformance.com They seem to be huge on the TurboBuick.com site. Many ppl running in the 10's and 9's that give them quite a bit of respect.
STAGE II MASTER REBUILD KIT : THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE OVERHAUL KIT INCLUDES JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING NEEDED TO PERFORM A COMPLETE REBUILT/OVERHAUL OF YOUR 2004R TRANSMISSION AND INCLUDES THE RIGHT FRICTION MATERIALS NEEDED TO HANDLE UP TO 600 HORSEPOWER. KIT INCLUDES:
5 ALTO RED RACING FORWARD CLUTCHES,STEELS, AND MODIFIED PRESSURE PLATE
2 OVERRUN CLUTCHES AND STEELS
3 OVERDRIVE CLUTCHES, STEELS, AND MODIFIED PRESSURE PLATE
6 LOW/REVERSE CLUTCHES AND STEELS
7 ALTO RED RACING DIRECT CLUTCHES,STEELS, AND MODIFIED PLATES
1 OVERSIZED RED RACING 2ND GEAR BAND
PERFORMANCE SOLID TEFLON RING KIT
HIGH FLOW FILTER
TEFLON COATED PUMP BUSHING AND BABBIT CASE BUSHING
ALL THE NECESSARY GASKETS AND SEALS (24RMRK2) $349.00
It also comes with Kolene steels.
They guys when I called them were great and sent it out the same day. They are in NY. As far as the gear shifter, just get anything off ebay that can do 4 gears.
STAGE II MASTER REBUILD KIT : THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE OVERHAUL KIT INCLUDES JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING NEEDED TO PERFORM A COMPLETE REBUILT/OVERHAUL OF YOUR 2004R TRANSMISSION AND INCLUDES THE RIGHT FRICTION MATERIALS NEEDED TO HANDLE UP TO 600 HORSEPOWER. KIT INCLUDES:
5 ALTO RED RACING FORWARD CLUTCHES,STEELS, AND MODIFIED PRESSURE PLATE
2 OVERRUN CLUTCHES AND STEELS
3 OVERDRIVE CLUTCHES, STEELS, AND MODIFIED PRESSURE PLATE
6 LOW/REVERSE CLUTCHES AND STEELS
7 ALTO RED RACING DIRECT CLUTCHES,STEELS, AND MODIFIED PLATES
1 OVERSIZED RED RACING 2ND GEAR BAND
PERFORMANCE SOLID TEFLON RING KIT
HIGH FLOW FILTER
TEFLON COATED PUMP BUSHING AND BABBIT CASE BUSHING
ALL THE NECESSARY GASKETS AND SEALS (24RMRK2) $349.00
It also comes with Kolene steels.
They guys when I called them were great and sent it out the same day. They are in NY. As far as the gear shifter, just get anything off ebay that can do 4 gears.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
SOLD 
thanks kiddo...thats my tranny issue solved now. Ive looked at a few options, and this one is actually one the best dollar values Ive seen. Saving gas IS important even when youre running 500+ like the Vette will be.
Hey what stal converter? 3000 too much?
thanks kiddo...thats my tranny issue solved now. Ive looked at a few options, and this one is actually one the best dollar values Ive seen. Saving gas IS important even when youre running 500+ like the Vette will be. Hey what stal converter? 3000 too much?
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Originally Posted by 81 Vette
Saving gas IS important even when youre running 500+ like the Vette will be.
Hey what stal converter? 3000 too much?
Hey what stal converter? 3000 too much?
I'm running a 2200 stall & am v.happy with it (but I haven't got a blown.....
).BTO sell a shifter conversion that's easy to install (hardest part is getting the centre console plate out without breaking any of the plastic tabs). Far more important is the TV cable setup. Again, BTO sell a kit to give the correct pull on the cable. There's a good article on thier website that'll scare you into buying the kit!
With an '81 you'll need a custom x-member to install a 200-4r (coincidentally, BTO sell one!), but the rest of the install doesn't need any special parts (apart from the shifter conversion & TV cable kit).
Fitting a 200-4r is THE BEST mod that I've done to mine. It drags the car into the modern world with the OD allowing you to cruise at "normal" Highway speeds without having to wring the engine's neck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
Time to go dig up a 200r4 somewhere and get the kit then haahha. Thanks for the help with the drivetrain guys. Ive decided on a 2800 stall fom TCS too.
