Transmission Comparrison

[manyfire]

I found this webpage to help some of the new builds compare transmissions, this breaks down the transmissions by gear ratio, number of gears and dimensions of the tranny. I was looking to see if I would have to modify my driveshaft going from a th350 short to a 700r4, might do it when gas gets back above 3.00 a gallon

http://700r4.com/trans/comparrison.html

[leebert]

Yea, actually I wouldn't mind hearing some peoples opinions on transmissions. Im stuck deciding here, I have a TH350 in really good condition with a stock stall converter, and an old BM ratchet shifter for it.. I also have a 700r4 in pieces right now, that I want to rebuild, and also have a ratchet shifter for that too. It would be cheaper initially to go with the TH350, but for a daily driver, is it worth the extra money rebuilding the 700r4? Any real world experience on this? Im putting it behind a basically stock 305 from an early 80's pickup, aluminum performer intake, 600cfm Holley. Not sure what I'll do for gears but the rear is a shortened 9inch with a spool. On one hand I could be highway gears in and use the 350, save $600 on a rebuild, or I could use the 700r4 and have overdrive with a more aggressive gear in the rear? Going fast will be fun, but gas mileage is a big concern too, as well as reliability on the highway and daily driving fuctions. (I know, v8s10 isn't about gas mileage) I dunno, just hoping some people will chime in and give me some advice to think about before I make the decision.

[manyfire]

I am using a th350/3.73's in the rear and I get estimated 5-10, I know I don't get the upper that much. From what I have read It could go to 13-17. Thats alot of money over time at 2.00 a gallon

[spacecadet]

For fuel mileage, You have to take into consideration the way you drive. If you floor it from a stop and jamb on the brakes last second before the next stop you will use more gas. If you dive it easy and beat on it occasionaly you should get better mileage. My blazer got 15-18 w/350 500 edlebrock, 373's a 5speed and 235 75 r15 tires during the summer. And @ 5 mpg during the winter. I don't like getting into a cold truck!

[ZR1BLAZER]

i say use the 700. the 350s and 400, even the glides are crap these days unless you are all out racing. you can get a GOOD built 700r4 for 3-400 more then a good built 350/400 it will hold up to the power, is a bit more user friendly on adjusting shift points and can give you better fuel economy. plus you can run a steeper gear if you like to get that seat of your pants feel and still get OK fuel economy? JMO

[manyfire]

why doesnt anybody ever talk about the 200-4r, I was looking at the comparision chart and can see that it is between the th350 and the 700r4 and it has 4 gears, is it a bad tranny or just rare.

[ZR1BLAZER]

why doesnt anybody ever talk about the 200-4r, I was looking at the comparision chart and can see that it is between the th350 and the 700r4 and it has 4 gears, is it a bad tranny or just rare.
no sir. it is and again JMO the best 4 speed OD trans made to date. its a bit of an odd ball though. and not all of them bolt to a sbc. i used one in my blazer. that sucker was strong. great gearing, less rotating mass = more power to the wheels. these things can be built to run 9s all day and still be graceful on the street. i have a custom crossmember for a 200-4r and an aluminum driveshaft all set up for a 2dr blazer with the motor all the way back.

[manyfire]

what would keep it from bolting up to a sbc, the housing?

[XTEN]

IMO,if its a street truck,go with the 700R4 or the 200,especially if you're gonna do any highway driving.I went from a 350 to a 700 and gas mileage improved greatly.You dont have to get real aggresive with the gears,700 has 3:06 first gear.Pretty deep.I actually went from 4.10 to 3.89 rear gear,didnt hurt launch.All those rpm's get on your nerves with a 350 trans with 4.10's @ 70 mph on a sustained drive.Cant be doin the motor much good either.Now @ 70,its just a tic under 1700 rpm.Oh,btw theres an 85 vette at the local track,700r,street driven w/3.27 gears(434)runs 10.20's all day.

[spacecadet]

what would keep it from bolting up to a sbc, the housing?

Most are found behind 2.8's. The monte ss, gn and gnx, hurst olds, grand prix 2+2 and some camaro's w/305's had them. Not comman behind the 305 in the lesser models. Usually had th350c's or 700r's. Odlly enough I never considered a 200r a peformance tranny.

[XTEN]

what would keep it from bolting up to a sbc, the housing?Yes.They did make some that bolted to sbc,but I've found them to be very hard to come by.My buddy has one in a V8 S10,and his 4th gear is underdriven more than mine.Thats the tranny I wanted.Hey if its good enough for the GNX,its gotta be pretty bulletproof when built.Like ZR1 said,best 4speed auto tranny made to date.A guy across the river from me(Boost Junkie)runs a built Grand National 200r w/trans brake,4500 stahl,9.20's.

[inou2]

The 2004r is a great performance trans. Art Carr (the trans guru) likes 'em better than the 700r4's, and I like the 700r4's. I had one in a Malibu wagon with a mild 350, and used a vette converter and servo. It rocked bigtime! I had a TCI switch to lock up th e converter. With 273 gearing, I hit it about 75 on the interstate, and it was like idleing. Some of the 700's are better than others, but I can't remember which is which. Here's a similar site I use for trans info: http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/tech/engines_drivetrain/transmission/0905chp_differences_between_factory_automatic_over drive_transmissions/photo_21.html

[Bakas]

my bro has a 200r4 in a 78 monte bolted up to a heart stopping 267 v8 :icon_eek:

just saying thats all..

[355V8S10Tahoe]

my bro has a 200r4 in a 78 monte bolted up to a heart stopping 267 v8 :icon_eek:

just saying thats all..

OK Bakas, "you got me" what could be heart stopping about a 267? If I remember correctly that's a 3.48" stroke crank and 3.50" bore, a step in the wrong direction under the 305... I found one of those discarded beside the road once and pulled the crank and put it in a 305 as an experiment and the engine revved much quicker due to the reduced weight of the crank, I had it in a 76 Nova and it ran very good for a 305 but then it did have other stuff that probably contributed as well, 52cc heads, flat tops, 10:1, Holley high rise dual plane, Holley 600 Vac Sec, Comp 268/268 Cam...

I would say go with the 700R4 or 200R4 also, an overdrive is the way to go if your going to drive it on the street a lot, my first V8 S10 had a built TH350 with a very aggressive shift that I loved but rpm's on the highway bothered me, that truck got totaled and the engine and trans still sits in my garage because when I built my present 87 long bed I used a 700R4 for two main reasons, the truck originally had a 700R4 and was set up for it and fuel economy of an overdrive, best choice I could have ever made, :headbang: what a cruiser it is...