I am putting a sbc with about 425 hp at the crank....will the 200 4r in the olds cutlass last (at all, a while, or be fine) I know how some of you feel about the b*st*rd swaps but i have no choice for the moment, so please only helpful comments
200 4r hp rating
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for a temporary basis you may be ok. mine has somehow survived behind 400 or so hp and 450tq. but it's a crap shoot. sometimes GM built them with extra clutches even when they went into a grandma car. but i would not count on it. however they can be built to take twice what you're putting out. check out http://www.ckperformance.com/resources/GM2004RCATALOG.html http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/catalog/catalog.php?Action=GETSUBCAT&CATID=C http://www.transmissioncenter.net/200-4r.htm
Mine lasted 3 days before it started slipping behind a mild 455.
However it went on for a year after that before it really started to get so bad that it didn't want to shift.
However it went on for a year after that before it really started to get so bad that it didn't want to shift.
I guess why i am asking i do have a mildly built th350 mated to the motor now and i didnt want to change a ton of things...looks like i may have to bite the bullit
A mildly built TH350 will last a lot longer than a stock 200-4R.
sh*t, the stock 307 in my 442 killed the 200-4R(442's had better parts) twice.
I didn't even bother putting the 200-4R back in once the 455 went in.
I heard of dozens of people in my power range only getting 20K miles out of them. And these were the "built" versions.
I'm not paying $2500 for a trans that will only last 20K miles if I'm lucky.
I now run a TH400 that is essentially bulletproof and only set me back $800.
sh*t, the stock 307 in my 442 killed the 200-4R(442's had better parts) twice.
I didn't even bother putting the 200-4R back in once the 455 went in.
I heard of dozens of people in my power range only getting 20K miles out of them. And these were the "built" versions.
I'm not paying $2500 for a trans that will only last 20K miles if I'm lucky.
I now run a TH400 that is essentially bulletproof and only set me back $800.
www.extremeautomatics.com Lonnie built mine that held up behind a 509ci Cadillac torque motor. (More torque and at lower rpms than even an Olds 455) He is a long time Buick turbo 200-4R guru. $1,395 guaranteed to 10.90s. $2,500? Anyway to help make a stock generic 200-4R hold or buy some time depending on traction and abuse try a good shift kit like the one www.ckperformance.com sells sometimes on sale for $100 and a large cheap transmission cooler.
My stock TH-200-4R had a shift kit and cooler. Didn't help any. :lol:
However, the Art Carr TH-200-4R trans I bought later on has lasted for plenty of miles. probably 20K+ behind my 455 and another 5K-10K behind my brother's 403.
However, the Art Carr TH-200-4R trans I bought later on has lasted for plenty of miles. probably 20K+ behind my 455 and another 5K-10K behind my brother's 403.
dogshit said:
I wish I had come across that place when I was looking 5 years ago. :x
My 442 was finished before I joined up here, so I didn't have this great forum to bounce ideas off other people when I built the car...
My 455 is cranking out about 560+ ft. lbs, and everything I found (including Art Carr and CPT) that would handle it was well over $2000+shipping, and no local places wanted to take it on.
Someday when the funds allow, I'll get a proper 200-4R built for the car, but in the meantime, I'm happy with my TH400, even if the 3.73's make the freeway a little tough.
This country is so acclimated to the term horsepower that often transmission builders use horsepower when torque handling capabilities would be better & more accurate. Special note in regards to the 200-4R is that when behind an engine that exceeds 500 foot pounds of torque its highly recommended that you additionally spring for the billet forward drum/shaft.
In case you thought so I wasn't knocking the Olds 455s. I like them a lot for building an affordable high performance driver. I mentioned it because you had and they are well known to make lots of torque and at traveling speed rpms. Whats not as known is that the even longer stroked comparably build Cadillac 500 will generally make more torque and will do it an even lower rpm. (the reason a lot of gas pick up truck engines have been replaced with especially the big Olds & Cads over the years)
To me the the value of the overdrive in an acceleration geared car has more to do with driveablility and rpm reduceing longevity on the highway than the saved gasoline from better mileage. In past posts I have mentioned that my 509ci Cadillac powered Cutlass had gotten 17mpg on an interstate trip where we traveled at 70 to 75mph. I believe that with the same rear end gears and a non lock up 3 speed that I would have gotten 12mpg. What I failed to mention and what most don't think about before decideing on the value of a 3 speed vs a 4 speed overdrive is that instead of turning 2,400 to 2,600 rpm through 3 states is that I would of had to spin the motor 33% harder or 3,200 to 3,450 plus another 2 to 3 hundred rpms for the lock up converter. Big block engines especially ones with large main & rod bearings like the BOPC (Buick Olds Pontiac Cadillac) engines don't like to turn them rpms hours at a time as it generates a lot of heat and possibly premature wear.
In case you thought so I wasn't knocking the Olds 455s. I like them a lot for building an affordable high performance driver. I mentioned it because you had and they are well known to make lots of torque and at traveling speed rpms. Whats not as known is that the even longer stroked comparably build Cadillac 500 will generally make more torque and will do it an even lower rpm. (the reason a lot of gas pick up truck engines have been replaced with especially the big Olds & Cads over the years)
To me the the value of the overdrive in an acceleration geared car has more to do with driveablility and rpm reduceing longevity on the highway than the saved gasoline from better mileage. In past posts I have mentioned that my 509ci Cadillac powered Cutlass had gotten 17mpg on an interstate trip where we traveled at 70 to 75mph. I believe that with the same rear end gears and a non lock up 3 speed that I would have gotten 12mpg. What I failed to mention and what most don't think about before decideing on the value of a 3 speed vs a 4 speed overdrive is that instead of turning 2,400 to 2,600 rpm through 3 states is that I would of had to spin the motor 33% harder or 3,200 to 3,450 plus another 2 to 3 hundred rpms for the lock up converter. Big block engines especially ones with large main & rod bearings like the BOPC (Buick Olds Pontiac Cadillac) engines don't like to turn them rpms hours at a time as it generates a lot of heat and possibly premature wear.
Don't worry Vern, I knew you weren't knocking it. :wink:
Hearing of your good experience since I joined up here reinstilled my faith in getting a 200-4R that would be able to hold up, and once the funds allow, one will find it's way back into the car.
Hearing of your good experience since I joined up here reinstilled my faith in getting a 200-4R that would be able to hold up, and once the funds allow, one will find it's way back into the car.
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