700r4 v. 2004r v. 4L60

Which would you use?

  • 2004r

    Votes: 15 78.9%
  • 700r4

    Votes: 3 15.8%
  • 4L60 or 4L60E

    Votes: 1 5.3%

  • Total voters
    19
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patmckinneyracing

Royal Smart Person
Jan 18, 2009
2,021
3
36
San Antonio, TX
What are the differences, such as gears, and which is the most durable? I'm looking at overdrive transmissions to go with my 3.73 gears and am stumped as to which is the best and easiest to set up in an 80' malibu.

What I know now is that the 2004r has less of a drop in gear between first and second compared to the 700r4. Is there a difference between the 2004r and 200r4 or are they the same? From what I've read, the 4L60 is supposed to be the updated and stronger version of the 700r4, but I want to avoid the 4L60E version as to avoid any computer installation.
 

monte olrac

G-Body Guru
Feb 11, 2009
926
104
43
Wichita damn Falls Tx.
go with the 700 or 200, you can get both beefed up to take some abuse. the 4l60 i don'y like the 4l80 might be alright but again avoid the computer control imo
 

JAWSS

Apprentice
Sep 23, 2009
64
1
0
Ft.Hood, Texas
Any of the mentioned transmission's will work well if beefed up. It matters what your current transmission length is. If you have a shrt tail TH 350 then the identical length transmission is the 2004r. That means no driveshaft shortening.You will need another crossmember though. If you go with the 700R4/ 4L60 you will need to have your driveshaft shortened and another crossmember or modify your current driveshaft. The 4L60E is the one you may want to steer clear from unless you want to run an aftermarket control box and be able to control your shift points via a laptop... You can also run paddle shifter setup with the 4L60E. I already have a 4L60E in my Fleetwood all I would have to purchase is the control box then my TPI 350 Monte SS is paddle shifting through gears...

J
 

turbo78

Greasemonkey
Nov 1, 2009
208
0
0
billings, montana
ive seen tons of builds with the 200r4 up to 1000hp, and never seen any using the 700r4. dunno why?
 

custom442

Royal Smart Person
Jul 4, 2008
1,889
4
0
Houston
JAWSS said:
You can also run paddle shifter setup with the 4L60E. I already have a 4L60E in my Fleetwood all I would have to purchase is the control box then my TPI 350 Monte SS is paddle shifting through gears...

say no to pro touring restomods! It's already an auto slushbox, fight the paddle shift urge!
 

JAWSS

Apprentice
Sep 23, 2009
64
1
0
Ft.Hood, Texas
custom442 said:
JAWSS said:
You can also run paddle shifter setup with the 4L60E. I already have a 4L60E in my Fleetwood all I would have to purchase is the control box then my TPI 350 Monte SS is paddle shifting through gears...

say no to pro touring restomods! It's already an auto slushbox, fight the paddle shift urge!

My car is far from Pro-touring. I am looking at things from a "I like it, so I may do it" point of view. I like technology. I don't like car payments though...
 

DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
8,062
14,479
113
*CENSORED*
I would go 200-4R for ease of installation, better gear spread and ability to upgrade. BTW- there is no 200R4. It's a just common misprint :? . My second choice would be 4L60E because of the necessary control unit. There is no TV cable to deal with, the shift points and firmness can be tuned without getting your tools out or your hands dirty. They are an updated (better) version of the 700R4 and they tend to have a much longer lifespan.
 

madmaxstyle

Greasemonkey
Jul 21, 2009
216
0
0
Alberta
I went with the 700r4 mainly because It was what I had lying dormant in a Pontiac I found real cheap. also I didn't know about this site at the time. Now that its all said and done and the G Body Forum has enlightened me to the transmission options available and their pros and cons I still would've used the same car as a donor (it was a rusted non G Body car that some would say I saved from going to the scrap heap if that helps anyone sleep at night.)
 

kustomkyle

G-Body Guru
Apr 14, 2008
646
47
28

84cutspreme

Royal Smart Person
Jun 4, 2009
1,143
151
63
I have done some research on this subject. The 200-4r is correct name, 200-r4 is just mistypes. The easiest swap is by far the 200, as it is only transmission that belongs in g-bodies. The 700 I am led to believe is the easiest to upgrade and is very similar to 200. the 4L60's I stayed away from for the reason of the computer also. I just finished installing the 700r-4 in my 84 cutlass, was fairly reasonable. The other factor that comes into play is what motor you are putting it behind...buick, olds, pontiac or chevy.
 
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