Advice for an OD trans for a 455

[Red78Calais4speed]

A lot to think about, though I'm leaning toward installing an OD trans. The only other issue I'd have is that the Dual Gate shifter is set up for a 3-spd auto and not a 4-spd auto. Is it possible to make it work with the original shifter?

 

[Red78Calais4speed]

Here are a few photos of my Hurst.

 

[Bar50]

There are places that offer gates for the shifter.

If you have a 442 code 200-4R I would get a Turbo Buick converter and the geometry correction bracket for the carb and go with it.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Yes, there is a 4 speed gate plate available. A properly built 2004R will probably cost around 2 grand and make sure some of the billet hard parts are used and the line pressures match what the hi performance builders spec. Extreme Automatic has those pressures on their site.

 

[Red78Calais4speed]

I have the stock converter that came with the transmission. What stall did the 87 442 come with?

 

[Bar50]

I would have to double check tomorrow, but the Turbo Buick stall is 2200 or 2250...

 

[TURNA]

Beautiful car!

 

[el camino ss 84]

The 442''s and montessori Carlo ss had 1800-2000 stall and turbo buicks 2200-2400 from the factory. I was made a believer after I converted my El Camino to a 2004r with all bullet internals and turbo buick stall for my daily driver and I won't go back to a turbo 350/400 ever for street driving. The 2004r makes driving my goody fun and a gas saver to a point at the same time.

 

[motorheadmike]

The 200-4R is a good option. However, you may also want to consider a 4L80E (a TH400 with OD), stock with a shift kit can hold 800hp all day long. Yes, it is a bit more involved (adapter plate, and electronic controller) - but, should be comparably bullet-proof.

 

[Canon_Mutant]

I've got a Bowtie Stage 3 200-4R with their 2200 stall behind my BBO in my '87 442. Love it. Think I posted somewhere recently I was running 2400 stall but that was a type-o brain fart. I'm running the small block's 750CCC QJ with some modifications to the idle bleeds and secondary metering rods out of a 70 W30 carb, Performer intake, Edelbrock Aluminum heads into WZs and 2 1/2" dual with a slightly milder cam than you have. I'm at 400HP/500lb.ft. and, with the 3.73 rear, stock SSIII 15x7 wheel size and junk S-rated tires, I cannot go more than 1/2 way to the floor out of the hole or I'll just sit there broiling tires, then leave 8-10 ft. of rubber when she grabs 2nd and consequently only 13.4/103. But, that's way better than 15.9/87 and, with some code mods on that rudimentary '87 ECM, I can get 18-20mpg in OD lean burn mode with a big block that makes twice the power but weighs 40 lbs. less with all the aluminum on top. Not a bit of ping, runs 190 degrees whether its 50 or 100 out but I did go to a 4 core and HP aluminum pump [higher flow rate impeller].

Per my other rants, I am in the process of going the pro-touring route and want to do some auto-x and get it to behave respectfully on a road course so I may go to 3.42 or 3.23 for a bit more speed and to help it hook up a little better. But, after all the suspension changes and getting 275/40/18 actual high performance rubber out back, I'll see how much better that is first? I would prefer to have a 6 speed manual but I'm also pushing 60 with severe lupus so I think I'll stay automagic just because of that for now barring some miraculous recovery . . .

Without the CCC and the ECM, the 200-4R probably won't get you over 15 but that is better than 12. Of course, I still dream of going injected but just pretty happy with the way she runs "at the moment" with the novelty of still running an Olds V8. When all these 600HP pro-touring cars start blowing past me like I'm standing still . . . maybe that will change??