Help picking a new transmission

[Minion1186]

Since this year I'm putting my 350 olds in my cutlass (The 350 should push 350 horsepower,and over 350 ft/lb torque) I would like to do burnouts,go to the strip and floor it,and the usual cruisin.My one friend is connected with a big transmission shop(which also has an 84 cutlass 455 drag car)and says he can either get a bulletproof trans straight from the shop for 20% off,or strengthen my 2004r.I think I'd like a th350 for the short rpm shifts and how tough they are,but I love my 4 speed overdrive thats in my car.What should I do?

 

[TURNA]

2004r

 

[DRIVEN]

You'll miss the overdrive if you go TH350.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

If it's a street car, it needs an overdrive. And a Quadrajet. Also, the gearing 1,2 and 3 is almost identical in the Th350 and Th 2004R. I think the 200 has a mildly shorter 1st than the 350, but it is not the sharp split that you have in a Th 700R4. That is why I run a Th 200 4R behind my 355hp/ 420+ ft/lb 355 Chevy. One mod that any performance application of a TH2004R needs is a higher shift point governor assembly like the turbo Regals and SS/442 cars came with. Likewise, it should have a shift kit, a pump with a bigger vane count, DEFINITELY a hardened stator support, a converter matched to your cam, upgraded friction materials on the bands and clutches, and other normal stuff that is specific to that trans ( but that I forget right now). At minimum get the stator support, shift kit, governor and friction materials, Mine has the stock standard governor and I HATE it. It shifts at 3k at WOT when the engine can take it to 5500. Oh, I would also add a bar and plate style external trans cooler plumbed in series with the stock radiator based cooler. It should be plumbed after the radiator cooler so that the fluid does not pick up any heat from the coolant after it is cooled from the air.

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

Yup, do the 200-4R. Too many benefits and no negatives.

 

[monte olrac]

Well I have have a well built TH350, I love it so much that I'm going to save up for a Gearvendor unit...so that should have you sold on what transmission you should use

ps. I want a gearvendor because it will convert my 3 speed into a 6 speed auto. <--I know someone will ask

 

[Longroof79]

Being that you already have a 200-4R and a good buddy that owns a transmission shop. The choice is obvious...go with the 200 and have your buddy go thru it and upgrade it.

Jack

 

[nycutlass]

Since this year I'm putting my 350 olds in my cutlass (The 350 should push 350 horsepower,and over 350 ft/lb torque) I would like to do burnouts,go to the strip and floor it,and the usual cruisin.My one friend is connected with a big transmission shop(which also has an 84 cutlass 455 drag car)and says he can either get a bulletproof trans straight from the shop for 20% off,or strengthen my 2004r.I think I'd like a th350 for the short rpm shifts and how tough they are,but I love my 4 speed overdrive thats in my car.What should I do?

i think your buddy is right with the th350 or th400 they are almost bulletproof i would go and get one of them .you can always add a gearvendor to it for overdrive and be done with it for a very long time...gearvendor is about $2500.00 but worth every cent i feel,think of it this way the price of a th 350 and the price of a gearvendor the both together would be alittle more than a well built 200 4r and/or 700r4

 

[dogsht]

Hands down the ideal choice for your application plus room for more power is the 200-4r. Love the old th350 and also the gearvendors combination but it still robs more power, has less overdrive, and costs way more. Check out http://extremeautomatics.com/transmissions/2004r.html
Lonnie Diers has been one of the 200-4r turbo Buick gurus from early on. You can read about it on the link but he has a guaranteed to 10.90s 200-4r on special for $1,295 with no core. Lots of great info on that site. Love his comparison page to other nationally known 200-4r builders.