Question about the 200-4r
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redsx2434 said:
Just put the selector in OD and it will be in 1st automatically... then it will go 1-2, 2-3, 3-4(OD), and lock-up all by itself as you speed up..... no reason to shift anything yourself unless you just want to.....
Its a 4 speed and the 4th gear is overdriven ie more than a one to one final drive ratio. You get three upshifts but when the torque converter locks up it sort of feels like a 4th upshift because the engine drops 200 to 300 rpm when the converter stops slipping. The lock up feature alone saves about 1 mpg on the highway. If your rear gears, such as 3.73s is set up to be the most 1/4 mile efficient ie 3rd gear (1-1 final drive ratio) hits a mph/rpm that roughly is at the same rpm as your max HP rpm (tire height also effects this) then the overdrive & lockup should get you about 33% better mileage than an old 3 speed transmission with the same 3.73. So instead of a 3 speed where you get acceleration or mileage you get both.
My 509ci Cutlass managed to get 17.0 mpg on an interstate trip with the 200-4R, a working lockup, and 3.42s traveling about 70 to 75 mph. Had I had a three speed I believe I would have gotten about 12mpg and more importantly ye ole big block would have been spining hard. To me the benefits of saved fuel economy of the 200-4R were secondary to the benefits of the saved rpm wear, engine heat, and easier on the cooling system AND being able to have a higher stall converter that goes down the highway like a stock convert ie no high stall slip which further saves the motor and a lot of transmission heat which also made it easier on the cooling system.
I think the overdrive transmission is the single most valuable part in building a great & enjoyable use-able hot street or street strip car. Who wants to load their hot rod on a trailer to take it somewhere.
My 509ci Cutlass managed to get 17.0 mpg on an interstate trip with the 200-4R, a working lockup, and 3.42s traveling about 70 to 75 mph. Had I had a three speed I believe I would have gotten about 12mpg and more importantly ye ole big block would have been spining hard. To me the benefits of saved fuel economy of the 200-4R were secondary to the benefits of the saved rpm wear, engine heat, and easier on the cooling system AND being able to have a higher stall converter that goes down the highway like a stock convert ie no high stall slip which further saves the motor and a lot of transmission heat which also made it easier on the cooling system.
I think the overdrive transmission is the single most valuable part in building a great & enjoyable use-able hot street or street strip car. Who wants to load their hot rod on a trailer to take it somewhere.
why can't you shift to 1st in a 3 speed? its D-2-1??? Maybe it I missed something cause I was skimming.
SScamino said:
He's talking about not being able to shift to first using a 3-speed shifter on a 4-speed trans.....
redsx2434 said:
True. If you leave the 4 SPEED TH-2004R in the Drive position (just the capital letter 'D') then it will only shift from 1-2 and 2-3.
If you leave the shifter in overdrive position (Capital letter 'D' with the circle/box around it) then it will shift into overdrive.
There's no difference between a 3 speed with overdrive and a 4 speed. It's just two different ways of saying the same thing. The overdrive is an actual gear change.
i really have no idea if my lockup is going to work correctly until i try it. i hate the 4 pin plug plugged in back to the computer which was swapped with a 307 computer. but then i ditched the ccc carb and distributor so my check engine light is on (obviously so i will paint the bulb black when i take my gauges apart to fix this) but anybody done this. if it wont work ill either not bother (im really am not much of a highway driver anyways) or find a cheap simple kit that plugs into the 4 pin connecter and controls it (imput here on best value, i've heard of the speed control ones and then the on/off switch ones)
i've heard a horror story of the on/off switch type he forgot to shut it off and the trans toasted on the offramp
i've heard a horror story of the on/off switch type he forgot to shut it off and the trans toasted on the offramp
joeairforce said:
How would I be able to find out which trans it has without putting the car on a lift? Will the VIN tell me?
Thanks!
You don't even have to lift it. Just get on your knees look under the car and look at the shape of the trans pan. Somewhere there is pic of all the trans pans somewhere I'll try and find it.
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