TH400 mpg with 455 and 200-4r horror stories?

[QS442]

My 455 is now sitting and I am looking for a trans to get my H/O moving this summer. I have talked to a few of the well known 200-4r builders and it looks like there isn't too many corners that I can cut to properly built a 200-4r. I just can't see me paying over $3400 for a damn transmission right now (or maybe ever) that may or may not hold up. So that leaves me with my alternative which it to use a TH400 for my H/O. I have never had a TH400 in any car so this is new territory for me. I have heard mostly good reviews for durability and I like that considering my 455 build was more than expected and this car still needs other work and still paint. I will be using 3.73 gears.

What are guys mpg's with a TH400/455 combo?
What is your reviews for a TH400 in gbody?
Any 200-4r reviews with 455? I know the GN world builds them all the time to handle power but not for Olds torque.
Real life experiences on building a 200-4r to handle mild 455?

 

[-83MONTESS-]

Mileage depends more on the rear gear ratio than the transmission. With my TH400 and 3.42's im buzzing about 2400 rpm at cruise. Not bad for what it is considering no one builds big blocks and worries about fuel mileage. An overdrive would be nice but it would take forever for it to pay it's self off in fuel savings.

 

[lilbowtie]

Mpg - Shouldn't be a factor since you already picked a 455 - most depends on the rest of your set-up and your driving
T-400 - Will hold what you have stock, a few mods and you'll never hurt it. It's cheap and easy to work on.
My buddies Art Car 200r4 hasn't been a good experience and I'll leave it at that - Lot of people having great success. GN is all torque

 

[RegalBegal]

I just took a road trip of about 500 miles round trip. I averaged 12 mpg with a 455, TH400 and 3.23 gears. That's keeping it around 70 @ 3200 rpm. Not too bad for what it is. The TH400 is as close to bullet proof as your gonna get. Simple as that.

 

[QS442]

I'm not too concerned on losing mpg's, just want to know how much I will be losing w/o overdrive. I love overdrive. I know I won't be at were I was with the 307/200-4r combo. I do like to drive to beach often and I don't want to be stopping at each gas station and traveling with high rpms. I will be keeping the stock gearing which is 3.73 gears.

I just took a road trip of about 500 miles round trip. I averaged 12 mpg with a 455, TH400 and 3.23 gears. That's keeping it around 70 @ 3200 rpm. Not too bad for what it is. The TH400 is as close to bullet proof as your gonna get. Simple as that.

You're right. That's not bad for what it is regarding mpg. The 3200 is higher than I would like really.

 

[UNGN]

Most Turbo Regals make surprising low HP for the numbers they run. They make Torque. Max RPM on a typical mid 11 second T/R is 5200 - thru the traps. 1st and second usually are shifted out of at 5000.

Lets see a NA motor run a mid 11 second 1/4 mile, shifting @ 5000 Rpm.

 

[RegalBegal]

I'm not too concerned on losing mpg's, just want to know how much I will be losing w/o overdrive. I love overdrive. I know I won't be at were I was with the 307/200-4r combo. I do like to drive to beach often and I don't want to be stopping at each gas station and traveling with high rpms. I will be keeping the stock gearing which is 3.73 gears.



You're right. That's not bad for what it is regarding mpg. The 3200 is higher than I would like really.

I'm not too concerned on losing mpg's, just want to know how much I will be losing w/o overdrive. I love overdrive. I know I won't be at were I was with the 307/200-4r combo. I do like to drive to beach often and I don't want to be stopping at each gas station and traveling with high rpms. I will be keeping the stock gearing which is 3.73 gears.



You're right. That's not bad for what it is regarding mpg. The 3200 is higher than I would like really.

Of course that is due to my final gear ratio, not the transmission

 

[Bar50]

Go with a 3.23 or 3.42 gear. That 455 has a long arm, torque is your friend.

My buddy has a 65 Skylark with a Stage 1 Buick 455 and a 200-4R with a 3.42 gear. He drives the wheels off of it.

 

[Texas82GP]

I don't think you would like the cost but you could go with a TH400 and a Gear Vendors overdrive and have both a bullet proof setup and the benefits of overdrive.

 

[1bad79]

I have a 200-4R behind my 455 and it dident cost 3400 bucks I built it myself with parts from David huseck in New York it shifts nice I eliminated thee lock up so it's just a four speed 342 gear in the rear I run a lighting rod shifter I like it a lot ied build another one