Transmission and mileage questions

[crash]

I am looking at a '86 442 that I found on Craigslist, I really love the look of the car - black on top, silver on bottom, T Tops, leather seats with 442 on the headrests....

Anyways, gas mileage is not a huge concern to me, but I do want to be able to afford to drive it, which leads me to my questions.

The description says that it has Edelbrock heads with 2.02 valves, 510 lift cam, headers and 3" exhaust, 3000 stall, TH350 trans and 4.10 gears in the rear.

I am thinking that this thing would be cranking around 3,500 - 4,000 RPM at 70 with that TH350 trans and the 4.10 gear. If I get the car, I would like to lose the TH350 in favor of a TH700R-4 to get overdrive and the lower first gear, not that I would need it with the 4.10 gears :lol:

I know a different driveshaft would be needed as the 700R-4 is longer, and the crossmember would likely need changed as well. Is there a bolt in crossmember available for the 700R-4 for a G Body?

It would be my daily driver in the summer, and would like to get at least 13 MPG out of it as that is about what I get with my '94 S10 Blazer with a 350, Trick Flow top end kit, and 33" tires.

 

[Yoda]

The car came stock with a 200R4 so that would be a logical choice. Contrary to popular myth with the right rebuild the 200 is actually capable of handling more power than the 700 especially a later 700. I am assuming the engine has also been swapped out. It came with a 5 litre. Any idea what the engine is?

I would expect the cross-member has already been changed from stock to accommodate the TH350 so yes you'll need yet another cross-member, especially with dual 3" exhaust.

You should understand that even with a 4 speed the big cam, 4.10 axle and the hi-stall converter will limit your fuel economy significantly. You might be able to achieve your target of 13 but it's not guaranteed.

 

[crash]

I completely forgot to say that it now has a Chevy 350 in it. I know it came stock with a 5.0, but not sure if it was the Chevy 305 or Olds 307, not that it matters now.

I knew that it came originally with the 200-4R, but I am not familiar with that transmission at all, and from what I know the 700R-4 is easier to find.

Either way, I would rebuild the trans with a shift kit and everything before installing it, so honestly whatever trans is easier / cheaper to find is what I would go with.

It all depends on if I fall in love with the car in person like I have in pictures. If I just have to have it, I will snag it up and work on it to get what I want out of it so it can be ready for spring.

Thanks for the help 8)

 

[dogsht]

I agree with Yoda. I used a strengthened 200-4r behind a 509ci in my 442. (It needed the billet forward drum/shaft for that much torque) Still managed to get 17mpg on a highway trip running 70-75mph with a 3.42. I might have been able to get as good as 13 with a mix of in town and highway with a light foot. The car ran 110mph in the quarter in as I drove it trim ie full exhaust street tires no changes in the tune.

Major mileage contributors would be the tall .67 overdrive ie 4.10 turns into a 2.75 final drive ratio. Also the lock up converter so that your engine to driveline is not slipping away two to three hundred rpms. BTW you can get the stock 442s 200-4R converter built up to a 3,000 wot stall that still locks up at lower rpms for highway cruising. If he still has the 200-4R make sure you get that with the car as it is a good core and has a special tag for the 442 as well as the vin9 Olds 307 engine if he still has them. Even if they are not in it just keeping them with the car helps keep its still limited collector value.

Also a Q-jet carb is often worth about 1mpg over a square bore or more if its not vacume advance. Last a cam with resonable duration ie a flat tappet cam with more than say 230@50 duration is going to waste fuel for the benefit of power. http://www.extremeautomatics.com long time 200-4R guru from turbo Buick guy Lonnie Diers sells a 200-4R for 1,395 with a warranty and guaranteed to 10.90s.

 

[jrm81bu]

The car came stock with a 200R4 so that would be a logical choice. Contrary to popular myth with the right rebuild the 200 is actually capable of handling more power than the 700 especially a later 700.

I would agree with most of that except the underlined part(i consider them to be more equal in their capabilities, being able to handle pretty much anything we throw at them when built right), and definetly the bold part. The later 30 spline 700 is stronger than the earlier 27 spline. I can totally understand going with which ever one you can find first, I already had my 700 so that's why I used it.

 

[crash]

So, any idea as to what kind of mileage I could expect with mostly highway ( 60 mph ) driving with a setup like this? What about on a hundred or so mile trip from Detroit to my house at 70+ mph?

 

[Blake442]

12-ish...

 

[crash]

I might be able to work with 12ish :lol:

 

[jae]

http://www.extremeautomatics.com long time 200-4R guru from turbo Buick guy Lonnie Diers sells a 200-4R for 1,395 with a warranty and guaranteed to 10.90s.

They have it listed on the main site for $1395 + $450 for a core. But if you go to their webstore http://www.extremeautomatics.net/2004rstage1.aspx it's listed there for $1395, item E2004R1.

http://www.extremeautomatics.net/2004r.aspx

But as you said, great deal!!

 

[Yoda]

They have it listed on the main site for $1395 + $450 for a core. But if you go to their webstore http://www.extremeautomatics.net/2004rstage1.aspx it's listed there for $1395, item E2004R1.

http://www.extremeautomatics.net/2004r.aspx

But as you said, great deal!!

Thanks for the links. I see they sell a 200 good for 1000 horse.