Transmission swap from turbo 350 to 200-4r or ????

[bent1973]

I have finally made up my mind to swap out the th350 and put some overdrive in my 80 Malibu. I've got an Iceman crossmember, the frame extension for said crossmember, and a core 200-4r (OG code from an 84 olds with BOPC bellhousing). Now I am on the hunt for someone to rebuild the 200-4r to handle my 350 with a mild cam. I've read and read up and looked ad various mail order 200-4r's. My problem is that I'm not really set up to do a trans swap due to my living situation (condo). I've been looking for someone locally that can build and install the 200-4r and set the TV, check pressures, etc. for a reasonable price. I'm aware of what extreme, monster, jegs, summit, etc. charge for a mid range 200-4r. I can't seem to anyone around that can touch the price of the mail order transmissions for what I want done. I know that there are going to be some hard part upgrades probably close to 1k for a new valve body, shift correction kit, upgraded servo, etc. 3 of the 4 shops I've been to are dead set on putting me into a 700r4, one of which is pretty reasonable and will handle the swap and give me a warranty and has been around for years. I was kind of set on the 200 and am already about $500 into it with the parts. The only shop that would build, warranty, and install quoted me $2250 plus tax to build my trans and install it. If I mail order a stage 2 and pay someone to install and set it up and there is a problem I am out the labor, shipping, and misc. parts and fluids to pull it and send it back (provided I can find a shop to install a 200-4r from another company).

The main question is: Am I better off just going with the 700 and cutting my driveshaft and trying to sell the crossmember and 200-4r? Should I roll the dice on a mail order unit? Should I spend the money to build the one I have which will be close to 3k by the time it's all said and done?

Any experience/input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[ssn696]

I hope someone in your area can direct you to a good shop or lend a hand. I chose the 200-4R because I already had 3.73 gears in the rear axle. If you have highway gears (2.29 - 2.73), the 700-R4 may be a better choice because the steeper first gear (3.06 vs. 2.42) will give you a better launch. The problem is that you still have to do this on the curb, and set up a lockup kit for the fourth gear. Consider this idea: is there a community college or technical high school in your area that offers an automotive technology program? You may be able to sing up for a class at the former, or talk the shop teacher in the latter into helping you out as a student project - complete with a lift, tools, and experience in exchange for a 'donation' of some kind. I traded some time in a local HS paint booth for a few hundred dollars worth of parts to fix their tire mounting machine - plus free mounting and balancing for the next year or so. The lockup kits are best installed into the trans, but can be retrofitted to the outside - the good ones use a ported vacuum switch to trigger lockup.

 

[bent1973]

That's an idea, I will definitely look into the schools. There used to be a self service garage nearby but they shut down to relocate and haven't opened back up. Thanks for the suggestion.