The only reason I would run a 200r4 is if I was concerned about fuel economy. If you are concerned about that then go with a 200r4. The th-350 would serve you well with a rebuild for a long time. They are a very tough transmission. But you lack overdrive so really its up to you if the extra mpg are worth it to you.
which transmission- 355 SBC with 400+ HP
- Thread starter lg1200
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These benefits are for a high performance street car that gets driven more than just stop light to stop light. Have cake and eat it. Not one or the other.
* Its lighter and more efficient. ie less power loss & less fuel wasted.
* Generally better gear spread. Including a lower first gear but not too low for best 60 foots.
* Lower highway rpm ie less wear especially on things like valve train components which many have spent much on this and no one wants to replace them or have needless power loss due to excessive wear. Protect your investment and help your built engine last. Nobody wants to rebuild them before their time and before they have to / want to.
This is especially true when your car is optimally geared for the quarter mile.
* Lock up torque converter. Most even hot rodders way under appreciate the value of this. You can get a high stall lock up converter to take advantage of your cammed motor and make it leap out of the whole instead of.. not. With a non lock up converter like almost all three speeds the high stall will put an excessive heat load on your cooling system instead of having it available to cool your engine due to slipping when trying to cruise at an rpm below the stall. A lock up converter does not do this. My GN for example has a 3,000 stall but cruises locked up at say 1,800 without any slipping or any heat. The only time I can feel that I have a high stall converter is when I smack the throttle. So it consumes less power to spin it, carry it, and can without slippage even when it is in equivalent 3rd gear ie both 1-1 let alone the fourth overdriven gear. On top of this the driveability is much nicer and since their is no excessive heat your transmission and fluid should last much longer.
Better mileage was a bonus for me. I wanted 33% less rpm (just from the OD alone) going down the road to protect my engine and no extra heat taxing my cooling system. I got 17.0 hwy with my 509ci if I only lost 33% and got 11.39 mpg it would have meant spending $30 at the gas station every time that I would have otherwise spent $20. That adds up but and would eventually pay the extra cost of building an OD but I see it as a bonus. No excessive rpm, no excessive heat, and much better drive ability was more important to me. It is true anytime but is especially beneficial with optimal 1/4 mile gearing, and who wants to built a hot car and leave its potential (gearing) on the table to speak. Or to put up with the other crap. Thats my 2 cents as I wanted to build a better and faster car not just get it workable the cheapest way possible.
* Its lighter and more efficient. ie less power loss & less fuel wasted.
* Generally better gear spread. Including a lower first gear but not too low for best 60 foots.
* Lower highway rpm ie less wear especially on things like valve train components which many have spent much on this and no one wants to replace them or have needless power loss due to excessive wear. Protect your investment and help your built engine last. Nobody wants to rebuild them before their time and before they have to / want to.
This is especially true when your car is optimally geared for the quarter mile.
* Lock up torque converter. Most even hot rodders way under appreciate the value of this. You can get a high stall lock up converter to take advantage of your cammed motor and make it leap out of the whole instead of.. not. With a non lock up converter like almost all three speeds the high stall will put an excessive heat load on your cooling system instead of having it available to cool your engine due to slipping when trying to cruise at an rpm below the stall. A lock up converter does not do this. My GN for example has a 3,000 stall but cruises locked up at say 1,800 without any slipping or any heat. The only time I can feel that I have a high stall converter is when I smack the throttle. So it consumes less power to spin it, carry it, and can without slippage even when it is in equivalent 3rd gear ie both 1-1 let alone the fourth overdriven gear. On top of this the driveability is much nicer and since their is no excessive heat your transmission and fluid should last much longer.
Better mileage was a bonus for me. I wanted 33% less rpm (just from the OD alone) going down the road to protect my engine and no extra heat taxing my cooling system. I got 17.0 hwy with my 509ci if I only lost 33% and got 11.39 mpg it would have meant spending $30 at the gas station every time that I would have otherwise spent $20. That adds up but and would eventually pay the extra cost of building an OD but I see it as a bonus. No excessive rpm, no excessive heat, and much better drive ability was more important to me. It is true anytime but is especially beneficial with optimal 1/4 mile gearing, and who wants to built a hot car and leave its potential (gearing) on the table to speak. Or to put up with the other crap. Thats my 2 cents as I wanted to build a better and faster car not just get it workable the cheapest way possible.
Thats so true dogshit.The OD transmission is the way to go if you plan to have a performance Gbody.If you build a performance engine,Your going to want gears in the rear.When you have gears you really need that OD.I only recommend 3speeds for drag cars that are not driven on highways.The 700r4 has a 3.06 first gear.So you really dont need a very low gear in your rearend.A 3.42/3.55/3.73 would be all i would run with a 700r4 or 2004r.I'll be running my 700r4 with a lockup converter.That will drop my rpm's even more on nice cruises.Almost like having a automatic 5speed.When im racing i dnt use 4th.OD Trannys cost alot more to work behind performance engines.The cost is so so worth it.Brings the value of your investment up,keeps engine rpms down,gives car more tourqe.The 1st to 2nd shifts throws the car forward burping the tires.Beware of the strong jerk though.Quick story..My girlfriend kept hounding me about driving my Monte.I always changed the subject because i really dnt like the way she drives any car.So one day she just kept on asking.So i said ok come on.Pull out the driveway,car shifted from 1st to 2nd and her faced droped...lol...I didnt exspect it to be that harsh to her.She pulled over and didnt want to drive it anymore..lol.Thanks 700r4 she hasnt asked since and im not mad!!
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