I'm think about buying a rebuilt 200r4 and was wondering id anyone one had bought from this place, the price is definitely right. It seems like all they sell are transmissions...and train horns. If anyone has any info on them or another place to get a good tranny for a similar price i would really appreciate it.

http://www.jacksonsperformanceproducts.net/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=4

Not familiar with that vendor, but I have done some price shopping for a 200-4r for my Chevelle, and that is the best price I have come across by far. Plus, with free shipping, too. If they have a good rep, I'd give 'em a try. Besides, you may get them to throw in a free train horn just for fun. :dontknow:

I had looked at this company a while back when I was looking for my 200-4r. For what I can tell, I think they have a pretty good reputation. They used to sell a lot on Ebay as well. Besides, they are in my old home town, FWIW:nanawrench:. Might want to find out what governer is in it. Most stock governers shift at 3000 RPM at WOT. MCSS or GN governers would shift at 4200-4800.

Just remember that with a 3.08 it will only be turning 1600-1700 at highway speeds. Anything lower, and you will be lugging in OD. I went to 3.42 rear, and it was very good. Now I have 3.73, and I'm stilll very happy.

i've heard 3.08 is the best for mpg, but what is a fair compromise between mpg and performance? maybe leaning a little more on the mpg side? Also the torque converter that comes with the tranny from jackson comes set for lock up at either 1800 or 2200 rpms, which would be better for mpg?

My personal opinion is that 3.08 with the OD trans is too low. RPM's never get into the power range, so you wind up having to give more gas to get relative performance. If you do a lot of highway driving, then the 3.08 gears and 1800 stall would give you the best mileage, but poor "performance". Performance will be about what you would expect from stock- maybe a little better from start because of a lower 1st gear ratio. RPM's at highway speed would be below 2000.

If you move up to a 3.42, it will feel like you put in a new engine. Highway speed RPM's will be about 2000. Mileage will suffer slightly, but if you want better slow speed performance, well worth the difference. With 3.73's, it will really jump off the line, and highway speeds about 2200 rpm's. This is all vs 2500+ rpm's at Highway speeds for a standard TH350c and 3.08 (IIRC).

The differences in the converter's is when they no longer "slip". The reason for getting the 2200 stall would be to allow the engine to rev up into it's power range before the converter stops slipping, allowing for much better performance from start up or upon acceleration. At 1800, you are about 200 RPM's below the begining of the power band in the 305, so starts will tend to be sluggish - same as you now have since that is about stock. Bottom line- 1800 stall for stock performance, 2200 stall for increased performance, at a slight loss of MPG( <1 MPG estimate).

BTW, I get 20-21 MPG on the highway with 3.73, and a 2300 stall ( and I can roast the tires in 1st and 2nd, and chirp thrid if I stay in it:smileyb:). Sort of the best of both worlds.

Just saw this posting on MCSS.com for used rear ends. Easiest way to change ratio's is to swap out the whole rear end. 7.5's are a direct swap. 8.5's require the driveshaft to be shortened 1 ".

http://www.montecarloss.com/community/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=825225#Post825225

3.73 is the best of both worlds and anything higher than 3.23 is hurting your performance. How good is a trans is only proven when driven and in there is the old saying of you get what you pay for and how many goodies and upgrades does your HP require if you go cheap with a strong engine than the cheap tranny will break if your a driver low hp engine than you need less and more of a correct operating and ajusted trans. put it together by what is correct and not what the price is works better 99% of the time.