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700R4 or 200 4R

  • 700

    Votes: 20 43.5%
  • 200

    Votes: 26 56.5%

700R4 Verses 200-4R?

9K views 39 replies 23 participants last post by  occupant 
#1 ·
I think I've had both of them in at least a couple of El Caminos
I know the Pinko had a 700R4 and I (think I remember) Thumper having a 200 4R?
It seems like both had a sissy second gear that I hated. 1st and 3rd were fine but second always seemed mushy????
The Pinko you could not hold in first it would shift to second anyways. It would sit there and burn off the tires all day long but at very low RPMS
So dollar for dollar which would you go with. 200s are a lot more costly right? And this is for the 79 with 350 motor and 410 posi rear end that I'm sure will be dogged all day!!
Thoughts?:dontknow:
Donny
 
#2 ·
If I'm not mistaken, both can be built to handle the same abuse. Although the 700R4 can be done for less. If they are set up for the same level of performance, then the question really boils down to 1st gear ratios. The 700R4 has the 3.08 gear while the 200-4R has the 2.74 gear. With 4.10 gears in the back, it might not make any real difference at all what that gear ratio is, so I might suggest finding the least expensive one available to you keeping in mind the modifications you have to make to fit either one into the Camino.

-Jarod
 
#8 ·
I have a question, what transmission is in the car now? The cost of having the driveshaft cut down if a 200-4r would be a direct bolt on could offset some of the cost of building the 200-4r beefier. If you want a deep trans pan for the 200 be prepared to pay double what one for a 700r4 costs sadly. I do love my 200 though and it had 370k miles on the factory build when I had it rebuilt.
 
#10 ·
the driveshaft for the 700 is one consideration in the overall cost, the crossmember for the 200 is another consideration. If he doesn't already have a core, finding an inexpensive core that isn't ruined is probably going to be the deciding factor. As far as the 700R4, I think there are two different ones available with 27 or 30 spline input shaft. I think this difference correlates to strength of the transmission. I will have to defer to others here about this information though.

-Jarod
 
#9 ·
I have a 700r4 in mine the one two shift rpm drop not a real issue as my 383 makes enough torque it will burn em off all the way thru third till you get off it.............impresses the ladies :nanawrench::nanawrench:
 
#13 · (Edited)
never had a 200-4r,, i allways assuumed?? there was a reason they never put them in trucks?? and they quit making them??:dontknow:

i have had several 700s,, and do love that 3.06 first gear.. it can save you a rear gear change, sometimes..
700s do have there weak links/parts.. i have broke a few..

the 1st to 2nd rpm drop allways comes up,, so i looked and its about 242 rpm???
and about 100 rpm for the 2nd to 3rd shift.. not much difference to me..
do the math:dontknow: maybe i did it wrong??
http://www.gtsparkplugs.com/GearCalc.html (just add in the 200-4r ratios)

any more info TranyMike?? price to rebuild each one that would handle 500ftlb torq??
i need a early 4L60E repair now..

Trans1st Gear2nd Gear3rd Gear4th GearReverse
Powerglide 1.76/1.82 1.00-
TH350 2.52 1.52 1.00---1.94
TH400 2.48 1.48 1.00---2.07
TH200-4R 2.74 1.57 1.000 .67 2.06
TH700-R4 3.06 1.62 1.000 .70 2.29
4L80E 2.43 1.49 1.000 .75 2.07
 
#17 ·
good 700R4 with 30 spline with lock up and 3:73 rear gears is known as the best of both worlds, lower first and second gear same third and OD than lock up comparing against TH350 or TH 400. A little work on a 700 and you can take 450HP a lots work on a 200 and maybe you can take 400HP and cost more. If your bigger than 450HP and need 600 bring more money and leave the 200 at home.
 
#18 ·
I can't do private messages for some reason...anyway Melissa ..I don't have a safety switch for mine...I don't run computers anymore...everything is mechanical...no electronics running carbs/EFI...I would say u would have to by pass this option or wire it into the safety switch that is used when u can't start the car in drive of an automatic..I hope this helps:smileyb:
 
#19 ·
The 700 is 3" longer than the 200. That means it needs a different driveshaft. However, 80's model Chevy 1/2 ton pickups with the TH350 and 9" tailshaft have the perfect driveshaft for the 700.

The 200 should use the same shaft as the 350. There's only 1/8" difference. However the mount for the 200 is 6" longer than a 350 and 4-1/2" longer than a 700.

Jack
 
#22 ·
Of course, opinions r like a$$holes, everybody's got 1... 4 what my opinion's worth; the early model 200's were junk, they didn't have good lubrication. By the mid-'80's GM had corrected that problem & 200's were running & winning in the Buicks on the tracks.
 
#28 ·
calibration

one more thing to consider,,is the 700r4 is easier to calibrate to the rear gear,,as far as ghanging speedo gears,,its easy on a 700r4,,,on a 200-4r it is more involved,,,but what do i know,,i drive a famous truck with a wore out motor,,,:beer:
 
#29 ·
Well since you asked. I would go with the 200-4R with the gear ratio you have. I like the lower first gear in the 200 plus the 3% steeper OD that it has. Doesn't sound like much, but it makes a difference. And don't worry about strength. Turbo Buick guys beat on built 200-4Rs all day long.
 
#30 ·
It's not hard to work with the speedo gears. The outer gears take the same effort. The inner on a 700 is done by pulling the drive line, then the tail housing and then taking the gear off the shaft. Reassemble.

On a 2004R you pull the pan take the governor cover off, change the gear and reassemble. It's not hard to do.

But what do I know, I've only built thousands of transmissions
:dontknow:
 
#32 ·
I'll say that after driving a couple early Vettes ('70 and '72) with 4-speeds in going to and from work (stop, go, stop go thru 1st to 2nd, stop, go again, stop, for miles) on IH635 in Dallas, I would never again do that with a manual trans. Those cars overheated so bad in that stop and go traffic I had to turn the heater on to circulate more water in an attempt to get the temp down.

Of course a new Vette with a 6-speed would be OK. Anyone have one to trade for my Elkie?

Jack
 
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