Can someone explain and suggest a transmission

[grumpy]

I now this is a very general and broad question but I'm hoping we can get the basics of transmissions in this thread and sticky it for all to find easily.

What I would like to know is what are the benefits of say a TH400 versus the TH350. And the same goes for 200R4 versus 700R4.

I have been reading many of the manufacturers websites and trying to figure out which trans we need for our car is mind numbing.

Currently we have a TH350 in front of a 3.73, 10 bolt rear end. Highway cruising is OK but gas mileage is abysmal.

Budget for trans and all the mods required to make it work is 2 grand

The car will be used for in city and maybe long haul driving, plus maybe a little auto crossing and trips to the drag strip. So what trans would you use and why ? Thanks

Dave

[Hank70SS]

With it's cast iron center support for the concentric shafts, the TH400 is probably still the toughest trans in that group, but no overdrive. For everyday use you won't see any difference over the 350.

The 200R4 and 700R4 are close, the 200 was rated for a bit more torque than the 700. The 200 is also the same length as the TH350 so you don't have to have the drive shaft chopped if you go that route. The 200 and 700 both have an overdrive gear and locking torque converter. The locking torque converter will require the wiring and electronic control or you can run without it, you still get a fourth overdrive gear. The 200 came with different bell housings so it could be used on multiple GM engines. If you go 200R4 you need to make sure it has a Chevy bell housing.

Can't speak to the durability of the 200 or 700 for racing.

I'm sure someone with more experience will add more. Brian Henderson but a 700R4 in his 70 last year. Don't believe he races it though.

[Berg]

If you don't beat on it and you get a decent rebuilt unit that is beefed up by a tranny guy who knows what he is doing, the 2004R can hold some power. I second that. I have seen them in friends cars hold up to a lot of abuse. I do believe the 700R4 does have a lower first gear and building that trans up wouldn't hurt either. I had a pretty tough 700R4 living behind nitrous and a built 355sbc turning 1 ton axles with 38's in mud. I stepped down to 35"s and 4.10 gears and the truck was great on the road, I got about 14 mpg and for what it was that was as good as it was going to get. I bet in an aerodynamic car that is about 3000 lbs lighter you'd still get great performance and economy. The truck even took off from a dead stop better than it did when it had the TH400. If you have a console shifter there are modification kits to use the original shifter with the OD trans.

[Berg]

Dave- I forgot to add- An automatic transmission's worst enemy is heat buildup. The best thing you can do to keep this thing healthy and give it a long life is to put a big transmission cooler in front of the radiator but also make sure the fluid runs through the factory in-radiator tank unit as well. What kind of power are you putting out? The 2004R was the same trans that was in the 80's Monte SS and Grand National / T-types.

[grumpy]

I know the TH400 is the easy way out but I really want that 4th gear.

[Ms Grumpy]

Originally Posted by grumpy

I know the TH400 is the easy way out but I really want that 4th gear.

Me too......

[flash]

Ive got a built 700R in Joans vert and love the way it shifts but were only pushing 300 HP.

[Mike 1972SS]

Originally Posted by grumpy

I know the TH400 is the easy way out but I really want that 4th gear.

For sure. I'd go with a 200r4.

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...wap/index.html

Mike

[Cheeky Monkey]

I have a 700r4 behind a mild built 350 chev in a street rod.It has a shift kit, a corvette servo,and kevlar bands with a Bowler trans.lockup module and a 3:73 rear gear set,it seems to work well all around