Thread: 200-4r vs 700-r4?

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i want to use a 4 spd auto capable of handling 600-800 horsepower. which of these is gonna be more suitable? any info/recommendations on torque converters, valve bodies, shift kits, trans brake, ratios: trans and rearend, ANYTHING ELSE HELPS. thanks all

Contact Bowtie Overdrives, TCI, Bowler or any of the high performance trans builders, they will tell you what you need. I can tell you this it will have to have all the goodies inside. Kolene Steels, upgraded 3-4 clutch pack, larger boost/reverse boost valves, billet servo's, Beast Sun Shell, Wide Kevlar Band, 5 pinion planets, 29 element sprag, modified pump possibly 13 vane and the Torque Drive Kit. I'm sure I'm leaving something out. If you listen to Bowtie Overdrives, if you are going to run it in a street car don't need anything more than a 2000 stall. The 700 doesn't like the heat. Oh yea a good cooler. I run a 700R4 with a 2k stall. The motor is a blown 406. Haven't beat on it yet, don't have all the goodies inside yet.

You can also contact California Performance Transmission (Art Carr's company). They are 200-4R experts and claim to build ones to withstand something like 800 HP, and has all the goodies inside...but they are not cheap . The 700R4 has a really steep first gear, which some guys dont prefer including myself, I like the closer ratio 200-4R, which also has a slightly better overdrive ratio for better mileage.

Gearstar.net (Akron, Ohio) can handle any horsepower.

I have had both but prefer the 200r because of the gear split and the fact that 4th gear is more positive. I had a blower behind my small block

All I can really say is DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! Everyone is going to give you mixed oppinions. I have heard everything from the 200-4r's are junk to they are better than the 700's and visa versa. I have never had a tranny from Bowtie Overdrives but I have contacted them for information and told them what I have and my plans with my car and what they think. They sent me a list of all the parts I needed and the best way to set it up.
Their customer service seems to be very good so my plan is to order my 200-4r from them.
I am still debating on which one but I think the 200 is my best bet because it will allow me on my application to keep the stock driveshaft length, smaller and lighter and the gearing. I do like that steep hard pulling first gear in the 700-r4's but oh well...

i'm not a cheevy lover but a lot of studebaker owners have used the 200 and not the 700 for the simple fact that the 200 consumes less energy and weights less. it has less rotating mass(weight). and a good shop should build one that will live for the street. a friend of mine uses a 200 behind his modified 289 studebaker and has never had any trouble with it. i don't use auto trans so i can only relay what others think on auto trans.

Turbo 400 w/gear vendors behind it. I havent' heard of many OD's living behind that kind of power.

Do the 200 need electronics for shift points or does it still use the cable?

Hi I sugest you asking for mega raptor TH700 transmission, if you want it yet, although I agree with JETSTANG, TH400 with gear vendors may manage better your 800HP besides you'll get 6 forward gears

Originally Posted by ichiceck

Hi I sugest you asking for mega raptor TH700 transmission, if you want it yet, although I agree with JETSTANG, TH400 with gear vendors may manage better your 800HP besides you'll get 6 forward gears

Okay, 6 forward gears from 200, 700, or 400......I'm not the brightest bulb in the box and I do these trannys all the time.
You care to divuldge some extra guru on this?

With T400 and Gear vendors Overdrive/Underdrive you have a low and high for each gear. 1st low, 1st high; 2nd low, 2nd high; 3rd low, 3rd high. 3 x 2 = 6 forward gears. And 2 reverse for that matter. Not sure if you can practically drive it that way though.

Pat

So, you're talking about the add on overdrive unit?
I'd guess that would be a mutha to quick shift up and down to get 6 forward gears and two reverse.
Now the question remains will the tranny hold up to 800 HP.
mousepower, get the thing built right or buy one that will handle the big TQ and HP. Add on units are for RV towing in a dually or Motorhome for towing.
Yeah, some use them for deep geared units to lower rpms for mileage.Not a choice for big HP.
The tranny problem is an easy fix to resolve your question.
Thanks Pat for bringing ichicheck's idea forward, I was pushing a point to help the poster's problem without going out to left field and add headaches to the simple solution.

Actaully quite a few of the guys with the 8 and 9 second cars that enter the Hot Rod Magazine Drag week are using the Gear Vendors units so they can cruise on the highway between tracks. They are definitely built to take the horsepower, but as you said, I don't think they are shifting them while they are racing. Just using them to change the final drive ratio.