4 Speed Automatic Overdrive

[72gsx4me]

Too All,

Has anyone put a 4spd automatic overdrive transmission into one of our boats and if so, which one and do you recommend?

Thanks...

Will

[WDR]

I'm right in the middle of putting in a beefed up 2004R. I'll have pics and a parts list available soon.

[72gsx4me]

WDR,

Thanks. I have been toying with the idea and hope it goes well for you. I plan on putting a high performance motor in my Centurion with a rebuilt 3.42 posi from a Riv in. With those gears a 4spd od would be nice on the highway.

Good luck and thanks for posting photos.

What part of the US are you in and do you have a photo of your car? Mine can be seen in Me and My Buick section.

Thanks..WIll

[WDR]

I'm finally posting the details on the 200 4R swap I did on the 73 Centurion. The install was pretty straight forward and definitely worth it. Please forgive the long post. You can use your stock crossmember, transmission lines,dipstick tube, and speedo cable. The parts list is as follows: TV cable kit, lock up kit, speedo gear and HD servo from bowtie overdrives.
You choice of Carburetor the Buick Q-jets won't work with the tv cable. Their linkage sits too close to the intake.(I used an Edelbrock AVS). Donor driveshaft if you don't want to cut yours,(the shaft needs to be lengthened 5 inches).
A trans from a GN or Monte SS is the best bet. They are beefed up already.
A lock up converter no more than 2200-2400 stall.
The mods to the 200 4R should be done on the bench before the install. They are as follows: Install the HD Servo, the tv spring from the tv kit,tv cable and the correct speedo gear. Leave the mount off! Fill and install the torque converter.
After you remove the 400 and bolt the 200 4R in, slide the crossmember forward to line up with the mount. The trans gets pretty tight to the floor to sneak the mount in. You can use two factory holes in the frame to bolt up the crossmember, and then drill the frame for the other two holes.Bolt up your starter and exhaust, and then bend the trans lines to line up with the 200 and clear the exhaust. attach the speedo cable and lock up harness. Once that's done you just need to wire up the lockup relay and adjust the cable.Then fill the trans and break it in. One thing to note; The tubular crossmembers for the same year Impalas will not work. I tried to use one and the trans won't sit at the proper angle. I wouldn't want to see anyone waste their money on one. I'll post a photo of the trans installed.

[WDR]

Here's the photo. Sorry about the size,it does show the important details crossmember holes, trans lines,etc.

[Robroy]

Very interesting thread,

I’m not so familiar with the 200 4R, doesn’t it require an electronic control unit? What cars did have it?

Guys that put TH700’s in old Chevys install some kind of wiring to bypass the need for a control unit (computer)

What gear ratio do you get on the overdrive? Something around 0.8:1.0 maybe?

[Austrian455]

Per, you only need a ECU if you have a Lock-Up converter on the TH700.
If it is a non-Lock-Up you can put it in with out the electronic stuff.
The overdrive should get a ratio about 0.67 I think.
Correct me if I´m wrong.

[WDR]

You don't need an ecu to run either the 700r4 or the 200 4R. You just need to wire up a lock up relay and switch. The 4L60E and 4L80E transmissions require an ecu. There is a company that is making a manual valve body for the 4L80E.

[Robroy]

Thanks for the clarification guys,

The lockup device saves some gas but is according to people that repair transmissions often one of the parts that wear out first. When you drive at a speed where the trans constantly shifts up an down the lockup can get damaged (in the long run).
They advised me to block the top gear by putting the gear level one step down when driving in critical speeds. According to them a very good habit to save the transmission.
For a three speed this no problem, but for four and five speed it is.

[WDR]

There are fixes are for the hunting issues.