200-4R

Would you like to know how to swap a TH200 4R transmission into early muscle cars for easy overdrive? If that is a yes, let us show you how to go through the whole process. First off, it is worth noting that the TH200 4R transmission is worth the time and effort you will put into swapping it into that ride of your choice.

The reason lies in the ruggedness of this transmission, which can be compared to the 700R4. In line with that, a few modifications to the TH200 4R will see this transmission nicely fitted into almost all Chevy chassis. You will also be spending less to get this transmission since it is the least expensive overdrive automatic.

Advantages of Using a TH200 4R Transmission

There are several advantages of using the TH200 transmission to swap into a muscle car:

1. As Strong as the TH700-R4

The TH200 4R shows the same torque capacity and durability evident on the TH700-R4. And the TH700-R4 is a performance automatic overdrive that has earned a lot of attention.

2. Gear Ratio

The TH200 4R has a better first-gear ratio. Specifically, this transmission uses a 2.74:1 First-gear ratio, and in comparison to the TH350’s ratio, it is more profound. Nonetheless, it is less deep than the TH700-R4’s 3.06:1 ratio. Also, there is a less severe RPM drop of the TH200 4R’s engine between first and second gear, and as such, the car accelerates after the gear change. It may also interest you to know that overdrive ratios between the TH200 4R and the 700-R4 are almost similar. These ratios are 0.67 and 0.70, respectively.

3. Compatibility

The TH200 4R is also a suitable replacement for powerglide/TH350 transmissions. It has the same basic overall length as the powerglide or Turbo 350 automatics. In line with that, it uses a similar 27-spline slip-yoke as a powerglide or a TH350 transmission. You will also find standard flexplates on this transmission. Accordingly, here is how to swap the TH200 4R transmission into early muscle cars.

How to Swap TH200 4R Transmission into Early Muscle Cars

The TH200 4R can easily be identified from other transmissions, including the TH350 and TH400, thanks to its unique pan design. And when it comes to swapping this unit into muscle cars, you need to choose a well-used TH200 4R. With that in mind, here is what you need to begin:

1. Universal TV Cable and Bracket

You will need to purchase a throttle valve (TV) cable and two different cable brackets. The cable brackets will be used for the Holley or Carter/Quadrajet Carburetor. It is essential to get these dedicated brackets to ensure good positioning of the TV cable to the primary throttle shaft.

2. Throttle Valve (TV) Cable

We’ll like to emphasize the throttle valve (TV) cable, on which the TH200 4R relies on. This cable serves as a replacement for the vacuum modulator valve and the kick-down linkage. It is essential to install and connect this cable properly. The connection between the TV cable and the transmission is made on the passenger side using a small hook. On the other hand, you can run the Turbo 350 or a powerglide without the kick-down cable, unlike the overdrive transmissions like the TH200 4R and 700R4 that need the TV cable adequately connected and adjusted. The TV cable helps to baseload on throttle position, which makes it essential. Not adjusting the cable properly, the clutches may get damaged within a short time due to high load with low trans pressure.

3. TV Cable Adjustment

You may want to carry out a TV cable adjustment to ensure that the cable is tight with the carburetor at wide-open throttle (WOT). What this adjustment does is to create maximum transmission-line pressure at WOT. Nonetheless, harsh part-throttle upshifts may be created if the cable is too tight. As such, you can loosen the cable to reduce inline pressure to soften the harshness slightly. A dimension you should consider is the distance from the throttle shaft to the TV cable connection.

4. Torque Converter

Swapping to a TH200 4R requires that you select the right torque converter. You can opt for a modified converter that is smaller with a higher-stall and lockup-style converter. The latter differs from a stock torque converter that is heavy. There are torque converters that support 2,600-4,000 stalls, and these can lock up under cruise conditions. They are also ideal for hot street cars with a big cam and deep gears. It is entirely possible to interchange TH200 4R converters with some early 700-R4 transmissions. In contrast, you cannot interchange Turbo 350, 400, or powerglide converters with the TH200 4R. On the other hand, it is easy to tell apart lockup converters using the converter’s flat flexplate side.

5. Wiring Kit

There is a universal lockup wiring kit you can use to retrofit TH200 4R and 700R4 automatics. The aim of doing this is to engage the lockup converter in fourth gear and, at the same time, disengage the lockup under the acceleration of downshifting. Over and above that, the kit offers a manual override option, which is beneficial if you opt for a lockup torque converter.

The Bottom Line

The steps above will get you started with swapping a TH200 4R transmission into early muscle cars. You will be working with a durable and robust transmission that comes with other advantages. It will withstand the impact on the road while you race; hence, it is worth using this transmission in the first place. Now try these installation tips above to see how well they work for you.

It is quite common to find 2004R transmissions in salvage yards and its replacement parts in several auto part stores. The popularity of this transmission has been evident despite it being the lesser-known of two GM overdrive transmissions from the 1980’s – it has also been almost over three decades since it was launched.

What’s more, if you were going to upgrade your classic muscle car’s Powerglide two-speed or TH-350 three-speed transmission, then the better option will be the 2004R since it is a perfect fit for the build. On the same note, the 2004R would be the ideal transmission to use if you were trying to upgrade to your old muscle car in a bid to get more punch and improved fuel economy.

Now, here’s an overview of the 2004R transmission that will give you more understanding of what this transmission offers.

2004R Transmission Spotlight

The 2004R is a four-speed automatic transmission that was launched by General Motors for the 1981 model year. This transmission can be used in several GM passenger cars since it was designed with a Chevrolet and a B-O-P bell housing bolt pattern. It was also produced with the Oldsmobile, Buick, and Pontiac patterns.

This transmission’s driveshaft, bell housing, and mechanical speedometer enabled it to be a perfect fit for vintage cars. What’s more, the 2004R’s sturdy build and torque capacity make it a better non-electronic overdrive transmission for GM classic cars.

History of the 2004R

The 2004R was designed to be a continuation of the Turbo Hydramatic line of GM transmissions. This automatic overdrive transmission could be found in high-power GM trucks and cars such as Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am and Buick Grand National.

On the other hand, the production of the 2004R  was discontinued in 1990, and the transmission was replaced with the 700R4, and iterations of the latter including the 4L60 and 4L60-E.

2004R Transmission Powered Vehicles

The 2004R was used in several GM B-body vehicles – it was also employed in C-body vehicles, G-body vehicles, and D-body cars. Nonetheless, the cars that came with a 2004R transmission include:

• • 1981-84 Buick Electra
  • 1981-90 Buick Estate Wagon
  • 1983-87 Buick Regal
  • 1981-89 Cadillac Fleetwood
  • 1981-89 Chevrolet Caprice
  • 1984-87 Chevrolet Malibu
  • 1984-88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  • 1985-87 GMC Caballero
  • 1982-83 Jaguar ZR W L6 220 3.6L S S
  • 1986-90 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser
  • 1983-89 Pontiac Parisienne

2004R Transmission Specs

• • Manufacturer: General Motors
  • Production Year: 1981 through 1990
  • Type: 3 Speed Automatic
  • Overdrive: Yes
  • Torque Converter Lock: Yes
  • Fluid Capacity: 11 Quarts
  • Speedometer Type: Mechanical
  • Pan Bolts: 13mm heads
  • First Gear Ratio: 2.74:1
  • Second Gear Ratio: 1.57:1
  • Third Gear Ratio: 1
  • Fourth Gear Ratio: .67:1
  • Reverse Gear Ratio: 2.07:1
  • Input Shaft: 27 spline
  • Output Shaft: 27 spline
  • Case Length: 27 11/16”
  • Outer Case Material: Aluminum, fused with bell housing
  • Weight: 118 pounds without the torque converter or ATF
  • Computer Controlled: No. Instead, it is controlled by TV Cable and a lock-up torque converter

2004R Identification

It’s quite easy to differentiate the 2004R transmission from the 700R4, TH350, and other transmissions that were made by General Motors. For starters, the transmission identification can be located on the plate on the right side of the case that is towards the tail shaft.

The plate has a two- or three-letter transmission code which is written in large letters. Another way you can go about it is to count the number of pan bolts of the transmission, and if it is 16, then it’s either the 2004R or 700R4.

But fret not, since there’s no confusion! The 2004R has pan bolts whose size tends to be smaller towards the end. In contrast, the 700R4 maintains almost a perfect square.

On the other hand, the 2004R may easily be confused with the TH350 since they feature the same dimension. Nonetheless, the TH350 has 13 bolts on its square transmission pan, which is considerably lower than the 16 bolts on the 2004R.

2004R vs. 700R4 vs. TH350

The 2004R transmission can be compared side by side with other two overdrive transmissions which were also made in the 1980’s – and these are the 700R4 and TH350. For starters, it is similar to the 700R4 even though it is the weaker variant of the 2004R/700R4 duo.

Needless to say, a 2004R transmission that was made towards the end of the production year is still better than an early 700R4. It is also worth pointing out that the 2004R was not necessarily meant to compliment the 700R4 since they achieved the same functionality.

This transmission was, however, fits into the engine bays of existing models where the 700R4 could not. On the other hand, the 700R4 has the same dimension and bell housing bolt pattern as the TH350, which made it interchangeable in vehicles that were designed for the TH350.

What this means is that classic cars that were originally built to use the TH350 three-speed transmission can easily swap to the 2004R without any major modifications being made. For instance, there’s no need to shorten the original driveshaft.

2004R Transmission Problems

One of the 2004R transmission problems is the transmission not going into gear. Here, the 2004R transmission may fail to go into gear even after the linkage has been hooked up properly.

It may not respond when you also try a test of shifting it through all the gears (R/D/3/2/1). Nonetheless, you can proceed to check the fluid level using the dipstick to ensure that there is enough fluid in the torque converter.

You also need to ensure that the shifter mechanism is working properly and the pump is moving fluid. Slipping could also occur when using the 2004R transmission and it could be a signal that your ride needs maintenance.

Slipping is usually evident in slow or delayed acceleration, hard shifting, or strange smells. Nonetheless, you need to check that the fluid level is not low and that the valve moves and returns freely.

The Bottom Line

An overview of the 2004R transmission shows that this transmission may have been replaced with newer transmissions, but it was still useful when installation space was a factor. It was a perfect fit in cars that used the TH350 transmission, and there was no need to carry out major modifications.

Also, several cars ranging from Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet used this transmission. What’s even more remarkable is the sturdy build of this transmission that makes it a good choice if you want to upgrade your old muscle car.