[thefirebirdm@n]

I'm in San Antonio, but willing to travel if needed. If you have a recommendation for a respected builder in Tx, please let me know. Need the 2004R in my wife's 68 convertible rebuilt.

[OLDFLM72]

Phoenix Transmission Products! Greg is amazing to work with!

http://www.phoenixtrans.com/

[thefirebirdm@n]

Thanks!! Any other recommendations for Texas, please let me know.

[Squidward]

Jakes performance is in Texas.
http://www.jakesperformance.com/

I rebuilt my own, but used their parts and tech advice.

Not sure if he does 2004r's, tho.

[thefirebirdm@n]

Thanks, I called them yesterday actually. I think they only do 4L80Es, maybe the 700R4 but I think only the 4L. Anyway, I got a quote from them for their Stage 2 4L80E which is overkill for my car but its their lowest price build.

Currently seriously considering going back to the TH400 for now and doing a 4L80E swap in the future. If anyone has any more recommendations for a 200 rebuilder in Texas, please let me know!!

[455GRIN]

Talked with Jake about a year and half ago and they were no longer messing with the
200s anymore. We discussed some of the 4L80E builds he offers that is when I decided
stick with the old TH400. If the TH400 goes out then I think I will go with a lower gear set and put in the rearend with highway gears that I have.

OD is expense.

[69Farburd]

Jimmy, Talk to Robert R of Jim B. I think Jim rebuilt his own and Robert took his somewhere nearby to do his. I wouldn't recommend the guy who did mine.

[wovenweb]

Jimmy - see if you can get a group rate!

[thefirebirdm@n]

Hey 69FarBurd, you should be in our local Pontiac Club, Alamo Area Chapter of the POCI!! Have we ever met? I have the 68 version of your car, red with a white top.

So I REALLY like the idea of doing a 4L80E but we're trying to get the car ready for POCI Nationals up in Dallas in July and so there isn't much time. Given that I have decided to have a local guy recommended by the Club go through one of the TH400s I have stockpiled. I have some questions about it but will post those in a new thread.

[wovenweb]

I think he was at the dyno day a couple weeks ago...

[OLDFLM72]

Did you call Greg Ducato?

[69Farburd]

Originally Posted by 69Farburd

Jimmy, Talk to Robert R of Jim B. I think Jim rebuilt his own and Robert took his somewhere nearby to do his. I wouldn't recommend the guy who did mine.

Actually, that shoould be Thomas R.

[69Farburd]

Originally Posted by thefirebirdm@n

Hey 69FarBurd, you should be in our local Pontiac Club, Alamo Area Chapter of the POCI!! Have we ever met? I have the 68 version of your car, red with a white top.

Jimmy, I am a member of the club but never seem to have time to attend many functions. I was at dyno day a couple weeks ago but got there late. I think we have met, but it has been a while.

[thefirebirdm@n]

Originally Posted by 69Farburd

Jimmy, I am a member of the club but never seem to have time to attend many functions. I was at dyno day a couple weeks ago but got there late. I think we have met, but it has been a while.

Yes we did. Your Firebird in the pic looks red but its orange right? 69 Firebird, Orange with a white top? We did chat for a bit. Thomas is working on the project with me. He's advocating for putting the 2004R back in the car but I could not find a builder in the area.

[thefirebirdm@n]

Originally Posted by OLDFLM72

Did you call Greg Ducato?

Sorry, no, not familiar with Greg. Who is he with? Contact info?

[thefirebirdm@n]

Originally Posted by wovenweb

I think he was at the dyno day a couple weeks ago...

Brian, lol, did not realize this was you. Glad we have a few members here on PY.

[69Farburd]

Originally Posted by thefirebirdm@n

Yes we did. Your Firebird in the pic looks red but its orange right? 69 Firebird, Orange with a white top? We did chat for a bit. Thomas is working on the project with me. He's advocating for putting the 2004R back in the car but I could not find a builder in the area.

Technicaly it is carousel red, but it is the same color as the Camaro hugger orange so yeah it is orange. I was thinking Thomas found a nearby builder for his 200 4R.

[thefirebirdm@n]

He did, but that was years ago and he couldn't get in touch with him. What trans are you running?

I'm actually more convinced to do the TH400 now and a 4L60E or 4L80E later. The electronics is not hard to manage (albeit expensive) and it will fit. I did some research on the 2004R last night. It was based on a light duty version of the TH350 called the TH200 that was only installed in small engine vehicles in the 70s. It was prone to failure in anything with a larger engine (5.7L and higher was called out in the article). GM tried to improve the transmission and released the 2004R. I know a lot of ppl are quick to recommend it but knowing its history now, I don't particularly care to try again.

[69Farburd]

Originally Posted by thefirebirdm@n

He did, but that was years ago and he couldn't get in touch with him. What trans are you running?

I'm actually more convinced to do the TH400 now and a 4L60E or 4L80E later. The electronics is not hard to manage (albeit expensive) and it will fit. I did some research on the 2004R last night. It was based on a light duty version of the TH350 called the TH200 that was only installed in small engine vehicles in the 70s. It was prone to failure in anything with a larger engine (5.7L and higher was called out in the article). GM tried to improve the transmission and released the 2004R. I know a lot of ppl are quick to recommend it but knowing its history now, I don't particularly care to try again.

I'm running the 200-4R but it took my builder a lot of tries, and he never did get it working perfectly. So far it is holding together behind my 428, but I only have 235 x 60 x14 tires and 3:55 gears. First gear is pretty much worthless because it spins the tires so bad it shifts into second before I barely get moving. It can get squirley in second though. It does work good going down the hiway though. I tried running this combo with the TH 400 but it turned too many rpms going down the highway, and was hitting 6000 rpm at the end of the track. That's why I went to the 200-4R. I too have heard that if you are going to run the 200-4R with slicks, things are going to break.

[Sirrotica]

TH200 that was only installed in small engine vehicles in the 70s. It was prone to failure in anything with a larger engine (5.7L and higher was called out in the article).

This is correct, the THM200 was originally designed for the 1.6 L chevette application. When installed in anything with a V8, 301 P, 5.7 olds diesel (110 HP), 305 chevy, plus numerous 3.8 buick applications, it was extremely undependable. It had some improvements for V6 and V8 applications, however was still inadequate for stock applications.

I had an 81 Bonneville diesel, and a 78 301 GP with THM200, that expired in under 70,000 miles with no abuse, plus many customer cars that had premature transmission failures.

The 200 4R was also steadily improved as GM did their field testing, especially in the late 70s early 80s used in the field testing with customers being the test subjects. One of the key reasons GM lost much of their market share.

One other thing is the full electronic controlled transmissions can be adjusted without raising the hood, or crawling under the car, just adjust the TCM from inside the car.

The OPs thoughts of using a transmission that was originally designed for tough usage, in heavy vehicles, with engines that were not anemic in stock form, is probably going to be the best path to reliability over the long haul.

Most any T400 or 4L80E in stock form will withstand the engines power of 90% of the street cars on PY. Going from the stock 440 ft lb torque rating of either transmission to almost doubling it to 750 ft lb is pretty easily accomplished without replacing every hard part inside of the case.