I'm looking at an '83 T/A with the LG4 engine and an automatic. I'm thinking that this car is equipped with the TH700R4 as I've seen stated on this site and others. However, when I see a photo of the center console I'm surprised to see that there is no OD. The shift indicator simply shows P, R, N, D, 2, 1. My question is, would an '83 T/A with LG4 come with a TH200C transmission? And if so what would be a fair price for such a car? The seller is asking $2800 which I think is about $1300 too high as the A/C isn't even operable and the interior cloth is looking very tired.
Is it difficult to swap in a later model trans? It is red with T-Tops, 4-wheel disc brakes, airconditioning, and cruise control. Oddly it doesn't have the electric hatch pull down, which may be a plus.

 

Don't sweat so much over the price. Shop around and see what's available in your market, see how it compares and how the prices line up. If you can find a better deal then go with a better deal. But $3000 for a solid, drivable, V8 thirdgen is plenty fair.

On to the question... 1983 305 V8's with auto's are usually the 700R4. I wouldn't worry about the shifter plate, obviously the car has the wrong shifter, there's no reason to believe the plate is correct. Get under the car and identify the transmission by the pan.

 

yeah, wrong shifter, probably wrong shift plate too.

 

Let's assume that the shift plate is correct. I realize that the shifter is wrong. Heck, it's even on backwards but who gives a rats tail about that. All I want to know is IF this is an '83 T/A, then could it be equipped with a TH200C? Another thing that makes me suspect it is possibly an '82 is that there is no hood bird on the power bulge. Then again, I believe this was only standard with a certain apearance group. If the car is an '83, could it have the three speed trans?

 

If it was originally a Canadian Car it could have the TH200C as the original transmission.

 

You could also get a 3-speed in base model US firebirds with the L4 up until 84.

 

If you're worried it may be a different year then advertised, just get the VIN and decode it. That will tell you if it's an 82 or a 83 or something else.

As far as the transmission, parts get changed all the time. I'm not positive that the 700R4 was standard with the 305 in 1983, but I'm pretty sure. I've seen plenty of base model 83 Firebirds and Camaros with the 700R4, it's hard to believe a T/A of the same year would have a non-OD transmission. But who knows what's in the car now? At the time a lot of mechanics were afraid of the 700R4 and TH350s were cheap and plentiful. Many early thirdgens were converted to the three speeds, and it's certainly possible the owner might have changed the shifter plate at the same time. Or it could just be that someone leaned on the console and cracked the plate, and the only replacement they could find was in a V6. Regardless, the only way to be sure what's in there NOW is to physically identify the transmission.

As suggested, Canadian cars often got features that weren't standard in the US. If it's a Canadian car, you're on your own.

 

The VIN would tell you if its an 82 or 83 but my guess is that is its an 83, the shift plate has the words "Automatic" on it. in 82 there was no wording. the words "Automatic Overdrive" was started in 83 with the 700R tranny. looks to me like just the plastic indicator was replaced. but that is only my guess.

 

jack up the car and take a pic of the trans pan, then look at this:


http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...identification

 

I think you be on to something here. As you can see in the photo of the center console, the word automatic is printed below the gear indicator. However it appears that tape was put over the "overdrive" printing. Perhaps it is a TH350 after all.

 

My owners manual shows the 200-4-R trans available in 1983. Doesn't state if it was specific to a certain engine model.