86TpiTransAm

Sorry to post this here but the transmission board seems to be having problems so I'm posting here instead.

This is not exactly a thirdgen question but it is GM related and I know you guys and gals are smart and can help me out. I have the chance to buy an '83 S-10 with a good engine and no transmission. The original transmission was the old 200-4R automatic OD transmission that GM used in the early 80's before the 700R4 became the popular OD transmission. I know the 200-4R is a shorter transmission than the 700R4 but how does the 200-4R compare in size to the TH350 transmission?? I have a TH350 transmission with lockup that I plan on putting into the S-10 and I need to know if there's a size difference because if there is then I'm going to have to get a different driveshaft and relocate the tranny cross member. I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks in advance.

86TpiTransAm

Ok, someone has to have an answer to this... anyone? I think I'm gonna see if the tranny board is working yet and post this over there.

ME Leigh

The th350 and the th200-R4 are the same size, and have the same length and crossmember location. You can bolt a th350 in place of a th200-R4 or vise versa, with out mounting mods.

86TpiTransAm

Sweet, that's what I was hoping on. For $175 I can't pass up this deal. This summer I'm going to buy the motor mount plates so I can put a V8 in it. Probably just a 305 but that oughta feel powerful enough in an S-10. Just a basic daily driver anyhow.

zippy

just how positive are you in your history lesson that the 2004r trans came in an S10?

Damon

To my knowlege the trans mout location is different (by a lot) on a 200-4R than on a TH350. The overall length is the same, however. I am planning this swap in my 78 Malibu for sometime in the future and was told by several sources that I would need to move my crossmember back several inches to bolt up to the 200-4R.

Correct me if I am wrong.

jdrobley

this is not entirly true. both transmissions have the same external dimensions (length) and both take the same length and spline drive shafts. <b>but the crossmember mounts are different.</b> the 200-R4 mount is further back. you will need a crossmember for a 200-R4. Other options are to slide your existing member and just drill holes where it should be; or use a th400 member in the th400 position.

damon;
you will also need to be able to engage the electric part of your trans after you put it in your malibu. you have a few options:
1) use an aftermarket computer
2) use a vacuum switch that provides power when you have good vacuum.
3) change the pressure switch inside the trans to one thats normally open/ pressure close and then rewire your trans so a keyed hot wire goes to the selidniod and the ground wire from the selinoid goies to the pressure switch.
4) just use a toggle switch to send power to the trans when you are on the highway because that's only where you need it anyway.

the first option is the most expensive and the last is the cheapest. I have done option 3 and it works fine. if you do 2 or 3 then I may suggest that the hot wire goes through a brake switch before it goes to the trans. if not, then the lock up won't disengage until line pressure drops which will make for harder braking because it is still engaged.
make sure you get the tv cable set up right or your shift points will be screwed up and you won't be able to down shift.
good luck,
jess

ME Leigh

TH-200 is just a light duty TH-350, so it's a bolt in situation. My Camaro originally came with a th200c that is the same size and crossmember location as a th350. The th350 was just bolted right in place where the th200c was.

86TpiTransAm

Even if the mount isn't in the same spot it's no big deal for me. I'll just drill new holes for the proper spot. I was mainly worried about the overall length because of the driveshaft.

I'm 99% sure that the original transmission was the 200-4R. The dash says automatic overdrive right on it and when the transmission went out the guy I'm buying it off of put another automatic OD tranny in it and said they had to shorten the driveshaft so I'm sure the 2nd tranny was the 700R4. As far as I know the 200-4R and the 700R4 are the only two Automatic OD transmissions that GM used in the 80s. When they shortened the driveshaft it wasn't done properly and the input shaft in the tranny got eaten up. Their loss, my gain

86TpiTransAm

I think the TH200c and the 200R4 are two different transmissions. I'm trying to find out right now. If they are then that would explain your direct bolt in compared to everyone else saying the mount location is different.

zippy

my point for mentioning the 200-4r question is the lack of it's use in trucks. the 200r4 was used only in car's and in s10's, it would be a 700r4 from the factory.

86TpiTransAm

Well, I know it wasn't the 700R4 because the 2nd OD tranny put in was the 700R4 because they had to shorten the driveshaft. The tranny could very well be the TH200c tranny. I don't know much about the 200c but if the 200c was an OD tranny then it could be very possible that it was the original transmission. The only thing I know 100% sure is that the original transmission was an automatic OD transmission.

Guest

The 200C is nothing like the 200-4R. Totally different animal. If you'd like to know what the 200-4R is capable of, go look under a GN Turbo sometime.

iznataszi

if you want to sell the 200r4 if thats what it really is im looking for one and i got a th350 in my s10 now so we might have some parts to swap, i got the cross member that you want and if you got a 200r4 for sure then we might be able to talk

jdrobley

the 200c that some are mentioning is different from the 200R4
the 200c is a lighter, weaker. metric version of the 350
it cam in mid 80s full size cars and was known to fail
the 200R4 also came in these same cars w/ 305
the 200R4 is weaker than the 700R4, but has a overdrive of .68 as compared to .70 perspectivly
you can build it up to handle something like 350 hp
check out transgo to see what can be done to beef it up
it will be fine with a stock engine though

86TpiTransAm

I did some research today and found a manual that told the different transmissions that were used in the S-10 pickups in the early 80's. The 200R4 was not one of these transmissions that were used. The manual lists the '82-'85 S-10s with 1.9 liter 4 cylinder engines having the TH200C transmission and it lists the '82-'85 S-10s with the 2.8 liter 6 cylinder and 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engines having the 700R4/4L80 .... with the exception of the '82 2.8 liter 6 cylinder S-10s and they had the TH200C.

For the guy wanting to know if I'd swap transmissions... the truck isn't coming with a transmission, it went out. I've got two TH350 transmissions both BOP, one with lockup. However, I can get a BOP TH400 for $50 off a friend and I'll probably go with that and buy the adapter plate from Jegs so it will bolt up to the Chevy block.

Thanks for the help everyone.