Only a couple of months ago, i bought my 83 firebird TA, and i love it to bits.. i've sortof been waiting for an oppertunity to upgrade, and it smacked me in the face as i was on my way to work last saturday, my TH200 (haha) tranny blew up under the INTENCE BADASS PRESSURE of a... 305! :P but yeah, the 200 didn't last, so it worked out. its all under warranty, so i get a 1000 bucks to put towards a brand new tranny.

the new tranny i ordered in is in my info on the left, and the rest of teh car is entirely stock. (I think i've got a deal going for a 400sbc w/ exhaust) going from the switch from the th200, to the new tranny, what sortof things do you think i should get at while im down there (under the car, that is)? and how much of a diffrence you think alone the tranny would make, im excited, its on its way! heh

will the tranny make any diffrence as to which carb i've got in right now? will i have to change things up when/if i get that 400?

I think its a 9 bolt rear end, but i've had a hell fo a time finding parts for a better ratio, anyone got any ideas?

 

Dont know much about the TH200 but the 700 has nice first gear. with the 2800 stall, and decent gears in the back end like 3.2x's or higher, you will love it. Overdrive is great for cruising. It will definately be an new car. If you can, swap out the driveshaft for an aluminum one while the trans is out. Find LS1 driveshafts for under 150 bucks on ebay or whatever.


If you want, swap out the 9-bolt for a 10-bolt from thirdgen or 4th gen. Find them pretty cheap with 3.42's in them.

 

I would suggest changing your tranny mount to a polyurethane one and an aluminum driveshaft if you can find one at a junkyard, like Orr89RocZ suggested. A lot of people have problems with the stock rubber tranny mounts because they keep breaking. You should definetely feel a difference with that 700R4. You won't break 10 sec. 1/4 mile passes, but at full throttle the shifts should be quick and fast, maybe even neck-snapping .

You shouldn't have to change too much if you get a 400. Just be sure that the TV cable is set-up and adjusted correctly when you get your 700R4. Don't drive with it disconnected.

9 bolt parts are hard to come by. You can go to a junkyard and find whatever you want. You can find a better 9-bolt, or swap to a 10-bolt. The 9 and 10 bolts interchange in 3rd gens, but just so you know, 10 bolts from 4th gens bolt right in, but they're slightly longer. Stock 3rd gen wheels will stick further out.

 

awesome, i'll see what i can find tomorrow if the graveyard is open!

thanks for the tips guys, and you seem to answer all my questions ben, thanks buddy 8)

 

so with the current 305 in there, and the new tranny and the shiftkit, what sortof RPMS should i be shifting at, you got any idea? or should i just play with it and find the hotspot for myself? :P

I havent done it yet, ofcourse but the tranny should be in monday, and im sitting here waiting and its quite agonising, i'll tell ya :P

 

I don't know for sure, but just experiment with it until it feels its launching at its best, like you said. Every car acts differently. Another note to remember is that the stock tachs in 3rd gens are notorious for being off (generally anywhere from 500 to 2000 RPMs too high) so you may think you're launching at a higher RPM than you really are. Just a little FYI.

And, if you don't mind me asking, where are you getting your 700R4 from?

 

My bud works for a transmission place locally, and like i said, the entire process is going through an insurance company called lubrico. he's building the tranny for me, its called great Transmission, and that place is one of the "lubrico approved" places that i need to have it installed due to the terms on my warranty contract :P so he's ordering in the tranny and once it comes in, he'll be doing it from there, so i don't exactly know where he ordered it from, or if he ordered it stock or not..

I'll ask him on monday when it comes in! heh

 

your peak power is around 4400-4500 rpms unless you got other mods. I would shift at 4500 rpm. Find out if tach is off by cruising at at certain mph and take note of the rpm. Then go here and type in your info to see correct rpm. http://www.quiknet.com/~ke6vut/rpmcalc.html

You gotta find out your rear gear ratio and tire diameter.

If tach is off, then make corrections in your shift. With my car 700r4 with 2800 stall, i ran it thru the gears in drive(auto shifting at 4100rpm) in the 1/4 and ran 14.2. Next run I manually shifted at 4500 rpm and ran 14.0 so yeah, theres a difference.

 

Awesome, thanks guys 8)