Can the 200 trans be built strong enough to last in a high horse/torque application? I'm currently running a TH350, but I also have a 4.56 rear gear, so Im in need of an overdrive trans to keep from turning 4,000 RPM at the speed limit. I dont want to sacrifice any E.T. so I did alot of math & entered all the gear ratios of the 700-R4 & found that I would loose a few hundredths. When I entered the gear ratios of the 200-4R I actually gained a couple of hundredths (using the TH350 as a baseline). Anyway, the 200 has a steeper.67 overdrive compared to the700's .70 This also appeals to my particular needs, because it would allow me to cruise at 65mph at 2400RPM! The final plus in this cenario is the fact that when going from a 350 to a 200, hardly any mods have to be done. It will directly "bolt in"(output splines and mounts are exact-no need to make a driveshaft) So, I guess what I'm wondering is if the 200 is junk, or if it can be extensively modified internally to hold up for any length of time. Changing rear gears to 4:11 or 3:73 sacrifice tons of E.T. and still, 65MPH cruise is at 3,200 and 2,900 respectively. Larger tires don't help much either. I'm running 28" rubber already. I'm out of ideas.

 

Check out the April issue of Car Craft, it has an article discussing just that issue. The article states that properly built, the 200-4R will handle upwards of 800 horsepower. They also talk about the gear differences between the 200-4R and the 700-R4. I, just like you have a turbo 350 that I just took out for the same reason, to many rpm's for highway traveling. I run 3.73 gears also and decided to go to a 700-R4 that was built by TPI Performance transmissions out of Chicago, IL. Like you said, had I gone the 2004R route, my driveshaft would not have been an issue as well as the trans crossmember that I have to get from a car that had a 700-R4 in it. After reading the article, makes me wonder if I did the right thing. Oh well, I'm committed now to the 700-R4.

 

I have a 2004R in my 68 bird. Yes, they can be modified internally to live with large amounts of power. They make all billet internal parts, and, even make lock up converters strong enough to handle 1,200 horse. So yes, you can have a 4,000 stall and not melt the tranny cruising around in overdrive. Just be prepared, it's not cheap, I have around $3,000 into my tranny and converter, but, to me, it's worth every penny

 

the gear ratio of the 2004r is more favorable for lighter cars over the 700r4.engines with a broader power curve will be less sensitive to the 700r4 rpm drop on a 1/2 ratio change.we are one of the 2 companies who manufacture the billet internals for the 2004r.if you go on my website we have a 86mcss with a 406 cid sbc that runs 10.56 128mphour with our stage 2 2004r with transmission brake.it is an auto shift valve body too.we also make a 2.48/1.48 planetary gear set to really make it run the 1320 on the power curve.