I have a Firebird Sprint with a TH200-4R transmission behind the OHC-6. I am not at all familiar with this transmission and was hoping a member here could help educate me. The ID tag is gone so I don't know the 2 or 3 letter code, and so far I cannot find the serial number, so I don't know which one I have. I know these were used in some 3rd gens. It seems to shift normally so there are no real issues, I just don't know how it works.

1 - I understand this has a torque converter lock-up feature. In the absence of a computer control or other electronics, how is lock-up achieved?

2 - there is a red wire running from the drivers side of the case to the brake pedal. Would this be to deactivate lock-up?

3 - I have seen references to a TV cable or detent cable. Is this the same (or similar) as a kickdown cable from a TH350 or TH400?

4 - when lock-up occurs, is it detectable to the driver?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

Detention cable is similar to a t350, 375 and 400s do not have a detent cable.
the 2004r is a great transmission that came in Monte carlo SS, Grand National we ran ours into the mid 9s without issue. It is pretty much a t350 with an overdrive. Depending on the vehicle you put it in you may have or can use the vacuum assisted lock up mechanism if you had a lock up style trans you are replacing you can use the factory lock up set up you can also put an override lockup switch on the dash with the wires placed into the diagnostic port hit up 2004r lock up switch etc on youtube

 

2004R used a TV (throttle valve) cable and has no modulator, the cable is what it uses to know throttle position and engine load. With no electronic controls there was a vacum switch used to control lockup and yes you could feel it. Lockup would disengage when it sensed the brake apply, this was the easy test to see if lockup works. At highway speed just depress brake pedal enough to turn brake lights on and watch the tach, you'll see RPM rise as the TCC disengages.

 

Beeman - your reply is very helpful. However, I cannot locate a vacuum connection or vacuum line running to the transmission. I downloaded an overhaul manual for the trans and the diagrams don't show a vacuum connection either. Did all 200-4R have the lockup feature?

With the TV cable, can I assume it is adjusted correctly it shifts correctly and hits all 4 speeds?

 

This will help you out-

 

Forgive me if I'm an idiot, butt I've never heard of a "Firebird Sprint", nor was a 200-4R ever available in these cars except in the TTA which had a Buick 6-cyl, and there was never an OHC 6-cyl motor in these cars. All of the 6-cyls were old-skool push rod style OHV V-6s with the cam in the block; to my knowledge GM didn't even make any OHC 6-cyls in 91, for any car line. Furthermore, in all of these cars for domestic sale such as in E TN, there was an ECM, therefore no need for any external vacuum-related workaround for the TCC, so that is unlikely to be at issue in any case. Please note that I am NOT saying "there's no such thing", or "you don't have one", or ANY such; only, that as a mass-produced product, there are VERY VERY VERY VERY FEW Firebirds that are significantly any different from any others in such fundamental ways; and an aftermarket graphics package including lettering that says "Sprint", which of course could well have existed (or somebody who merely liked the word having Trim Line or some just such stick it on the doors for them) doesn't make a car a "Sprint".

Butt that's not the most important thing right now. Properly identifying what transmission you have, with absolute certainty, would be a great start. Look at the pan and compare to these. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-t...nd-more/145791

Note also that the 200-4R pan is kinda split into 2 sumps, with the rear one ... kinda ... small and strange looking. https://www.ebay.com/itm/115706717849

The transmission most common in these cars is the 700-R4 (the one model is -4R while the other is -R4, go figure) which has a large square pan.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=fire...0V8%20siblings

 

Yes I remember that one, along with the in-line 6-cyl that it came with. A friend of mine actually had one of those motors - not the car, just the motor - butt I don't think he ever did anything with it, must have just sold it on at some point. Definitely not a 3rd gen, such as the 91 in his signature, however.

 

He wasn't taking about his car in signature, he was talking about his FIREBIRD SPRINT with a 200-4R transmission.

Might have been before your time. Regardless, DuckDuckGo is your friend. Here are some pictures that took me all of 3 seconds to find about a FIREBIRD SPRINT WITH 6 CYL OHC.

 

Nope, wasn't before my time.

My friend that had the motor out of one, must have been in maybe 81 or so. Came out of a wrecked 69 if memory serves so was not terribly old at the time. Sat in his yard for quite awhile butt I don't recall what ever came of it. I do remember he never used it himself, so I can only guess that he sold it on at some point when he got tired of looking at it.

Those cars weren't 3rd gen F bodies. They didn't come with a 200-4R in any case. Or even a 200C. And no 3rd gen came with an OHC 6-cyl, nor was called "Sprint". Since this is a 3rd gen board, I feel it would be inappropriate to comment any further on it.

 

My Sprint is a restomod and the original trans was replaced with a 200-4R. I also own a 91 Formula. I presented this question here because I thought some folks on this forum might be more familiar with it.
I am sorry if I offended anyone by seeking help. I won't be asking any more questions.

 

You may find stampings that decode the trans

A 12v solenoid. Sometimes a 3rd or 4th gear pressure switch is used. Lockup is hydraulically prevented in 1st.

There's not a lot to go off of. Could be elegant. Could be simplistic. Might function. Might not.

A temp. switch, vacuum switch, and wiring harness were used in early non-ECM GM vehicles to control a lockup solenoid. In the modern world, that's fine, but it's quite simple to find a $40 kit for $98 and go with that.

Lockup is programmed in GM vehicles to happen at times that don't put the clutch under full load,nor cause clunkiness, so it's usually going to be more subtle than a shift. Simply, drive ~50, hold steady throttle and tap the brake. If there is a circuit change, rpm comes up. Lockup in the 700-R4 third gens works just like the 200-4R.

No.
TH200-C based.

 

You haven't offended anybody by asking for help. Grumpy probably hasn't had his morning coffee and Marlboro Red yet. I got a sneaky feeling he knew exactly what you was talking about too.

First thing in the morning if I haven't took a ****, washed my eyes and face with a steaming hot wash cloth, had an ice cold Cherry RC Cola and smoked a Marlboro Red I'll stomp little kittens and be mean to Down Syndrome kids.

You go right on ahead and ask all the questions you want about the 200-4R behind the OHV inline 6 in your 1st gen Firebird Sprint.

I knew exactly what you were talking about I just didn't have anything to comment on about it.

You are a 3rd gen member with a 3rd gen Firebird asking a question that is in the wheelhouse of knowledge of the members here. It's not like you are asking about an AOD transmission in a Ford Mustang.

Online forums are getting dead as a door nail these days and we need people active to keep them alive. It's not like people on a 3rd gen Camaro & Firebird forum don't have overlapping related interests in Turbo Buicks, C4 Vettes, TBI GMT400 trucks, 4th gens F-bodies and earlier gens too.

Members here ask questions about TBI engines in GMT trucks and other GM cars and junky azz Cease Fire Injection in C4 Vettes all the time, and about TPI and TBI swaps into other cars and trucks. Members here have overlapping interests in these things and the knowledge to help out.

There ain't a dime's difference in how lock up works on a 700-R4 and a 200-4R transmission.

 

Also your question is about how the lock up torque convertor works on a 200-4R transmission which did come in the 3rd gen 1989 Turbo TA and you posted it in the Transmission and Drivetrain section of the forum.

Oh and the THM200-4R is the transmission GM should have put behind TPI C4 Vettes and TPI 3rd gen Camaros & Firebirds instead of that raggedy azz wide gear ratio THM700-R4.

 

I am EXTREMELY familiar with the THM200-4R Transmission...

Ask away!

If your only concern is regarding the Torque Converter Lock-up function; it is exactly like the THM700-R4 Transmission, which tons of people here are very familiar with.
Just look at any of the TCC Lock-up Threads on this Forum.