i own a 73 monte, with a mild 350 / 300 hp with a TH-350 tranny, with a shift kit and a 2500 stall and 3.73 limited slip rear-end. it gets about 8-10 mpg depending on how hard i run it....i am looking into getting an overdrive for it ( either a 200R4 or 700R4 ) for the extra "cruising" gear, and more off the line and top end speed. how hard would it be to swap the tranny out ? thanks for your help.

wiles - 73 monte

MONTE
IF YOU GO TO SEARCH HERE ON THE BOARD I THINK YOU'LL FIND A DETAILED ANSWEAR...

If not contact 1 bad 80 and he'll let you know were to find all the pacticlurs

one thing i would suggest--is to go with not only a 700r4---but get jets---700r4---and you'll reall see a differance in gas and drivability....jet trannys are unreal.....

you will have to get a new drive shaft-- as the 700 is longer by about 2 inches or so--i believe--but everythiing else will go back into to place pretty easy........

IF YOU GO WITH A JET TRANNY----YOU'LL NEVER OWN ANY OTHER TRANNY IN YOUR LIFE-----THEReS THAT MUCH OF A DIFERANCE......I VE OWNED 2 NOW AND A STOCK CHEVY OR A CHAMBERS---CAN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE WORK THEY PUT IN......you can get a polished one as well......
they start at about 1,4500.....a stock chevy rebuild cost me 1,400......

anyway i hope this helps

alaskan

Hey,

I just recently converted from a TH350 to a "built" Th2004R from Bowtie ODs. A level three trans from them is good to (they claim) 600 hp.

Let me tell you that the OD is great. the 200 has a better gear ratio spread than the 700. It's also almost a direct bolt-in. I had to get a different cross member but was able to use my stock driveshaft without changing anything.

IT was a little troublesome to get it dialed in compared to a TH350 though. And it wasn't cheap. The total conversion cost about $2k. But that's for a built tranny that shifts hard and can handle anything my mild 350 is going to dish out.

Best upgrade I've ever made to the car. Also the most expensive.

My car is at 1200 rpm at 50 now. Makes for a much more enjoyable cruise. Smiles per gallon waaayyy up!

Go for it.

Take a look at www.bowtieoverdrives.com . They have a lot of information about swaps there.

Roy

ditto Roy

I switched out a TH 350 and put a 2004R in my Bel Air. Great swap, I only had to file bolt holes in the crossmember though, not even replace it. The ratios in the 200 are nicer than the 700, I've driven both in a Bel Air, there was a quite noticeable difference. Unfortunately for me, for some reason I got no mileage improvement whatsoever