Go look at the Tranny spotter's guide on page 2 of my photo album.

 

I had a similar dilemma as we were attempting to decide what tranny we were going to use in my friends 67 Camaro. His father passed down an old Chevy 355 he used as a 1/4-mile engine in is Nova. Bill wanted to install a 4L80 for a 700R4 but i suggested the Camaro 6 speed. Nether of us knew what the different gear ratios were and how the car would run with the different transmissions.

We used a program called PC HOTROD to make the choice based on the kind of driving he did.

The 6 speed was the choice and offers great performance and great highway driving when needed.

These guys can help with your choice.

www.pchotrod.com

Good Luck

 

Try this

Try this site - www.700r4.com, they have all you need to know about comparing the older TH350/400 autos to the newer Overdrives. The two newer 4spds, 700r4 and 4L80 are essentially the same, except the 4L80 REQUIRES a computer to control it, or one of the many computer harnesses you can buy to fit in your car if it was not equipped with a 4L80. The 700R4 is very adaptable to non-computer control, with a variety of very sexy or very simple ways to locjk-up the stall converter. The 700r4, stock is good for about 350hp, needs a few adders to run 450-500hp, and I have seen models mod'd for 600hp+, so you will find one to fit your needs. The best thing I can tell you about the new ODs is that the final drive is 0.70 to 1 - and the first gear is a lot lower than a 350 or 400 - all that adds up to being able to run streetable gears - say 3:07, 3:23, etc, and still have pounding launch torque, with - get this - exceptional gas mileage on the highway! I have a 700r4 behind a ZZ4 running about 400hp, into a 3:23 Camaro rear, all set up for my 40 Chevy coupe. It launches like I have 4:55s, and it cruises on the highway at 1700rpm - yielding abourt 21mpg. Can't beat it! Good luck!

 

Re: Try this

The two newer 4spds, 700r4 and 4L80 are essentially the same, except the 4L80 REQUIRES a computer to control it, or one of the many computer harnesses you can buy to fit in your car if it was not equipped with a 4L80.



The best thing I can tell you about the new ODs is that the final drive is 0.70 to 1 - and the first gear is a lot lower than a 350 or 400 -

======== I may misunderstand your post;

The 700R4 and 4L80E are nothing alike or similar in size , design, parts , gear ratios.

Tony

 

Okay - the 4L80 is about as similar to a 700R4 as the 400 is to the 350, but, what I meant is that it is an OD, that is very hard to slip into a non-computerized car that isn't expecting it. The 700R4 is the OD of choice. The 4L80, has a higher first gear, and a lower OD, so not as much punch, nor as much economy - the 4l80-E anyway. I don't see the benefit in the added complexity - but if your computer car is expecting to control the tranny, it is a good compromise. The 700R4 is the popular choice for rodders because it is easy to adapt to most any drivetrain, and doesn't need the computer, has a lower first gear and a higher od. I like it - works well, when setup properly. The only downside is if you get one of the early ones - then you need to do some valve replacement and upgrades to get it to be a good runner. When it comes to automatics nothing is a drop in replacement so I did not think anyone would interpret that I meant an exact replacement.

 

I think it depends on how it will be driven. I put a Th350 in my camaro, because i dont plan on going on long trips and gas mileage isnt to important. And i have a little to much power for a stock 700r4

 

Correct me if i am wrong!

I to am attempting to sort this out. But i understand the 4L60 will NOT bolt up to my 455 Olds. The 4L80 will. I have run 4L60 in the past and loved them. But ya gotta set them up right. Th be honest i wish i could get a 4L60 to work for me. The guys here tell me to look for a 4L80 from a 6.2 deisel. I`ll bet that it willcost a perty penny too!!!
Thanks for the info!
Slider in Wa.

 

I think you will find the 4L80E was not built in a BOP bell housing pattern, only the common chevy pattern

 

The 4L80 won't bolt to an olds engine and I don't think any 700-r4 has the bop pattern either. For an o.d. for a bop patter the 200-r4 is the only choice with out and addaptor. The 700-r4 is essentually a 350 with o.d. added and a 4l80 a turbo 400 with an extra panetary set in it(the turbo 400 other name is a 3l80). The think which you choice totally depends on what you want it for. If its a small block a 400 or a 4l80 would be overkill anyway. If you are driving it on the street then the 700r4 is ideal if its just for the drag track you might as well use the 350 as you don't really use od anyway and 350 is a hell of alot cheaper to build. The 700 only advantage on the track is that is has a deap 3:1 first gear vs the 350 2.5 or so.

 

the 200r4 is the only trans other than the corvette automatic trans that allows you to go into overdrive at full throttle. the 200r4 has a odd shape at the back of the pan and the 700r4 is just like the 350 turbo hydromatic, except that the 700r4 is a four speed overdrive and the 350 turbo is not.

 

up date

I have found out that a 4l60 or 4l80 out of a diesel rig (Pickup) uses the BOP pattern and will work. Thank you all so much.
Slider in Wa.

 

help

slider someone told you wrong as crosley stated before 700 NEVER was made in a bop pattern or 4L80 e in bop pattern
this transmission's only made for CHEVY engines, diesel engines 6.2 and 6.9 turbo still have CHEVY bell housing pattern


the old 5.7 diesel which was an OLDs 350 block pattern only would take a bop tranny case and not a chevy case

 

So the current GM diesels run a Chev bolt pattern.

What tranny did 6.7 diesel run? What years were they? As you can guess i`m trying to mate an o.d to a bop pattern.
I have also heard that the 4l60 and the 4l80 trans will bolt to the BOP, but only on the sides. The top hole is let open? Hea thanks you guys!
Slider in Wa.

 

They've been making adapter plates for quite awhile to adapt the Chevy trans to the BOP pattern. What I like better is that we have a local shop that specializes in welding on two additional tangs that align with the BPO top two bolt holes. This has been run for some time behind some torque monster motors, and the tangs have given absolutely no problems. The shop has constructed a jig to insure that things align correctly. You don't have to worry about the extra distance the torque converter has to come forward with the adapter plate (although it's easy enough to space the converter back to the proper distance from the flywheel).

 

Re: Correct me if i am wrong!

I to am attempting to sort this out. But i understand the 4L60 will NOT bolt up to my 455 Olds. The 4L80 will. I have run 4L60 in the past and loved them. But ya gotta set them up right. Th be honest i wish i could get a 4L60 to work for me. The guys here tell me to look for a 4L80 from a 6.2 deisel. I`ll bet that it willcost a perty penny too!!!
Thanks for the info!
Slider in Wa.

I have a suggestion for you . If you are not drag racing the vehicle .Try and locate a Mid 80,s ,Olds 98 or Buick Park Avenue with a 2004R and 403 Olds engine. Purchase this trans as it will closely match the 455,s torque and shift at the speeds you are looking for. If you want the shifts firmer install a Buick Grand National Servo and a shift Kit.

 

OK, I see your dilemma. Overdrive trans in a buick/olds/pontiac. What you need is a 2004R. This has dual bolt patterns (for chevy & BOP). They aren't too strong stock, but you can beef them up to handle about anything. Go to cpttransmission.com, it's Art Carr's new company. They run these things in 9 second turbo buicks, so I wouldn't be worried about durability. The gearing is pretty similar to a th350. I think its 2.77, 1.57 , 1.0, .67. The 1st gear isn't as low as a 700R4 (which isn't an option for you anyways), but the RPM drop between 1st & 2nd is better for performance. This is myn 2 cents. Hope this helps.