Overdrive Auto
 

Forgive my ignorance but I'm a Ford guy. My wife just bought a 67 Camaro with a 383 stroker and a Tremec 5 speed. She wants an auto with an overdrive. What is a good tranny for a driver? And how difficult is the conversion to auto from a manual?

I'll kick things off...in general, the 700R4 is going to be your bread and butter, non-computer controlled GM option. Not a bad tranny so long as it's built right with the correct upgrades giving your HP and torque scenario. You can upgrade these using many of the components from the later computer-controlled 4L60E and 4L65E trannies which are designed around the original 700R4 hard parts.

Tobin
KORE3

Talk with Bowler Transmissions for a recomendation. I choose a 2004R for it's gear ratios. The 700r4 has a lower first gear causing a bigger drop in rpm from first to second and IMO a 3.06 first gear with a torque converter is to low. Overdrive is a little deeper on the 200 taking a few more rpms off your highway cruise too. The Turbo regal guys have been punishing these things with turbo torque and they live if built correctly. The outer case size is also smaller on the 200 allowing your trans tunnel to escape hammer time for the missing clearance. On either trans the TV system must be set up correctly to get good manners and reliability! I stated system because there is a lot more to it than most people realise or pay attention to. http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php is a good place to start learning what is involved in the TV system. The other choice is to spend over twice as much money and get a 4L65E or 4L80E and a paddle shift controller for finger tip up/down shifts.

Thanks for the info. It's definitely a big help. I get a little more excited about this car every day.

Just throwing out some suggestions too - the 700r4 is longer than the 200r so you might need to shorten the driveshaft. You can build (or buy) either to handle the power from a stroked 350 no problem. The swap is much easier going to an automatic.

The difference would be the closer 1st and second gears in the 200 - which shaves a few hundredths of a second off 1/4 mile ET; and the smaller one has a .67:1 final ratio, so it'll have lower RPMs on the highway - like chevyII said. The 700r4 is bought because it's durable, strong, and for the low 1st gear. Take your pick:thumbsup:

Without taking anything away from others i think http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/index.shtml
is your best bang for your buck!!!

If you elect the 200-4r be sure to go over to the Turbo Buick site and do some research in the Transmission Tech section, there are 3 or 4 builders that really have these transmissions down to a science. Do not try and go for a budget 200-4r, this is one of those things where you really do get what you pay for.