Hello guys,

My brother has an 87 Buick regal with the 307 olds and the th200 transmission.

Recently reverse started slipping really bad, he got stuck on a slight incline and I had to hold the brakes and rev the **** out of it to get it to hook into gear. Yep I probably toasted it.

Forward gears work perfectly, though I haven't tried manual 1st gear yet.

We've tried Lucas a while ago , had luck for a bit then back to square one.

What would be the most cost efficient thing to do? Take it to a shop and Rebuild the Th200 or have them swap in a th350, or a 4 speed (700r4, 200r4, 4L60, 80 whatever) I have seen guys out there call the 200 a POS, don't want him to waste money only for it to give him more problems.

 

The 200 is not worth repairing. Go with a 200 4R.

 

Actually, the easiest thing to do is to install a TH350. The 200-4R requires a unique crossmember. The design of the frame and crossmember does not allow you to simply slide the old one backwards the way you could on the older cars. The TH350 is a direct bolt-in with no mods required.

 

Doesn't the 200 have lockup as well? That would would make the 200 4 R match his gear selector. Shouldn't be that hard to find a new crossmember? Boneyard still have a healthy supply of 80 s cars.
I guess it comes down to what the bottom line is for wants and cost. I like the 200 4 R for its final drive ratio of .67:1

 

The gear selector has nothing to do with converter lockup. The TH200 is a three speed and the car will have a three speed gear selector (PRNDSL). The 200-4R is a four speed and would have come with a four speed gear selector (PRNODSL). The TH350 is also a three speed. The TH350C has a lockup converter.

I would also rather have the OD, but it is more work than simply installing another three speed AT. That's the OP's call. He should make that decision with full information.

 

How about rear gears? Won't the th350 gear ratio be too numerically low for the buick? Have no idea what rear gears are in there probably numerically less than 2.41.

Edit: ah I found out it's 2.14, it'd be more sluggish

 

TH200 has a 2.75 first gear. TH350 has a 2.52 first gear. Both have the same 1:1 third gear. The TH350 will be a little slower off the line. I'm guessing this isn't a drag car.

 

Of course not

 

Ok, I didn't realize that. I thought it also had the OD

Agreed, he would also need to set up the TV cable properly. So other than the TV cable and crossmember, what else makes it more difficult than a TH350C or rebuilding the 200? The length of those transmissions should be close to the same size, right? Same driveshaft, same bolt holes on the bell housing.
Please understand I'm not being critical - I would just like to know the extras involved with a 200 4R. Call it information sharing? I bet the TS would also like to know the answers.

 

The TH200 also uses a TV cable. The TH350 uses a kickdown cable and a vacuum modulator. You'd need to run a vac line to the trans.

Setting up the TV cable is no big deal, despite the fact that people freak over it. So long as you use the stock cable, it self adjusts. You simply over extend the sheath from the holder, floor the pedal, and the cable ratchets to the correct adjustment.

Correct. The only fundamental differences are the crossmember and the gear selector.

No problem, I didn't take it that way.

 

So the TV cable that the 200 uses could be used for the 200 4R? Or would it be a completely different cable?

 

I don't know. I've not personally done anything with a TH200.

 

Shocked! I'm actually surprised. But in all fairness it's not fair to expect one person to have the answer to everything.

I was just curious, that's all. I can do some research too because I like to have some degree of ability to find answers......

Ok, I'm back. It looks like they are compatible for the TH200, 200 4R and 700 4R as they all are all quoted as the same 37.25" in length

Thanks Joe, I needed that kick in the pants.

 

Thanks for the research. Given how GM works, I would have guessed they were the same, but I did not know for sure.