Thread: '56 Wagon, TH350 to 200R4 swap

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Starting to get serious about this swap. I know what it involves (easy job with the 200) just looking for a good vendor or shop to get the trans.
Here are two I am looking at online.
2004R, 200-4R, 2004R Swap, 2004r Conversion, 2004r Overdrive, Monster Transmission, 200-4R HD Transmission Master Conversion Package
Monster has been around for while. About 2100 for the complete set up.
The other guys.
2004R Stock Conversion Package
Transdepot. Haven't heard much about them. Price is 600 bucks cheaper...
I am thinking about going with Transdepot. Cheaper and I can have a friend of mine crack open the trans and check the build quality. Give him a hundred bucks and still save 500. That will buy the new OD shifter I'll need...
Any input? Thoughts?
Mark

funny how times change ,, if you`re speaking about what i use to call the 200 metric trans i used to work for a trans builder 30 years ago and we changed hundreds of metric 200`s to turbo 350`s or 400`s as the metric 200`s were new and considered weak .. i`d love to have one in my pinto today .. i could use the overdrive or lockup ratio ...

bowtieoverdrives.com Super quality and all the stuff needed for everything to work properly.

I've looked at all of the major players, believe me. Bowtie OD doesn't offer a "kit" as far as I can see. By the time you add up all of the consequentials you are up over 2K. Right there with Monster.
The Transdepot "kit" has everything, even a cooler and lines. $1445.00 for all of it. I am really leaning toward this one. I will have the trans looked at before it goes in.
The car has a TargetMaster 350 in it. Maybe 250 horse. I replaced a Comp Cams 280H with a 268 when I found the flat lobe and it has a TBI unit from the 90's trucks on it. No fire breather that's for sure. The rear gears are probably around the 3.23-3.37 range. They don't feel any steeper then that. A stage 1 trans with a stock lock up converter will fill the bill nicely.
Mark

Any cam you use will have an operating range. If you use an overdrive trans that drops the cruise rpm's under the bottom rpm operating range of the cam, you have shot yourself in the foot, as you will probably use more fuel than you would have with a 3-speed trans. OD transmissions work great with bone-stock cams, just as they were intended to be used from the factory. Do the math before you take the plunge.

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Originally Posted by DennyW

Looks like you will be right in there to me.
jmo

Tech's advice to do the math before taking the plunge is on target, but I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Mark, based on everything we've seen from you through the years. You're a detail guy, and I'd say you've got the right handle on your engine/tranny plans. The wagon's gonna be a great cruiser, and looking good at the same time.

Thanks for watching out for me guys, and THANK YOU Roger! No, I've done all the math, no worries. Denny posted exactly what I came up with running the numbers on my calculator. I really need to check what the gears in the 12 bolt are but, they are no more 3.23 or 3.31's. That will put cruising RPM's right at 1850 at 70mph. Perfect! Even IF they are 3.42's that only ups the RPM by about 750 so we're good.


I did some calling around this morning. Fred, the guy who went through the TH400 for the van said this was a killer deal. Especially with everything included. He said he didn't know where he would find a core for him to even rebuild. Another local trans shop told me the same thing... No cores.
I have an email out to TransDepot so we'll see what they say.