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SShink


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Another 200R4 for Transmission John and Supply Chain hits again
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A couple of years ago, some of us in the club picked up a used 200R4 or two from the guy in Blaine that had a trailer full of them and didn't want them anymore.  I threw mine on the shelf for a 'future' project, and when moving it recently decided to go ahead and have it rebuilt even if it's just sitting on the shelf.  Plus everyone knows I love the benefits of the 200R4 OD trans!    

I contacted John the Transmission guy to see if he is still rebuilding them, and he is.  I dropped it off a few weekends ago and told him I'd like it finished in a couple of months, which he was fine with and I suspect I'll get a call that it's done in less than a month.  

After looking to buy the Bowtie Overdrives TV Made EZ kit that John strongly recommends and I've used in the past with success, discovered they are on backorder for the standard Holley kit with the black molded TV cable since they are now out, and the supplier doesn't want to make any more low volume orders since BO only orders a couple hundred at a time.  They do have the braided TV cable kits, but it's $300 instead of the $150 of the molded ones.  Long story short, they are working with another supplier to get more of the molded ones in stock.  Anyway, the kit comes with a different valve body plunger and spring that needs to go into the trans before the pan goes along, so I called John and of course he has 'extra's' he will use to build the trans with.  Or, he offered to come to my place and install it when the trans is in the car.  He's such a cool dude.

Next supply chain issue is the B&M converter lock up controller.  They are now pretty much unobtainium, which I'm sure is due to a 'chip' shortage.  Searched everywhere, and none to be found.  Summit did show a Feb. 7th ETA so I ordered it from them.  I was just notified it's now March 15th, so hoping that date doesn't get pushed out too.  We now live in a much different world and got spoiled by instant order shipment gratification over the past few decades IMO. 

So now it's just waiting for these things to come in, so glad I'm doing this as a 'nice to have' project.  cuckoo



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

1999 SS Camaro LS1-6 speed

Forum influenced terms: 'Link Paste', 'Stanitized', & 'Revolving garage door...' 

 
John D


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This brings back memories of my Dad when he was rebuilding his '51 Ford F-1 pickup "Gertrude"... back in the day when there was Hemmings, Auto Trader, the Classifieds, and "I've Got a Guy" - NO Internet.
He spend months and countless letters/inquiries just for "maybe" replies on parts.

We are spoiled with "Just Google It"!!



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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
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BLyke


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John D wrote:

This brings back memories of my Dad when he was rebuilding his '51 Ford F-1 pickup "Gertrude"... back in the day when there was Hemmings, Auto Trader, the Classifieds, and "I've Got a Guy" - NO Internet.
He spend months and countless letters/inquiries just for "maybe" replies on parts.

We are spoiled with "Just Google It"!!

 So true, also if you have a question on how to do something a few key words and you have information

(Now it may be wrong, so if in doubt of the source I try to find 2 that are the same)



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Bruce L. - Lakeville MN

1971 Malibu Convert

 
Larry Lucast


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I was a little concerned about supply chain, so early last year I ordered stuff I wasn't going to need for a while. The trunk of my 79 Malibu is now overflowing with headers, stainless exhaust, torque converter and lock up control, EFI, Vortec intake, and more that I can't think of now.

I already had a 350 short block with one-piece rear main, and a Monster 200 4R.

So I am almost done with the car, right?

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Larry L.

Coon Rapids
more ambition than brains


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Adequate inventory IS an essential part of any build.

Not sure if "almost done" would be accurate.

beers

 

You missed the most challenging part banghead andheadscratch,dunno,confused,doh,cenuniv,clonkalso known as engineering, fabrication and assembly!

tiphat

Karl



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More ambition than brains,

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bowtie


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more ambition than brains wrote:

Adequate inventory IS an essential part of any build.

Karl

 

I think you have that covered..... maybe a couple times over.



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Bryan-NW 'burbs
1972 Malibu
Vaguely stock appearing, and the opposite of restored.
1999 std bore 5.7, Vortec heads, Holley Stealth Ram, GM cam
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more ambition than brains


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MUST HAVE SPARES!cuckoo

kARL



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More ambition than brains,

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Lost in the 60s


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Larry Lucast wrote:

I was a little concerned about supply chain, so early last year I ordered stuff I wasn't going to need for a while. The trunk of my 79 Malibu is now overflowing with headers, stainless exhaust, torque converter and lock up control, EFI, Vortec intake, and more that I can't think of now.

I already had a 350 short block with one-piece rear main, and a Monster 200 4R.

So I am almost done with the car, right?

 All you need is the return to a semblance of normalcy and the ability to have a couple "tech sessions" and it will be done...cool



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

Some Assembly Required

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS 350 rs
Larry Lucast


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Sounds good to me. I will start cleaning immediately, so I might be ready by summer.

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Larry L.

Coon Rapids
Lost in the 60s


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Larry Lucast wrote:

Sounds good to me. I will start cleaning immediately, so I might be ready by summer.

 Wow, have my messy shop tech sessions been a bad influence...laughing



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

Some Assembly Required

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS 350 rs
Larry Lucast


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I would be too embarrassed to post a picture of my garage today. Just say there is room for improvement.

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Larry L.

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BLyke


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When things are getting done, there is usually a mess.rolleyes



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Bruce L. - Lakeville MN

1971 Malibu Convert

 
SShink


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Trans John to the rescue again.  B&M continues to push out the controller ordered through Summit Racing, so John said we should use the Bowler Transmission lock up controller instead.  It doesn't have the MPH adjustment, but operates the same way by locking up the converter electronically 8-10 seconds after going into overdrive, which lowers the rpm by another 300 rpm, then disengages when either the brake is tapped or under load.

Here's a link to it and it has a pretty good YouTube video in it:

LINK TO BOWLER TRANS CONTROLLER

The Bowler controller is about $200 compared to almost $300 for the B&M one.

Still waiting on the Bowtie Overdrive TV kit since they're still short the cable, but hope to have that soon.  Again, it will sit on the shelf probably, but just want my hands on it.

Hope this helps anyone with future 2004R projects.



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

1999 SS Camaro LS1-6 speed

Forum influenced terms: 'Link Paste', 'Stanitized', & 'Revolving garage door...' 

 
Lost in the 60s


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I don't think I would like the Bowler, after having driven the B&M several thousand miles. Needing to "tap" the brake going up a grade and then having it automatically re-engage 8 seconds later on a long grade would mean needing to tap the brake again.
I'm not clear on if the Bowler will engage in a lower gear, or not, as the B&M does. I've pulled our 3,500# trailer thru the Smokey mountains with the '38 and having the ability of overdrive, for full fluid cooling, in a lower gear was a complete game changer from no lockup. The B&M allows me to pick from 6 gear ratios with the turn of the switch and manual gear shifter.
Since you aren't waiting for a controller to put the trans in a vehicle right now, waiting for the B&M and having the option of the Bowler later, if needed, seems prudent.

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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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Some Assembly Required

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS 350 rs
jim larson


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Not exactly sure what my set-up will do.  As you may know, Bob W is helping me.  Power is to come from the fuse box. Then to a new 4 prong brake switch.  From there to a vacuum switch,  then depending on vacuum to a single prong on the transmission.  Lock up only accrues if  in 4th gear (OD).

As I understand,  on/off occurs when ever the brakes are tapped, then according to  manifold vacuum, the switch which is adjustable will send 12v to the trans, and then lockup will occur, if trans is in OD.  And your vacuum meets where you have the switch set.  Unsure how many seconds it takes for all this to happen.  I don’t plan to pull anything.  As I though, if I was going up hill, vacuum would drop, lock up would disengage, and the trans would shift as normal.  Hoping to try things out sometime in April.



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Jim L

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