200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

[Donald M.]

Does anyone have any information about mating a stock '54 Corvette inline six to a 200R4 transmission. I know about Stovebolt Engineering's adapter plate kit and starter motor, but little else. What about kick down linkage, electronics, shift linkage, etc.?

Don

[Joe R.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Does anyone have any information about mating a stock '54 Corvette inline six to a 200R4 transmission. I know about Stovebolt Engineering's adapter plate kit and starter motor, but little else. What about kick down linkage, electronics, shift linkage, etc.?

Don

I don't know the complete answer to your question, but I thought I should tell you what I do know.

The 2004R is the same physical length as the ALUMINUM Powerglide and it uses the same yoke and driveshaft. There are no electronics involved for the 2004R, but there is a mechanical throttle position sensor similar to what the Powerglide uses.

However, the rear mount on the 2004R is farther back than the rear mount on an ALUMINUM Powerglide. In a C2 Corvette, it is actually easier to retrofit the larger 700R4 transmission because the rear mount is much closer to the stock ALUMINUM Powerglide rear mount.

I learned only recently that the cast iron Powerglide differs from the aluminum version in more ways than just the case material, so I can't say for sure how easily the 2004R will replace the cast iron Powerglide.

However, I can say without hesitation that whatever it takes to make a 2004R or 700R4 swap, you will be very glad that you did it. The combination of a lower first gear and an overdrive top gear will completely transform the drivability of the car.

[Donald M.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Thanks, Joe. Good to know.

[Richard G.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

I have completed more than my share of the conversions to the modern overdrives. (If you can call a 1982 design modern). I have never converted a cast-iron p/g to one however. In all cases the gas mileage increased. in one BBC truck I completed the gains were over 30%. The biggest difference was the noise level in the cab. Dropping the RPM of the motor, at cruise in overdrive, by 1/3 decreased the overall noise level in the interior considerably. After you do a conversion if you need a reminder where you came from just drop the transmission into third, which is 1-to1 like the old high gear. You will not leave it there long and you will never go back!
Rick

[Donald M.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Thanks, Richard. I'm leaning more and more towards doing this. In fact, I should have done it instead of spending $$$$ putting my stock powerglide back to like new.

[Terry D.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Donald
You might want to post this on the Corvette Forum as I would think more people have done this type of modification. An overdrive transmission is a godsend if you plan to travel with your car. I put a Tremec 5-speed in my 62 several years ago and tripled my annual mileage on the car. 4 to 5 hundred mile trips are a breeze now.

[Paul J.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

I started installing a 200R4 in my '61 pg many years ago and it is still unfinished. The biggest problem I have found is that there are no bolts on a 200R4 to mount linkage to (after I had it built). I have a Lokar floor mount shifter with linkage and have had a big problem getting it to work. After many years I am going to get back to it again. I am going to concentrate on getting the shifter mounted to the floor some way and figure a way to get the linkage to work some way or another. I am also considering just getting a 700R4 if they have bolts on the case.

[Donald M.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

I did post there. Thanks, Terry.

[Donald M.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

I thought this might be a real problem, along with the kick down linkage.

Don

[Joe R.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

I started installing a 200R4 in my '61 pg many years ago and it is still unfinished. The biggest problem I have found is that there are no bolts on a 200R4 to mount linkage to (after I had it built). I have a Lokar floor mount shifter with linkage and have had a big problem getting it to work. After many years I am going to get back to it again. I am going to concentrate on getting the shifter mounted to the floor some way and figure a way to get the linkage to work some way or another. I am also considering just getting a 700R4 if they have bolts on the case.

The company Bowtie Overdrives (http://bowtieoverdrives.com) has been around for many years and would likely have some info on how to put a an overdrive automatic into a C1. I think that Bowtie started out specializing in the 700R4, but now they also offer the 2004R.

Shiftworks (http://www.shiftworks.com) might be someone else to talk to about the shifter issues.

You may find that with just a couple phone calls you can gather a lot of valuable information from people who have "been there done that." This isn't to say that everything they tell you should be believed without question, but it may help get you pointed in the right direction and will likely save you some time sorting out the issues.

[Donald M.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Good information here. It might have been Bowtie I looked into a couple of years ago when I was restoring my '54 Vette. I lost their internet address.
Don

The company Bowtie Overdrives (http://bowtieoverdrives.com) has been around for many years and would likely have some info on how to put a an overdrive automatic into a C1. I think that Bowtie started out specializing in the 700R4, but now they also offer the 2004R.

Shiftworks (http://www.shiftworks.com) might be someone else to talk to about the shifter issues.

You may find that with just a couple phone calls you can gather a lot of valuable information from people who have "been there done that." This isn't to say that everything they tell you should be believed without question, but it may help get you pointed in the right direction and will likely save you some time sorting out the issues.

[Doug F.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Late to the discussion, but I put a 200R4 in my '66 Pontiacs GTO clone behind a 400 ci engine. I purchased it from Bowtie Overdrives and had the innards beefed up. The shifting is controlled by their TV system. It takes a bit to set up the cable properly, but mine shifts well. The only downside is that I did not change my rear end to shorter gears. I think that are 2.87 or something like that. Anyway, it will shift into 4th/overdrive at low speeds such as 35 to 45 mph and with my gears, the engine rpm can fall to around 1000. There could be some further adjustments I need to do, but I just put the gear selector in drive and reserve overdrive for the highway. Look at the link below for in depth description of the TV system.

http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php

Doug

[Donald M.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Late to the discussion, but I put a 200R4 in my '66 Pontiacs GTO clone behind a 400 ci engine. I purchased it from Bowtie Overdrives and had the innards beefed up. The shifting is controlled by their TV system. It takes a bit to set up the cable properly, but mine shifts well. The only downside is that I did not change my rear end to shorter gears. I think that are 2.87 or something like that. Anyway, it will shift into 4th/overdrive at low speeds such as 35 to 45 mph and with my gears, the engine rpm can fall to around 1000. There could be some further adjustments I need to do, but I just put the gear selector in drive and reserve overdrive for the highway. Look at the link below for in depth description of the TV system.

http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php

Doug

Thank you, Doug. Very informative. I had given up on doing the conversion, but with this information it's back on the table. All this is way over my ability, but I have a great mechanic.

Don

[Bruce B.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

Many years ago I installed a turbo 350 trans in a V8 54 Corvette. I actually used the original 54 shifter.
It might work with the 200R4 since it mounts on the side of the trans tunnel. As far as kickdown linkage I believe like the turbo 350 there is a cable attached to the throttle linkage sort of similar (but different) then the TV cable used on the 700 trans.
I think most of the aftermarket shifters (Lokar, etc) mount on the top of the trans which looks stupid in a Corvette.

[Doug F.]

Re: 200R4 conversion on '54 Corvette

I remember when 4 spd overdrives became common, most of them had some sort of circuitry to prevent overdrive from locking in until the vehicle hit something like 45 mph. Some designs tended to hunt for gears and continued to lock and unlock overdrive as you traveled along at the designated lock up speed. I thought about looking for some kind of switch related to engine or vehicle speed that would lockout overdrive until the speed was exceeded. It looked like it was not going to be an easy or inexpensive fix, so I just figured I would be content shifting into overdrive manually. Besides, my GTO clone has the his/hers shifter and it is fun to run it through the gears at times.
Doug