I have rebuilt and repaired so many low mileage "if they worked at all" Monster transmissions. They suck at building them. No idea how they're still in business. I hear horror stories all the time about their customer service and joke of a warranty
Thanks. I have a good 200-4Runner out of a friends 85 Monte Carlo. Shifts fine with no problems but I am going to go thru it before I put it behind my 350 ho 327. I will keep up with you and order the book tonight.
Sounds like a good plan. If it’s an SS trans it will have the best internal components from the factory! Best of luck with your build and let me know if you have any questions. I’m no expert but happy share my experiences and research if it helps!
You don't need the secondary spring in servo. If you want a hard kick there is a spacer you can buy to be solid.. most kits come with it with the explanation..
I am Earl, master mechanic and machinist. What you have done is waste a bunch of money and time. You were looking for HP and rpm reduction at highway speeds. You got the lower RPM at final gear for sure, but then you used a transmission that was internally designed for stock use only for the purpose of better fuel mileage. You used a paper lock on a steel chain, the 350 and 400 TH however was designed for a 400 HP application and your car had the correct transmission already. Your approach should have been a reduced diameter ring gear instead or taller rear wheels. What you should have done as for a transmission being you didnt want your original TH 350 is to go with the short tail 400 TH
Thanks for watching and sharing your opinion. I agree with your perspective if tthe trans stayed as it was, however now the trans is definitely not the weak link. With 800 ft/lbs capability due to the upgraded components and revised hydraulics, is say the stock crank and block is the next point of failure. Thanks again!
@@gearheadfellowship7690 Hope things work out. The 200 transmission has worked for e for 31 years and is still original in y 1989 cadillac brougham with the 307 olds engine, but I a a modest driver and love stock and baby my vehicles. But if I ever decided to drive like a wild man I would be running a th400. Here is something I diid back in 1986 when I purchased a 82 caprice chevy as a back up vehicle. Its transmission slipped at all speeds and was burned up being it had been a cpmpany car. I put a 350 TH from a salvage yard from a 69 malibu behind that 305 chevy engine and I swear the final 3rd gear was a match to what the 3 speed w/overdrive had. Because the engine still ran at a calm rpm at 70mph. So based on that I wonder if some of these ratio specs are even accurate. I didnt have a rp gauge in that car, but I know from my ear and feel that engine was not running above 2000 rpm at 70 mph and gas useage did not increase either
I have a friend with a 69 camaro with a 383 stroker with nitrous that runs in the high 10s. He runs a beefed up 2004r and has had no issues. I do recall him saying that he runs the pump pressure at full pressure all the time. He likes the gear ratio's better in the 200 than a 700r4. And really wants the OD.
I just had a 2004r installed into my 84 Monte Carlo SS today 4-16-19. The car has a stock 305, so I am thinking this transmission should last a while. It is a cruiser, not a race car. Thanks for the info, will be looking forward to your next review.
Man monster sucks butt, I have a 700 r4, hasn't worked right from the beginning and to get them to stand behing anything or support it is just worthless. The local guy that rebuilt it for me said everything in there used or junk or not setup right. How can these clowns do that. How hard is it to there job right.
Mine was a learn as I use it deal - bought a TCI streetfighter through Jegs like 1998? Put it behind the tired stock 402, lost 2nd gear about three months in. Drove like that until I could afford to send it to Art Carr when they had an outfit in Reno about year 2000, and got a crate 502. It held up well, only issue about 2003 had bad slipping from hot Calif. weather but oddly it recovered and has been fine. Other issue was lockup solenoid control, but you showed that fix.
A performance transmission company in NY (CK Performance) creates the book. Only high performance mod rebuild book for the 200/4R I could find: www.ckperformance.com/View/GM-2004R-TECHNICAL-MANUAL
I just bought that book! I will most likely be putting the CK Perf level 4 rebuild kit into my 200-4R that will be behind a ~450hp Olds 403. I trust myself a lot more than a high volume shop like Monster.
A stock 2004R should be good for 250-300 hp, but if you start going above that parts will need to be upgraded to ensure transmission reliability. Best of luck!
I built my own reverse manual valve body with engine braking in 2n 3rd and 4th, I bought all the billet parts from Chris at CK, I'm running it in a 68 Chevelle with a 496 BBC I have a 3500 Stall with lockup. I do use the TV Cable only for pressure rise, I didn't want to drive around town with 275psi at all times. I did a lot of research on the build and had a lot of fun doing the build.
Sounds like I’m on the right Track! I’m not savvy enough to to convert my own VB to reverse manual so I got the TCI unit. Looking forward to building the sections. CK is showing out of stock on the FWD drum and input shaft so I’m on hold right now. I’ve heard that a big cam (280 duration or bigger) and lockup don’t play well at cruise; creates a lugging. sensation. I’m going to give it a shot though. Did you have this issue?
I hardly use the lockup unless I'm on the freeway and it does lug if you lockup under 2000 rpm. I was going to use the TCI valve body but when I built my trans it was backordered and after a few months I called TCI and they told me they didn't even have cores yet, so thats when I made my own. On another note the TCI unit has no engine braking, which means when you let off the gas in any gear except 4th the engine will go back to idle speed
Hey Blue! I just got the trans in and was doing some pressure testing and have some weird things going on. Since you basically built your own VB I figured I’d as and see what you think. The two main issues are that there is no reverse and the rear hubs stop on the 2-3 shift. I’m double feeding the direct so I have the dreaded bind going on I think. The TCI VB has no relief holes in the separator plate for the 3rd accumulator; this is the place where Chris in the manual suggests opening up the #5 hole to .110. Any thoughts, thanks in advance!
@@gearheadfellowship7690 I think the problem is with the dual feed, TCI has re-routed the circuit. You might have to pull the VB. When I did my own VB I used the same circuit for reverse and one check ball. When you did the dual feed did you weld the bolt that feeds the direct drum? I would have to see the TCI valve body to see what they did, the fact they don't use check balls is way different than what I did, although I did make my own separator plate. Pic's of my mods here www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2068562
Thanks! I’ll check out what you did! I’ve been in the phone with TCI and they asked that I send it back to them for inspection and testing. By the looks of it the VB has just had everything removed except for the TV limit valve and the TCC apply. My conclusion is their unit isn’t set up to dual fed direct. As I trace the fluid path the blocked off bolt cavity is the only place they direct fluid to the direct clutch, so that’s what was happening, my lo/rev clutch was applying but the direct wasn’t-no reverse. I don’t see how I can fix it with their set up without creating issues when going into 3rd gear. I’m going to mod my VB and go from there, unless the fix it and return it. Thanks again!
Hey thanks for watching! the third gear bind was coming from the dual fed direct clutch applying quicker than the secondary band was releasing. both would be applied at the same essentially locking down the trans hard! big problem when doing an up shift at 70mph! It’s almost gone now, only a slight issue when letting off the throttle after a hard stab in 2nd. gone pull the VB and send it to Extreme Automatics for some magic sauce!
