shark bite !!!

[buckhorn76]

i think i will go with this bottom end in the 406. we will zero deck the block to 9 inches and use a .040 head gasket. i think though i will go larger for the heads and use the afr 195 instead of the 180's. 65cc chamber. still going with the howard's roller cam and same intake set up.

Scat 1-90805BE Scat Chevy Small Block Series 9000 Cast Pro Comp Street-Strip Rotating Assembly - Free Shipping on All Orders @ JEGS

 

[Case75]

Looks like a stout bottom end Doug. I agree, you'll be better served with the 195's. Just got my engine done and already dreaming of the AFR 195's.

 

[buckhorn76]

our goal is to hit 500 lb of torque at the flexplate at 4000 rpm and i think the 195's stand a better chance.

 

[Case75]

Really good example of the power of the AFR 195's here Doug:

383 Stroker Upgrades - Project Homewrecker - Super Chevy Magazine All Pages

The "low priced" heads they removed are my Patriot 190's. A good head design at one time (pretty much an aluminum Vortec head) and a good value but no longer competitive against the latest AFR and Dart heads. Quite a substantial increase from a head swap after the cam change in the article.

 

[buckhorn76]

i think with the added oomph of a 406 an overdrive trans would be prudent. swapping from a th 350 to a 200r4 is a relatively painless easy route to take. it would be pretty nice to get 30% better cruising mileage with a big inch small block. i think the bto level 2 should fit the bill.

Bowtie Overdrives - View Item

 

[Case75]

i think with the added oomph of a 406 an overdrive trans would be prudent. swapping from a th 350 to a 200r4 is a relatively painless easy route to take. it would be pretty nice to get 30% better cruising mileage with a big inch small block. i think the bto level 2 should fit the bill.

Bowtie Overdrives - View Item

A 4L80E would live a long life I would think. Basically a TH400 with OD. Some good controllers out there now and it gets you away from the TV cable.

 

[buckhorn76]

A 4L80E would live a long life I would think. Basically a TH400 with OD. Some good controllers out there now and it gets you away from the TV cable.

agreed greg, however i want to stay away from electronics as much as i can and the 200r4 is basically a straight swap. same crossmember and no altering of the driveshaft.

 

[boB E]

Hey Doug and Greg,
I am contemplating the same tranny swap ie-A 200 4r in my C3.
I have a Corvette Central catalog 4 c3 and on page 150 (bottom right) there is a kit to allow the use of a factory shifter. I was wondering if this might include the shift slide and indicator. Do u think this kit might come in handy?

 

[buckhorn76]

bob, i believe the kit has the shift indicator and detent for the extra position. do you currently have a th350 ?

 

[boB E]

My '78 is stock so I believe it's a th350. I am taking a 200 4R out of an 87 Monte Carlo. I found another kit on a tranny site that has an electrical plug that goes to the trans and the wires hook up to your brake lites to unlock the converter. this allows u 2 use the computer controlled tranny in a non computer car. the kit was about 39 bucks. That along with the kit from CC should solve the main probs----The tranny length (if I am not mistaken) is close enuf to allow use of the old driveshaft, without any mods.

 

[buckhorn76]

bob if your engine is stock that trans should be strong enough. the drive shaft length and stock crossmember are good to go. my engine however would eat a stock 200 pretty quick so i will opt for the bowtie level 2 unit.

 

[boB E]

But the Monte has a crate 330HP 350 that comes with the 200 4R. So I will be transplanting engine and transmission. It was Greg who first asked me about the electrical end of the swap. Monte has a controller----78 doesn't. He was right----I had to look into it.

 

[buckhorn76]

bob, do you mean the lock up converter ? a carbureted engine uses a throttle valve cable for the 700r4 or 200r4 trans.

 

[boB E]

I am aware of the tv cable and how to set it. The converter is my concern. I don't have the car here and so I don't know if there is a wiring plug that goes to the trans. from the controller. Can u explain?

 

[buckhorn76]

because you don't have ecm in the car, you won't be using a controller, only a tv cable and a wiring kit. there should be a 4 pin connector on the trans for the lock up converter solenoid. here is the wiring kit you need.

Bowtie Overdrives - View Item

 

[boB E]

Gotcha!---We're both on the same page. I see three different lockup switches. So I was trying to figure which one is best. They run from 39 bucks to 189
bucks. Electric or vacuum? Check out this one TCI 376601 TCI 200-4R / 700R4 Torque Converter Lockup Kit - Free Shipping on All Orders @ JEGS There is also one for 95 bucks that has the same writeup.

 

[buckhorn76]

for me personally,i will be using the bowtie unit as it is complete with harness etc. for me the entire set up will be from bowtie. i may even use their crossmember to create more room for the exhaust system. whichever kit you decide on bob, i would suggest getting one that has all the connections and harness. for me i am leery of vacuum and a non stock camshaft.

 

[Keith Tedford]

If you are ever worried about choosing the wrong cam for your application, call Chris Straub. He seems to have an awful lot of happy customers. I bought some big block Ferrea valves from him a few years ago and he was more than helpful on the phone.

Welcome to Straub Technologies. . .The Source of Performance.

 

[boB E]

I noticed the kit u linked me 2 says for cars with no cruise. I have cruise, so they must have an alternate kit? So, in fact the TC is controlled (on these trans)by the Electronic Control Module---(ECM) Was it the Modulator Valve on the Powerglide that controlled the TC? Now u will be using the brake light circuit to lock or unlock the TC.

 

[buckhorn76]

brake light circuit is correct. there is a kit that has the extra connections for cruise. the modulator valve was the shift vacuum assist on the glide.