200-r4 BQ question from a new guy!

[tomard]

I am a new member that doesn't even own a GN, but sure do like to read about your cars .... even getting a little itch to "go there" :biggrin:

Anyways, I have acquired a 4BQ that I am going to put into my modified 80 chevy corvette and would like to know, from THE PEOPLE in the know, what I should NOT do while rebuilding this tranny (in comparison, if I did not have a GN 200-r4 unit).

A little about the car that I am working on:
350 SBC
AFR 180cc Eliminator Heads with small 64cc chambers
Edelbrock EPS intake/Edelbrock 1406 Carb
No emissions at all
True dual exhaust, headers, flowmasters
3.73 rear
STOCK 3spd TH350C tranny with shift kit (until the 200-r4 gets done)
Comp Cam .490
MSD HEI

 

[SHADOWII]

First!

Let me say Welcome Pilgrim! Glad to have you on board!
May I ask why you are choosing to go to the 4r? weight reduction, or 4th gear, etc. the gn/tr's normally have the brf trans and the bq I believe is the caddy valve body. They have different shift points, but it can be used for heavy-duty use. I'm not a tranny guy, but I do have some experience at blowing them up Not sure if that qualifies me or not:biggrin: But there are some great tranny guys that will be able to help. The two I personally have dealt with and recommend, are Chris from CKperformance, who offers a manual on the 4r that's great along w/a rebuild kit, that I also purchased for one of mine. the other is Lonnie Diers of extremeautomatics. I am a proud owner of one of his great creations, top-of-the-line! rated 850HP models. Both are great guys to deal with. 718-784-4256 & 513-545-3072 the latter.:wink:

 

[1turbo6]

I thought the BQ was also used in the 84 85 gn and the servo was a little smaller?

 

[tomard]

That is correct about BQ/BRF

The 84 & 85 200-r4's were designated BQ ..... 83, 86-up were BRF.

That is interesting, about servo being little bit smaller .... that is the kind of info I am looking for, although I have already decided to go to larger servo, Superior K014, that is supposidely about 11% larger than GN (BRF??) servo!

 

[tomard]

Teardown of 200-r4

The only thing I found during teardown was (everything looked stock, had stock D5 converter, no shift kits or check balls missing, stock servo etc), was a broken 2-3 accum spring UNDER piston, burnt 2nd gear band and a cracked (not broken) tab that holds the lockdown electrical connector to inside of case.

So here is what I am going to do:
A) Master Rebuild Kit w Stage1 Red clutches, Kevlar band, Kolene
B) Transgo Shift Reprogramming Kit
C) 13 Vane Hardened Pump kit
D) Super Servo (2nd) SUP-K014
E) TV Cable
F) Speedo Driven Gear White - 31 tooth (Has 11tooth/Orange DRIVE gear)
G) Hardened Stator Support
H) Torrington Bearing Kit, Lockup Electrical Connector, Thrust washer kit

Anyone see any problem with these, or something I maybe have not thought of?

BTW - thanks for warm welcome - I am really intrigued with the GN's .... and the only reason I even started reading about them is this tranny ..... so the learning experience just goes on and on and on .....

 

[1turbo6]

i think most guys like the alto wide band. there should be a ton of info in the tranny section.

 

[tomard]

Did I post in incorrect section??

 

[BetMinesFaster]

Eh, everybody has done it at least once, im guessin the moderators will move this to the transmission section for ya! Only one question I have, what about the bellhousing.....I thought the GN 4r was BOP and the monte ss trans and such was the chev pattern??? Maybe im mistaken?

 

[tomard]

This 4BQ that I have has the Dual Bolt pattern bell housing ..... and this is the only BQ I have ever seen, so don't know if they made them both in dual and BOP configs!

 

[BetMinesFaster]

This 4BQ that I have has the Dual Bolt pattern bell housing ..... and this is the only BQ I have ever seen, so don't know if they made them both in dual and BOP configs!

Thanks for the info!

 

[JDSfastGN]

The only thing I found during teardown was (everything looked stock, had stock D5 converter, no shift kits or check balls missing, stock servo etc), was a broken 2-3 accum spring UNDER piston, burnt 2nd gear band and a cracked (not broken) tab that holds the lockdown electrical connector to inside of case.

So here is what I am going to do:
A) Master Rebuild Kit w Stage1 Red clutches, Kevlar band, Kolene
B) Transgo Shift Reprogramming Kit
C) 13 Vane Hardened Pump kit
D) Super Servo (2nd) SUP-K014
E) TV Cable
F) Speedo Driven Gear White - 31 tooth (Has 11tooth/Orange DRIVE gear)
G) Hardened Stator Support
H) Torrington Bearing Kit, Lockup Electrical Connector, Thrust washer kit

Anyone see any problem with these, or something I maybe have not thought of?

BTW - thanks for warm welcome - I am really intrigued with the GN's .... and the only reason I even started reading about them is this tranny ..... so the learning experience just goes on and on and on .....

Ok hear is what ya need imo. I don't reccomend the transgo shift kit
10-13 vane pump or pump kit depending on how good your pump housing is.
CK performance shift kit (simple and effective)
basic rebuild kit 26-30 bucks with gaskets/seals etc...
use alto reds throughout, 6 in the direct (2-3) and 4 in the forward (clearace should be .35-.45 for both so new .88 size stock steels can be used along with a few oversized .100s to get the clearance tighter)
alto wide band
new low reverse clutches
new torrington bearings
new washers
new tcc lockup solenoid
hardened/heat treated front stator
find a stock 694 86-87 GN servo
I would also find a new direct clutch drum as the stock ones even if flat have been used with metal sealing rings on the center support so chances are that there are 3 grooves on the inside surface of the drum (can create 2-3 shift problems)
Use 1 piece teflon sealing rings throughout, they can be purchased through PTS/CK etc....the kit will come with scarf cut rings that Im not a fan of.
I'm sure Im leaving something out but this should be a nice shifting tranny that will last at your power level.
If you want to make sure its gonna stand up to any future mods (383/N.O.S. etc...) buy a billet forward drum and dual feed the direct clutches.
You can order a very handy and informative rebuild book from Chris at CK performance as well. It has quite few tips and tricks as well as specifics on how to dual feed. Good luck

 

[tomard]

I have ordered all the parts I think I will be needing. Will update this thread as soon as I get it done/tested on the blacktop!

P.S - You guys on this site ROCK .... I never even considered a Buick until now (was always a Chevy & Pontiac guy ..... Trucks & Cars)!