Bruce, 2004R parts pricing questions

[jakeshoe]

Bruce,
After reading all your great info on this site as well as yours I think I'm ready to pull the TH400 out of my Chevelle and go to a 200.
My primary question is:
1. Do you or CAN you sell a kit containing EVERYTHING I need to build one of these myself.
I've been doing my own trannys for a while and have had good successs, some trial and error stuff but usually things go smooth.
I'm a master tech at a GM dealership so not too much I can't do.
Anyway,
My car is a '69 Chevelle with 427, TH400, 3.73's, and stock 14" SS wheels so it NEEDS an overdrive.
I have a core trans, codes out to be a 82 Caddy trans.
Chevelle is currently a mid 12 second car and not really looking to go any faster with it, it is a daily driver and idles like a stock motor, very mild but very torquey.
I've read your parts list and recommendations and can obtain the parts in kits and individually but it may be easier to get it from you.
I'm also hoping maybe if I buy parts from you, I might be able to pick your brains if I have problems.
I also want to make this thing have a WOT shift point around 5500,
2. Can I grind governor weights and change springs like I have done on TH400 and 350's forever or is there more to this on a 200?
3. What is the stall speed of a stock GN convertor? I'm looking to keep it around my current stall speed of ~2400-2500.
Thinking maybe a stock GN convertor behind the torquey BBC will be close.
4. What convertor do you recommend and how much is it?
Might even think of going up to around a 2800 stall speed since it will also have lockup...
My final question,
5. Shift kits for these things, and other transmissions in general.
I've had good luck with the TransGo stuff, they've been around forever and seems their kits don't hurt parts , I see you prefer a different kit in the 200, is this just preference or is there a specific advantage to one?

Thanks,
Jake

 

[Vett-Klr]

I know very little about trannies, but I did price out the parts that are contained in Bruce's trannies. Trust me, its about the same as buying the whole tranny from him. Plus you get his customer service and warranty. Might be worthwile to suck up the minimal added cost to ship and just order the whole unit. I tried to save a buck too, and after wasting 2,500 of them, I just bought Bruce's, for less than I wasted.

 

[78oldscutlass]

Take my advise (from a newbie GM tech guy)

Buy Bruce's Tranny complete.

I spent close to $2500 In parts and components TRYING to get this tranny the way I want. I manage to Get it to shift in all gear and lock-up the converter, but Im not happy with the shifts. And it has so-called Art carr tough Input drum

Take the guess work out and save your money. Bruce puts all his time and effort to make every tranny right the first time. I wish I could of bought one of his trannies before I did mine. Now I am stuck with a $2500 POS

 

[monte_383]

Gonna have to agree with the rest of these guys. Easier and cheaper to get one from Bruce already done to your specs. I have way more than these guys in mine (a lot of Bruce's stuff) , and guess where mine's going in a couple of weeks for a build. It was an expensive learning process, which you may be looking for (I like to learn how stuff works), but the lesson learned is to let THE man that knows how to do it put it together for you. Just wish I could have learned the same lessons cheaper, always seems to happen to me the hard way. HTH's -Chuck

 

[jakeshoe]

Thanks for the answers guys.
That's kinda what i figured.
I have located a '85 GN trans that is a working unit. Thought about installing it using Bruce's Shift kit, Servo, and possibly the TVmade Easy kit from Bowtie Overdrives unless Bruce has something better. If I get ready to order the parts I'll just call Bruce but otherwise I don't want to take up any of his time.
Thanks again.

 

[Nordbert]

I'm sure Bruce would be happy to talk to you about the tranny you are building. And if you need some great parts, he can help you there, too.

 

[PTS XTREME]

All of what you ask and want can be purchased from PTS. The only thing to maybe considered out side PTS would be the TV setup being its a change over, if we were doing the job for you we could do that but if you want to do it yourself the bowtie tv made easy would be easier for you to do it. As for the t/c a stock gn (D5) should give you about the stall your looking for, but would recommend the (9/11) Xtreme, more durable and is custom made to you desired stall. Also for the shift kit Trans Go is fine for all trannies but not recommened for the 2004r, do not agree with the design and we have one that will do far better for less $ and very easy to install and completely reverseable. We don't sell a complete kit but can sell you everything you need to do it or just the hard parts you want or need and you can furnish the soft kit from else were. I would strongly recommend the GN over the caddy for a core to start with. A few items to use for upgrade would be PR system, shift kit, wide band and anchor pin, servo assem., teflon ring kit, 3 disc od setup, rollered low rev. blue plates in direct drum, or get the whole roller assembly hot loaded and set up to just drop in. Fill out and order form on the site and we can work together from there, remeber prices are going up on all after the first of the year.