How hard is it to rebuild a 200-4R?

[Shane]

I feel that my tranny will soon need a rebuild. How hard is it to rebuild our trannies?

I have zero transmission experience, this would be the first time. So, I guess it's time for the noob questions. I think that I have to take it out of the car, but I'm not sure. Do I? My combo is in my signature, would I just have to rebuild it to stock? Or strengthen it a bit? Where can I get a rebuild kit from? How much would it run, total? Finally, how long will it take, roughly. It's my daily driver, so I would need to get it done over a weekend.

Thanks, guys.

 

[HellOnWheels]

Shane,

I rebuilt my 200R4 with common tools, mainly a long slotted screwdriver, snap ring pliers, dial indicator, etc..., but in order to set the clutch packs up right you need to have compressed air avilable, and you'll need an ATSG(sp?) manual. I had available a set of "special" tools that is needed to disassemble the trans but could have gotten by without them. Pay close attention to shaft end play settings.

I had a bunch of knowledgable people on this forum as well as gnttype.org willing to and in fact did help me bunches, especially Bruce T, and Mark at PTS.

Now that the rebuild is done and my trans continues to work flawlessly (1.65 60 foot time) in looking back I'd say the most important "tip" came from a guy named "Andy" that lives on the east coast when he said to re-assemble the innard onto the torque coverter when pulling the trans apart in order to get a sense of the way it looks when assembled in the case was the best advise that I could pass on to anyone.

Simply put-if I can do it ANYONE can.

Good luck and holler if I can help.

Jerry

 

[salvageV6]

It's easy, just save up $1400 and bring it to Dynotech in New Jersey.

Eric Schertz will do it so it lasts.

Pop in a new Protorque torque converter while you're there too.

 

[Shane]

Thanks Jerry and Salvage.

Dynotech isn't really an option. I'm looking to do this on the cheap. Not really cheap, but as budget as possible.

I do have a compressor. Where can I get those custom tools? What am I looking at roughly for a total project here?

I was thinking of getting a junkyard tranny and swapping them out. Is that a good idea? Obviously I would need the BOP Bolt pattern, would the V-6 200-4R work out of a non TR?

 

[HellOnWheels]

I do have a compressor. Where can I get those custom tools? What am I looking at roughly for a total project here?

I was thinking of getting a junkyard tranny and swapping them out. Is that a good idea? Obviously I would need the BOP Bolt pattern, would the V-6 200-4R work out of a non TR? [/B][/QUOTE]


Actually Shane, you won't need the custom tools, you will see when you start the disassembly.

The TR specific trans is needed, or at least the TR specific valve body.

Jerry

 

[salvageV6]

I am not sure if this matters to you or not but the tranny has the serial number on it and is part of a "numbers matching" car.

So swapping one out may or may not cost you $$$ in the long run if it is a nice example that will be worth $$$ in the future.

I kept my old tranny for that reason.

If you can do the R+R yourself in a driveway good luck to you!!!

You can probably rebuild it on a bench as well.

I believe there are videos available on the 200-4R tranny and you might want to read the build up at the top of the page as well.

 

[2quiktocare]

The biggest things you need to make sure of is to keep everything extremely clean and also don't rush yourself. That is when mistakes are made. A few days extra aren't much when you consider rushing may cause you to have to redo it all again soon if you make a mistake. Buy an ASTG manual for sure.

 

[Shane]

Ok sounds good, guys. Where can I get this manual?

 

[Firechicken]

Check on Ebay, there are a few people selling them and they range from around $10 to $20 depending on the seller. Make sure you search for all the various forms of 200-4R...

• 2004r
  200-4r
  200r4
  200-r4

I actually bought mine from TCI via Jegs or Summit, I can't remember which. TCI just puts a sticker with their part# on the ATSG manual.

 

[Shane]

Hey Firechicken-
Thanks, I found one shortly after that post, on ebay for like eleven bucks.

I love your screenname, man. Total flashback to high school. The rival team was the Thunderbirds and we called them the Thunderchickens.

 

[Firechicken]

haha ya when my friends from work saw my car the first time, a 1980 Firebird, they started calling it the Firechicken, and then that got shortened to 'the chicken'. My license plates that say 'chicken' on them too.

 

[Firechicken]

Oh yeah, I know it has been said that you can get by without the tools, if you still want them, I found a website of a company that you can rent/buy the tools from. A quote from their website saying how the rental part works:

When you rent a tool, you are charged the full retail price. When you return it, you are charged only the rental price plus any shipping charges; the rest is refunded to you.

In the long run, it might be worthwhile to just keep the tools when you are done as the shipping might get expensive.

Anyway, the website is:

http://www.technicalvideos.com/tools/index.phtml

I am considering buying the tools from these guys as i am about to get started building a 200-4r for the first time myself.

The pump remover I think I can make so the only tools I am considering is the bushing driver and the Low/reverse clutch installer.

 

[Shane]

What tools are necessary? Thanks for the link!

 

[Firechicken]

Well maybe someone else knows what ones are the best to buy, but if you read the build instuctions, at the link below, written by a guy named Andy Lehoskay, he explains how to build the tranny without any of the special tools.

http://www.jr333.com/pontiac/automatics.htm

This info was originally posted on the gnttype.org website, but it is down for some reason, but someone has copied it and reposted.

 

[Blown&Injected]

With the ASTG and some help from here, I too did my own trans - works great.

The only special tool needed:

I say five but only two specific to the trans. The three non specific tools are air compressor, feeler gauge, and dial indicator. The magnetic base dial indicator I used I got from Harbor Freight for about $20. Did not use the magnetic base, but the rod for the base has the same threads as those that hold the front pump in place so it works great for out transmissions - just a perfect base for the dial indicator.

The two specific tools I fabricated easily. One is used to pullout a clutch pack - it is just some stiff copper wire 2 pieces about 10" long with a 90* bend about 3/8" from the end - just long enough to grab the pieces that want to fall apart as the assembly is lowered into place. I don't have my manual handy so I do not remember what hub/drum/pack of clutches it is - you will see what I mean.

There is also an assembly with lots of springs and it is very hard to hold it in place and get the snap ring on. I cut a piece of steel, 1" channel, drilled and taped some holes so that the piece of steel could be bolted in the trans and then used the tapped holes to run some screws down to push the spring tensioned part.

A bucket of lacquer thinner makes for a great parts cleaner - good luck.