I have a '56 Chevy with a 283 and I just swapped in a used 200R4 from an Olds. Carb is a Quadrajet and I'm using a stock cable bracket on the intake from a TH350. Lockup is wired up with the 4th gear pressure switch, the brake switch and vacuum switch. That probably isn't going to matter much for my current problem, and I'm not even sure if its working as I haven't gotten the car up to 4th gear yet. (At least I don't think I have) TV cable was adjusted per instructions on the Bowtie Overdrives website. Problem is, it shifts late under light acceleration. Won't shift from first to second until around 2200-2300 RPM, which when you are puttering down a residential street is a lot. Not sure of the MPH but I think its in the 20's when it shifts. Shifts quick and hard when it does. Under moderate acceleration, it shifts normally, because I think it would normally shift at 2200 then. I've read about this being something called Long Spring Syndrome, but I am not entirely sure what to do to correct it. I've played with the adjustment on the TV cable a little bit, even though I've read you aren't supposed to, but no adjustment had any effect on how it shifted. So, I'm looking for suggestions or ideas. I don't know what (if anything) I can adjust or correct to fix this. Or, is it possible that the trans is messed up internally, and I'm wasting my time and should plop the trusty ol TH350 back in? Since I want to take this thing on some long-haul trips in the future, the 200R4 had a lot of appeal. Thanks in advance, and I apologize for the non-traditional request.
Sounds like TV cable adjustment problem to me. Why is it wired through a vacum switch, that seems odd
Just reread your post again. Whats the 4th gear pressure switch, Mine is wired 12V through the brake pedal straight to the transmission electrical plug edit: Sp
I've played around with 200r4 behind a 250 six and the cable geometry is VERY important. My suggestion would be to find a factory cable bracket from a car with the 200/700 overdrive-quadrajet combination and then buy a new cable. This should get your cable geometry correct and eliminate any cable binding. The shift points are listed as mph (which I can't recall). I used a gps to check those. Hope this helps. Jim
i'll second what redwheels said. proper braket and cable are everything. also, you don't have to go full clicks on the cable adjustment. you can put it in between clicks or where ever it needs to be.
Adjustment is critical but simple as a stone once everything is in correctly, and as stated previously, geometry is also critical. Eighties Monte Carlos had that trans behind a small-block, so the brackets are available and easily modified if necessary.
I'll pick up a new cable and correct bracket and report back. Thanks so far. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
There's the majority of your problem. Get the GM linkage from a 200-4R w/Q-Jet. Yes, the BowTieOverdrives carb bracket and throttle linkage are expensive, but I couldn't get it done without it, as I wasn't using a Q-Jet. Not done a lot with the 200-4R, but on the 700R4, there are about twenty different governors; diesel, 4-cyl, V6, V8, Corvette V8 and so on. The springs and weights in the governor also affect the shift points. The good news is most tranny shops have a bucket full of them and they can be changed externally. jack vines
Like everyone else has said it is TV cable adjustment problems. In that respect, they are like the 700R4, anf TV cable adjustment will cause all kinds of shift feel problems, delayed and harsh shifts, or early and mushy shifts
http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/catalog/catalog_inc/viewitem.php?ITEMID=226 I assume that this is what I need to get. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
weak spring syndrome is fixed by replacing the spring on the trans side of the TV cable. pull the pan.and watch how it comes apart.
go here, Sumner shows you how to tweek your brackets so they will work correct. purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/tech He has alot of good tech on there Russ
I'm running a 200 4R behind a 350 in my 51 convertible. I bought the Lokar cables and brackets needed. Short of a little fine tuning on the TV cable it was a pretty straight forward install that works pretty well. The parts needed to put it together should be easily available.
As best I can measure by myself, my geometry is pretty much correct. Tough to measure without a helper, so it may be wrong. The number on the carb is 17084220, which I think means its an '84 Chevy carb in a car/truck that had an automatic. Here's a question - after adjusting the TV cable, should there be slack in the cable when the carb returns to idle? Mine definitely has slack at idle. I did see quadrajet corrector linkage on the Bowtie Overdrives site, so that may be what I have to do Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
I don't think so! I'm pretty sure my instructions for the TV said to take the cable and pull it for a measurement I can't recall. I did have it tight and then pulled ever so slightly. I would fine tune it by making it tighter or a little looser as I needed. Dom
the TV cable has to be tight at idle, you have to have preasure in the trans if it is running!! adjust so it is tight at idle, pull it to WOT. mark the cable it should not move more than 1 1/8".( if this is off you have to change mount till it is right) now you are close enofe for a test drive does it up shift? check for down shift you should be close now .if not, don't drive it, tighten it up and go home and recheck
I am thinking if you are having late shifts and your cable is loose than its problem may be something else mite look at the governor. Do you know the history of the tranny?
I don't know the history if the trans. Seller said it shifted fine but they all say that. For a test, I made a major adjustment to the TV cable and took down the street with the intention of killing the motor and pushing it home if it short-shifted or whatever it does when it has short spring syndrome. It made no difference in how it shifted. Seriously, almost all the way in or all the way out, and it shifts the same. So something has to be awry inside the trans, right? I may swap the TH350 back in when I put the new motor in, and save my nickels for a rebuilt 2004R. At least ill be back on the road then. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Get a trans pressure gauge and put it on the trans, it is what I use when setting up the TV cable. That way you can see what the line pressures are and what the TV valve is doing, or not doing. Maybe the cable is disconnected inside the trans or the TV valve is stuck, line pressure gauge is the way to go.
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