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200r4 or 4l60e

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Old 08-13-2013, 04:58 AM
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Default 200r4 or 4l60e

which trans will be more agressive from the starting line 200r4 or 4l60e
Old 08-13-2013, 08:05 AM
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4L60E will be more aggressive with a much lower gear, the problem is the 1-2 gear spread is wider , so there is more rpm drop . The 2004R when built right is a stronger trans than the 4L60 with closer gear spacing. I know I will get bashed on that last statement and few builders can make that happen. I believe my builder can, and that is who I get the info from. With proper parts, the 2004R can hold up to 1000hp. If you make more than that go straight to the 4L80. Im putting a stage 2 2004R in my car this week and am confident I wont have to worry about trans issues anymore, in the future.
Go see Lonnie and have him build you a 200, you will be happy.
Old 08-13-2013, 05:23 PM
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Thanks anyone else I wish the tranny builders would reply
Old 08-14-2013, 07:12 AM
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I think Jake is out of town right now. Im sure he will chime in when he gets back.
Old 08-14-2013, 02:08 PM
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We completely agree with newschool72. When built correctly, with the appropriate upgrades, the 200-4R is a much stronger transmission. Give us a call and we'll be happy to go over everything with you.
Old 08-14-2013, 04:02 PM
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I also was told with the right converter in the 4l60e the rpm don't drop as far.a guy with 4l60 e and circle d 5c told me his didn't
Old 08-14-2013, 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by sbf
I also was told with the right converter in the 4l60e the rpm don't drop as far.a guy with 4l60 e and circle d 5c told me his didn't
Look up the gear ratios for each tranny and make your decision based off of that. Just remember, it takes money and knowledge to build a good 200-4R. Not every builder knows how.
Old 08-15-2013, 07:07 AM
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Originally Posted by LS1MCSS
Look up the gear ratios for each tranny and make your decision based off of that. Just remember, it takes money and knowledge to build a good 200-4R. Not every builder knows how.
True statement on the builder of the 2004R. There are inherent flaws built into the 2004R as built by GM. A great 2004R builder can eliminate those flaws and by replacing the weak knees in the hard parts, can make a perfect 4 sp overdrive for 95% of the hot cars on the road. A good converter can get you off the line with whatever gear ratio the trans has in first. Just look at all the glides out there turning great times. Keeping the engine in the power band is the job of the gear spacing in the trans, and the flash of the converter. It seems to me ,for the 4L60 to mask the big drop between 1st and 2nd,the converter will have to be a lot looser than the 2004R. It takes a heck of a converter to be that loose and still lock up nice and tight to keep the efficiency up at the big end.
It might just be me, but why start with a weaker trans and have to be super careful with the converter, just to get to about the same place in the end? Another thing to consider is the physical weight of the trans and the drive train losses that the 4L60 will have over the 2004R. The 200 will have less loss through the drive train and have less weight to push down the track.
Old 08-15-2013, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by newschool72
True statement on the builder of the 2004R. There are inherent flaws built into the 2004R as built by GM. A great 2004R builder can eliminate those flaws and by replacing the weak knees in the hard parts, can make a perfect 4 sp overdrive for 95% of the hot cars on the road. A good converter can get you off the line with whatever gear ratio the trans has in first. Just look at all the glides out there turning great times. Keeping the engine in the power band is the job of the gear spacing in the trans, and the flash of the converter. It seems to me ,for the 4L60 to mask the big drop between 1st and 2nd,the converter will have to be a lot looser than the 2004R. It takes a heck of a converter to be that loose and still lock up nice and tight to keep the efficiency up at the big end.
It might just be me, but why start with a weaker trans and have to be super careful with the converter, just to get to about the same place in the end? Another thing to consider is the physical weight of the trans and the drive train losses that the 4L60 will have over the 2004R. The 200 will have less loss through the drive train and have less weight to push down the track.

A 200-4R and a 4L60E weigh about the same... Not sure where one would have any great drivetrain loss over the other.
Especially since we've got good data that a 4L80E that is 35 lbs heavier than a 4L60E doesn't typically cause any real HP loss.
The HP losses assumed in the transmission are way greater in internet lore than in real life and not really of ANY consequence to 98% of the people who worry about it.
Basically if you're not running 9's or quicker in the 1/4 mile, it's not really a factor.

I do prefer the gear ratios of the 200-4R. However it's NOT a 1000 HP capable unit in my experience, but neither is a 4L60E.
Old 08-15-2013, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Jake's Performance
A 200-4R and a 4L60E weigh about the same... Not sure where one would have any great drivetrain loss over the other.
Especially since we've got good data that a 4L80E that is 35 lbs heavier than a 4L60E doesn't typically cause any real HP loss.
The HP losses assumed in the transmission are way greater in internet lore than in real life and not really of ANY consequence to 98% of the people who worry about it.
Basically if you're not running 9's or quicker in the 1/4 mile, it's not really a factor.

I do prefer the gear ratios of the 200-4R. However it's NOT a 1000 HP capable unit in my experience, but neither is a 4L60E.
That's interesting on the HP losses. Im a regurgitater , not a builder, so I will take your thoughts as truth.
On the 1000HP 2004R, the guy you recommended while you were out of the 2004R business claims his stage 3 billet unit will hold it and has a 2 year warranty to stand behind it. You know more about that sort of thing than I do, but he is convinced, LOL.
Old 08-15-2013, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by newschool72
That's interesting on the HP losses. Im a regurgitater , not a builder, so I will take your thoughts as truth.
On the 1000HP 2004R, the guy you recommended while you were out of the 2004R business claims his stage 3 billet unit will hold it and has a 2 year warranty to stand behind it. You know more about that sort of thing than I do, but he is convinced, LOL.
The problem with HP claims is it becomes a ***** measuring contest.

If trans builder XYZ claims it will hold 1000 HP, if you don't "equal" the claim, the public thinks you have a lesser product.
So you either don't claim any numbers, or you play the marketing game, or you tell the truth.

A 200-4R at 1000 HP isn't going to live long. The planetaries are going to kill the thrust washers and other issues.
I think it's a great unit up to 600 HP, and it's a workable unit to 800 HP, but not 1000 HP.

Art Carr started the 1000 HP 200-4R claim and I know Lonnie builds a better 200-4R than CPT, Lonnie knows this as well.
Old 08-15-2013, 07:24 PM
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Learned something new today. Never really knew the 200-4R had those advantages over the 60e.
Old 08-15-2013, 07:44 PM
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So the 200r4 will be faster at the track because of gear ratio
Old 08-15-2013, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by sbf
So the 200r4 will be faster at the track because of gear ratio
It has the potential to be faster because of the tighter gear ratios, but as Newschool72 said, it depends upon your rear ratio, your cam and the stall of the converter.
For example, with a 2.73 rear, stock cam and stock converter, I think it would be slower because that combo would be faster with the 4L60E's 3.06 1st gear ratio.

Personally I would always prefer a 4L60E or 4L80E because I like tuning the trans exactly when and how it shifts.
Old 08-16-2013, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by mrvedit
It has the potential to be faster because of the tighter gear ratios, but as Newschool72 said, it depends upon your rear ratio, your cam and the stall of the converter.
For example, with a 2.73 rear, stock cam and stock converter, I think it would be slower because that combo would be faster with the 4L60E's 3.06 1st gear ratio.

Personally I would always prefer a 4L60E or 4L80E because I like tuning the trans exactly when and how it shifts.
Yea ,the E transmissions have much better control of upshifts, if you let the trans do the work. To me an auto is boring enough just being foot clutchless , Im surely not going to stick it in drive and let it shift it self. With the right valve body, it will shift right where you want every time , manually . If just cruising, the right valve body will upshift good enough, for me anyway, to get me to the grocery store and back, LOL.
The super low first gear in the 7004R and 4L60E where designed for under powered V6 cars so they would be able to pull away from a stop and not get the drive run over by the Voltswagon bug behind them, LOL. If the car is geared and stall correctly, I don't think the 3.06 first gear is worth anything more than making you have to find second quicker, but don't worry, you can rest while you wait for third to show up.
Old 08-16-2013, 06:11 PM
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My plans with either trans is a circle d 5c 3.90-4.10 gears ls1 advanced induction hcr 241 heads eps 222/226 115 cam.its going into a foxbody mustang that should weigh 27-2800 lb.



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