need some 200-4r help

by bitterfitter Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:01 pm

I have a 200-4r in my 1974 Malibu. No problem with installation or the dreaded TV cable. I have always had a hard time shifting the transmission. I have the factory floor shift with console. I finally had enough and began to look into it. Looks like it was just an old cable. It was very stiff and not very easy to slide. After I replaced the cable, I thought I would try to line up the shifts better, and this is my issue: I realize with the 4 speed OD trans, I will not get the trans gears, dash indicator, and shifter gates to line up. I should be able to get into all the gears in the transmission though. I am having a hard time getting the trans to hit drive and neutral where ot needs to. I still have the linkage attached to the steering column to activate the neutral switch. There is no adjustment in the cable that I can see. I originally used a factory 3 speed bracket that I modified, but I see no that it is not putting the cable where I need it in its travel. I installed a non modified factory bracket in the front hole only and it sems better. Now I cannot use this bracket because the holes do not line up with the bolts on the trans pan. What did you guys running OD transmissions do for brackets and adjustments? Anyone think it would be worth it for me to remove the factory 3 speed gate plate and make my own 4 speed one? Seems easy once the trans cable is adjusted correctly.

I really need some guidance here...

by Joe73 Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:40 pm

I remember seeing a bunch of info on line about the shifter mods. Check your pms.

by thatfnthing Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:51 pm

I ran into all that. Looks like you need to come for a visit sooner rather than later. Smile

I wound up using some brackets from one of the 200-4R conversion kits from Camaro Central for early Camaros, making my own detent plate, and having a custom cable made by Fleet Pride over on Walden in Cheektowaga with a male threaded end on the trans side. From there I made a custom end from aluminum rod to manipulate the trans selector -- it threads onto the end of the new cable, so it's perfectly adjustable.

The original column linkage still hooked up normally for the neutral safety switch, but I ditched the gear selection indicator when I went to VDO gauges. I have purchased a Lokar gear indicator, but I haven't gotten around to installing it. Easy enough to tell what gear she's in once I remade the detent plate. But if you retain your stock indicator, it will always be off in anything other than P or L1 because the 200-4R physically has 7 positions versus the TH350's 6 in the same arc. You'll need to make a new one or just live with it.

Or I can sell you my unused Lokar one. Smile

by bitterfitter Wed Mar 12, 2014 8:59 pm

Hey Joe73; thanks for the info on the detents for the 4 speed shifters. Beer

I ended up home from work today early because of the blizzard, so I went out to the garage and ended up turning my 3 speed detent into a 4 speed one. I have an extra shifter so I removed the detent plate and using the MIG and a grinder, I welded and ground mine into the 4 speed one I need. So now that the detent is done, I am going to make a custom bracket for the trans cable. Then I will just have to make a new indicator showing the extra speed and at the correct spacing, and I am in business. If I can get my phone to work, I will get some pics of the finished detent plate.

by Joe73 Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:56 am

Sweet. Nice to fab up things.

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