bdk70monte

So after having a 200-4R transmission out of an 85 Monte Carlo SS rebuilt by a knowledgable transmission shop, my brother and I got it installed this weekend. Everything seems to be on the up and up and we started doing the TV cable adjustments. It looks to be close to where it should be but the problem is at best we are getting into 3rd gear and it slips and just revs when trying to shift into overdrive. We've done several test runs up and down the road to no avail. I plan to call the trans shop and see what they think we should try next but I thought I would throw something out here in case anyone has any ideas or experience here. I am currently running a ZZ4 350 Fast Burn 385HP motor. The trans has been set up with all the right hardened parts to handle the HP and future torque. I'm running a 670 cfm Holley Street Avenger carb. We did install the carb bracket for a Holley to set the TV cable. Let me know if you need to know anything else about the set up. Thanks in advance for any help/advice. Ben

I used a Smoke Gray color on the backside, believe from Rustoleum when I refinished my rallys last year. They came out looking really good. I went ahead and did the spare the same way. Probably not 100% correct, but I like it. I did use the correct Argent Silver on the front side though.

I'm in the process of getting a 200-4R rebuilt right now. I went with the 200 over the 700 mainly for the sake of not having to mess with cutting the driveshaft down and for the more even gears. I did get a lot of upgrades and hardened parts for i though too so that it'll be strong enough to hold up for my setup as well as my future setup. If you go with the 200 definitely get the hardened parts though as they weren't built to handle much over 300HP from the factory. I'll let you know how mine goes once I get it back from the shop and get it installed.

I had this happen to my 70 MC when I first bought it too actually. It turned out it was over filled with gear oil. They must have filled the rear with gear oil when it was out of the car and standing on it's end. When we pulled the plug to check the fluid level, since it had been leaking, it came pouring out. Now that I have the correct amount of gear oil in it, it hasn't leaked at all since. I doubt this is your problem, but just wanted to throw it out there since it can happen.

I have all of my stuff in order with the tranny now. I'll be using a 200-4R out of an 85 Monte SS. I did some research and ended up going with parts from Jake's Perfomance Transmission out of Texas. I spoke with Jake personally and discussed my current and future set up. He knows his stuff. So I went ahead and got his master kit for the 200, which includes all of the hard parts that you need along with other upgrades. I also went ahead and got the billet forward drum since he said that's one of the first points of failure in the hard parts in his experience. Good guy to deal with if any of you need parts and/or info. Being in Michigan, I looked around and found a trans shop that seems to be a good place to get it rebuilt. It's Transmissions Unlimited in Utica. Anyone familiar with them? They seemed to be a good chice since they deal with 200-4Rs a lot as well as classic cars. So they'll know what I need the tranny to be set up for. I'm hoping to get something scheduled with them in the near future to get the tranny rebuilt. I'm looking forward to getting it back so I can get it installed in time for spring cruisin here as the weather starts to break up north

Very good, thanks guys. I see your 72 has a 402 air cleaner decal. I think the 70 Monte was marked with 400 though wasn't it? I know they still had Chevelles badged as SS 396 in 70 since that's what everyone knew them by. Keep them coming if anyone else has any pics. Thanks, Ben

Anyone have some engine pics of a 1970 402 with a stock set up? I'm going to be dropping a big block in my Monte at some point and have decided to go with a stock appearance, although I'm sure I'll have some upgraded internals at least. Most Montes I see have been dressed up under the hood so I was just curious if anyone had some pics of how the 402 originally looked under the hood of a 70 Monte. Thanks, Ben

I'm in the process of swapping my TH350 trans for a 200-4R as well. I went with the 200-4R to avoid having to get the driveshaft shortened and what not. I was able to pick up a good core with stock torque converter from an 85 Monte SS for $50. I plan to buy a good rebuild kit and some hardened interals and hope to get it into a tranny shop this winter for a rebuild. Then I'll be able to install it and have nice overdrive performance come spring I'll keep you posted how things come along. I'm running original 3.31 rear gears in my 70 Monte.

You'll also need a spacer for the ring if you are running a 2 series carrier, which it sounds like you are with the 2.73 gears. The spacer basically allows you to run a 3 series ring gear (3.08, 3.23, 3.31, etc) in a 2 series carrier. I just swapped out a 3.73 gear for an original 3.31 set up a week or so ago. I did have the help of my Dad and his friend though, who have a lot of experience with these things. Took us a few hours and works great. So it can be done on your own, but if you know someone with experience that helps too. Ben

I am currently running a Turbo 350 trans with 3.73 rear gearand a ZZ4 350 Fast Burn 385 HP motor in my 70 Monte. In an effort to make it more highway driveable, I wanted to go to an overdrive transmission. I recently found a good deal on a 200-4R out of an 85 Monte SS, so I bought it. I know some of you are running this trans, so I just wanted to check and see if you had suggestions as far as what all I should look at upgrading when I get it rebuilt. I will plan to do the usual with a shift kit and things like that. Just wondered what else works well with our cars. I plan to replace the rear gears down to an original 3.31 posi set up as well. I would also like to continue to use this trans when I drop the 402 big block that the car originally had in it back into the car. The motor will probably be a fairly stock setup in appreance at least with some possible upgrades that are less conspicuous. I figure if I get the trans rebuilt to handle up to 450 HP I should be ok, and probably 400-500 ft. lbs. of torque with the big block. Thanks, Ben

I'm not sure about body patch panels, but I just put a floor pan patch in this spring and that was made in the USA, so they might be out there.

Yeah, it's not so much the gas mileage. I get around 15 mpg in with my ZZ4 350 crate motor with a 3.73 rear gear. But if I want to get on the highway, I hit 3000 RPM at around 60-65 mph. I just don't want to put that much stress on my motor for any long distances. That's why I am contemplating switching to a lower gear until I can get an overdrive tranny put in. I'll probably do that when I put the big block in, since it's originally a big block car. Overall I'm happy with it, it's just not a long distance cruiser at this point.

LOL, yeah I know a stock 402 won't get me 400 HP, that's why I said "basically" stock. I'm sure I'll work some odds and ends in there to help it out a bit

The crate motor is rated at 385 HP initially and the Holley carb I have is supposed to add some more to that. I wouldn't be surprised if it's pushing 400 HP as is right now. The big block will be a basically stock set up 402 with a few odds and ends I'm sure, so I would guess 330-400 HP there. I currently have a 3:73 rear gear, but will probably be swapping that out for a lower gear unless I get an overdrive sometime soon. 3:73 is too steep for the Turbo 350 trans that's in it now. I hit 3000 RPM at around 65 MPH. I want to get it to more of a cruiser than it currently is. Once I get the overdrive trans, I will probably go with a more stock 3:31 - 3:42 set up if I don't end up using the 3:73 that I currently have. It was recommended that I may want to go with a 200 over the 700 since I could use the same drive shaft that I have now with the Turbo 350 trans. I just hadn't really seen anybody on here talk about running them, so I wanted to get your impressions/experiences on how they work on a FGMC.

I know a lot of people run the 700R4 transmission to get the overdrive in our cars. I am currently running a Turbo 350 trans with a ZZ4 350 crate motor with the fast burn heads. I am eventually going to replace that motor with a big block 402 since the car is originally a big block car. I think I would like to get an overdrive put in my car at some point as well. My question is, does anyone run the 200R4 tranny? I ask because it would allow me to have overdrive without having to change the driveshaft and everything that would be involved with changing to a 700R4. So if anyone has experience, let me know. I value your opinions. Thanks guys!

I plan on sanding off the surface rust and repainting my trunk this spring/summer. My question is what is the correct color combo for trunk paint for a 70 Monte? In looking at the inner fenders and such in my trunk, it looks like they used gray/white, but I've also seen gray/black and aqua/black combos being advertised as being "correct". It looks like most of the trunk mats are aqua/black (which I also need to get). Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Thanks.