Policemen! sorry I think a lot of guys have gone that route.. Dont think its a big hassle to do.. Some Chevy guys have done it in a Chevelle.. look for articles on line...
The car I just bought, HAD a OD Trans in it, and seller took it out. He didnt say why, other than he has ISSUES with it . I sure notice a difference, between the Strato chief w/ 2.73 and NoNova w/ 3.73 3.73'S are like a speed limiter..
I have it in the El C. Already installed when I bought the car so I can't give you a before and after. But I will tell you I can usually hear 73SC's engine screaming louder then mine when we are on the highway!
I have a couple of 700R4s, one from a cop car that is freshly rebuilt. But If I do a changeover to OD in one of my Pontiacs, I'm going to use the 200R trans I bought. It came out of an 87 Monte Carlo SS.
I had a brand new SS back in the day. It was my all time favourite car. I never could figure out why they used the 200R in the SS and Grand National. Anyone know?
Gear ratio spacing is supposed to be better in the 200R. Plus it has both the Chevy and the Buick/Olds/Pontiac bell housing bolt pattern. And the shorter tail shaft & spline count that can be used with the PG & Turbo 350 driveshaft without driveshaft & trans mount location mods. I had a couple of 88-89 cop cars, one with the 700R4 and one with the hi perf 200R same as used in the Monte SS & the Grand National. Both trans were strong but the shifts in the 700R4 car were very harsh and I'm not convinced that this wasn't the reason the rear end broke. The 200R trans worked flawlessly the whole time I had the second car.
Well alot of folks find this hard to believe but that Monte SS would smoke them out of the hole and always chirped the rears on the one two up shift on WOT take offs. I agree that the 400R4 is a harsh shifting unit 1 to 2, at least that's what I have experienced.
Gearing is better 1-2 in the 200r4. (700r4 1-2 is a wider ratio) The 200r4 is the same length as a PG or TH350 so you dont have to cut the driveshaft that you would with a 700r4. 200r4 can be built to handle alot of abuse (the 200 built is stronger than a 700 built, but only if you need it to handle that level of abuse) BUT most tranny shops only really know how to build the 700r4. 700r4 are more plentiful, just make sure you get the TV cables/brackets set up right or you can burn up a tranny quick...
I think a lot of guys have gone that route.. Dont think its a big hassle to do.. Some Chevy guys have done it in a Chevelle.. look for articles on line...