[murph's 68]

I am looking at 200-R4's to replace the powerglide. I am looking at Gearstar Level 2 and California Performance Transmission (Art Carr) 400+ version. Anyone with experience with these two?

Murph

[South Side Goons & Hitmen]

murph, while I am no expert in 200-4R's, the consensus here on this site by ASE Certified and/or Master Certified Technicians is that the REAL Art Carr from California Performance Transmissions (CPT) arguably is one of the top three builders in the Country if not the top builder for the 200-4R........Do a search on the 200-4R...You will find alot of great threads by some very knowledgeable people on this site. You can also try www.turbobuick.com as the Buick GN guys know alot about that trans as well. Alot of guys like Chris at CK Performance on the Buick site. Many here like Bow Tie Overdrives. I'm not as familiar with the gearstar name as the others. Many of the experts here have said a nicely built 200-4R and a later model 700R4/4L60 will live comfortably lets say around 450HP/450 TQ....And you may be able to find a Team Camaro guy in you area that can build one for you......If you want the best builder and if it was my money I would go with the REAL Art Carr at CPT.

If you want a guy that does great work and is in the Chicago area try this site http://proformanceracingtransmissions.com/about.html Although I don't know the owner (Dave Klaput) personally, a friend of mine knows him very well. Dave has built a few radical transmissions for a friend of mine and the word is he does great work!

You can also try this local company http://www.finishlinetrans.com/store/transmission.php I personally spoke w/ Chuck Johnson last summer a few times over the phone. He was a class act and a very knowledgeable guy and helpful as well....I told him I went 12 years without owning a Camaro or V8 from 1994 - 2006. He laughed and said I was in for some culture shock when it comes to technology. Boy was he right! Although they specialize in hard core 700R4's/4L60's/4L60E's, 4L80's/4L85's and I think even the T56 he told me they can handle a 200-4R....


The SSG&H Bottom Line: The REAL Art Carr is considered a transmission God. But I prefer to deal with local guys when it comes to transmission's.

P.S. You can try some SOUTH SIDE love as well! I have been to the location for these guys in Palos Hills, IL.....That may have been 18 months ago I think....Good guys and they seem to do things right. Although I have never had work done there, I have heard good things about them. Here is their link http://www.southsidecustoms.com/

[murph's 68]

Thanks for the response. I had read a great number of things about Art Carr and his transmissions. I heard about Gearstar from an article in Hemmings Muscle machines on a trans swap (200-R4) into a 67 camaro they did.

I e-mailed Art a couple of days ago and he responded promptly. Gave some recomendations and told me to give him a call. I think I'll do that.

Thanks for all the local input also. It'll be nice to have some recommendations if I get in a bind or just need some work done.

Murph