200-4R UPDATES! and BowtieOD Univ TV

[SWINGSAX68]

So here is my progress so far.....see? No tranny and th350 out on the concrete.

If you had read my posts I am still awaiting parts for the 200-4R but in the process of preparing everything.....I will post some picks of the TV Universal Bracket install from Bowtie OD's which is a bit time consuming considering having to modify the linkage on a "newer" Rochester 2bbl.

[SWINGSAX68]

I am installing the Universal Kit not the TVMade EZ Kit


The TV Universal Bracket install from Bowtie OD's which is a bit time consuming considering having to modify the linkage on a "newer" Rochester 2bbl.
Bowtie OD's Universal TV Kit
Includes-New Cable bracket, Univ. TV cable and a Laser cut throttle linkage adapter(extension) and instructions on only installing on a Quadrajet and an Edelbrock.

So I called and asked for help all they told me is that it would take me some modification. I spoke to one of the techs and he seemed only slightly interested in my 2bbl Rochester woes and asked me to send him a pic of my linkage.....I did....4 days later no response. Time to look at the instructoins and use my brain....doesn't that suck? No real help. Guut think I smert.

From looking at the instructions the original stud for the kick down/TV cable is removed and the supplied hardware is used to install the linkage extension bracket. This involves grinding a lot.

1.It begins with removing the carb...and grinding off the extended linkage(1st Pic)
2.From the back of the Kick Down stud, grind it down and punch it out.
3.I opened up the existing hole with a 5/16 drill bit to match the hole size on the BOD linkage extension(pretyy close). They supply a small allen head bolt to attach the linkage. Which even in the original stud hole is way loose and i can not see how this would allow for "correct geometry"
4.I then I grinded down the rest of the throttle linkage and took it down to about 1/8 inch around the circ of the stud hole to allow the BOD linkage to swing with the new supplied stud attached when adjusting.

Now it looks almost exactly like an older 2bbl throttle linkage which BOD sells as their TVmade EZ kit for a Rochester but you have to grind off the current throttle linkage and attach the new one to install their kit.
I compared it to an old 2bbl I have and the throttle linkage didnt seem to jive with the linkage on my 2bbl. If you would like me to show you what im talking about let me know I can explain better but....
I am installing the Universal Kit not the TVMade EZ Kit

Not trying to confuse ya'll..I went with the UNiversal kit so I can later install a Holley 2bbl

[SWINGSAX68]

Here is the extension attached to the carb...again I had to do some mods to make it work. I made a sleeve to slide over the allen head bolt to make up for the slack in the linkage and extension hole. I tightened it all down and set it as recomended in the instructions. Above the bolt is a small .10 inch hole that is recomended to be opened up to 1/8 inch to drill through the linkage and rivet the extension once adjusment is complete. The TV stud is loose still.

I STILL NEED TO INSTALL THE TRANNY BUT THE LINKAGE IS READY TO ADJUST....SOON!!

[SWINGSAX68]

Here is my Tranny cooler ready to go....and how I routed the cooler lines under the rad support.

[SWINGSAX68]

Next is the wireing for the converter from BOD to the brake switch.
1. Brake switch wireing!!! The most annoying part of this whole task is getting that damn switch in!!! I managed to use needle nose plyers to grab the bottom nut and get it in there pretty tight once the upper nut and the adjustment was set.
2. The key-on 12v source is the Ign. Unf. terminal that I ran my voltmeter to which I spliced into with the provided hardware from BOD
3. The Tranny plug from the firewall hanging out. It will be plugged directly into the master cylinder for proper lock up control...HA HA just kidding!!!
4. How the switch is wired.....very simple.

Looking at all this stuff together it would be fairly easy to make up your own wireing kit....it might even come out to less than what it costs from BOD. even the internal tranny wireing is very simple. Ill have images of the Tranny Internals soon.

[shortbed70]

To be honest I wish I would've went the 2004r route but my shaft is already shortened to fit. You will like it! I like my 700 until second gear. Big drop but I can live with it. Good luck on the road test..
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[SWINGSAX68]

Yep...luck will be needed I will head straight to the tranny shop down the street luckily for the rebuilder to run a pressure check on it once its on the road after I do a quick test on the down shifts as described by BOD.

[SWINGSAX68]

Yo its in!!! A few odds and ends then test drive!!

[SBTork]

Nice job! I recently purchased/installed a level 2 700R4 from BTO. They do some good work. I still have an issue with my lockup not working but I purchased the relay kit with mine because my '85 burb has stock cruise control. I also bought the installers kit, I figured well worth the money. That came with a pressure gauge, they're kind of nice to have. Keep us updated with how it works out and post all the pictures you can.

[SWINGSAX68]

Hmm....unsatisfactory shifting. Sluggish doesn't shift crisp. I have way to much fluid in !! Gonna drain it manana. Hope I didn't eff it up. The BOD tech seemed pretty confident in our conversation that all was good w the TV set up though.also the converter does lock up.
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[SWINGSAX68]

I do not feel it shift into second.....it does accelerate and it does downshift....
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[HEI451]

I have NEVER found anything from BTO worth the effort, and certainly not worth the outrageously high costs for them. We got a BTO TH700 for a friend's El Camino years ago, and were told by them that if we didn't hook the TV cable up correctly, the trans would burn up, and it would be OUR fault, no warrantee, and NO BTO instructions on how to do it right.

So, we both trundled off to the Chevy store and spoke with the thousand year old auto tans guy there. He pulled a book out and showed us a page, on just how to do the TV cable, angles, distances, and, it worked flawlessly after we did what was on that page.

The other thing was that the BTO "upgrade to TH700 cross member" DIDN'T FIT, it sat the trans UP too high, right against the transmission hump. When we asked them about it, they told us it HAD to be either/or us, or OUR vehicle, as they NEVER, EVER had problems with those particular conversions. We redid the cross member on our own, lowering the trans mount pad 2 inches, and it fit, instead of waiting for what would most likely have been decades in attempting to "work with" BTO to get their mess ups resolved.

We wrote BTO off after that, as many more friends had the same, or worse experiences with BTO.

[SWINGSAX68]

I don't know what to do. I think my first mistake was trusting the universal anything. Looks like I'm gonna spend the cash on a quadrajet and an intake and get the bracket from an od chevy. First the tranny shop on Monday.
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[HEI451]

OK, from memory, this is what the Chevy bulletin said:

The distance the center of the cable stud on the carb throttle lever is supposed to be from the center of the throttle shaft is 1.160 inch.

The full travel of the cable, idle to WOT, should be 78 degrees of arc.

When the carb is opened half way, the cable mount should be straight up and down in line with the throttle shaft. This would give 39 degrees of mount arc back to idle, and 39 degrees of mount arc to full throttle.

I used to have the bulletin in my possession, but, no longer. Ask your local Chevy dealer's service adviser, they should have this info they can copy for you.

[SWINGSAX68]

Truck will be at the tranny shop.....thinks the governor or valve sticking. He's gonna drop the figure it out
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[SWINGSAX68]

Ok luckily the tranny guy I went with is pretty knowledgeable about 2004rs and 700s. It seems too be doing ok!! Man it added some balls!! It lugs around a bit on the street but the easier I am woth my foot the better it feels! I'm having fun. I am instantly seeing the difference in how farther from the left my go juice needle stays! Wow! What fun!

P.s. no sticking nothings....the cable stop on the universal TV cable kept slipping!
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[SWINGSAX68]

Now installing Prothane Engine Mounts.......not hard to do just hard to get in there!!! I am having fun improving my vehicle!!!

Tranny is shifting very good......almost like my 09 Silverado, has the same feeling and shifts at around the same RPM. Also Shifts at WOT at 5000 RPM!! I know these two have totally different transmissions...but it was a good way to feel how a OD tranny works.