The 4L80e has a huge parasitic loss, the 200R4 absorbs much less power. The 200 is also lighter than the 4L80. Another snag that you will run into is the TV cable (throttle valve) which the electronic transmissions don't have. The TV cable has to be hooked up correctly and also have the correct geometry through out it's range.

Dave

 

Do some more checking on sites like pro touring.com. The 4l80e stock will hold about as much power as a built 200r4. There are very few trans builders that will guarantee a 200r4 over 600hp, and they will charge over $5500 to do it.
The 4l80e can be built to handle double that amount, and will bolt right in to most trucks, not to mention being half the cost. ratios not as good.
I just put a level 3 bow tie overdrive 200r4 in my 69 camaro that is right at 600hp with a 75 shot. while tuning the the fi, (not nos yet) the trans crapped already. Back to the supplier it has gone. And these trucks have 2000 lbs on the cars. Not a good choice for a heavy vehicle with over 400 ft lbs of tq, not to mention the install hassle.

 

I spent some time at the trans shop yesterday and was told the same. Trans shop told me the Grand National guys are blowing these trans all the times and that life behind a truck with over 400rwhp is dooms day for the trans.

They can be built up, but they are costly and still break. There are many aftermarket companies that make better parts.

It seems this is just a marginal step up above the 4l60.

 

From what I read on one site is that the 200R4 and the 700R4 are very similar transmissions. Both have pros and cons. BUT, the 700R4 was renamed after 1992 I think to the 4L60, which was to eventually become the 4L60E. So.......

Obviously, this is just based off of reading articles off the internet. Make of it what you will. They can all be built to handle power, but how much fabrication to make it work is up to you.

 

Since the 200 transmission is a "non-electronic" transmission, I'm curious on how the transmission electronics will work when using the 200 tranny. Won't you have to delete these functions from the PCM to keep the SES light off.

 

When I had my 85 Monte SS with the 200R4, the word was to dump it and replace it with a 700R4...that was supposed to be the strong trans at the time. (1994-1999 when I owned the car). I stuck with the 200 (didn't have the scratch for a 700 swap), and blew it twice behind a 345 hp 350 crate motor. First I blew the factory unit, then toasted a built one...(traded that car in on this truck...coasted into the dealer with the trans slipping away )

 

I have an 83 monte carlo ss that Im currently restoring to use as a daily driver. It came stock with the turbo 350 but I am swapping in a 2004r from a GN. These trannys when built properly can handle 1000 hp. There is a transmission shop in the Houston area that builds these for use in modded GN and Montes. I was quoted a little over a grand for a tranny that could handle 600 hp. It would be intresting to see how these would work in a NBS truck. Check any of the turbo buick sites lots of great info on these trannys.

 

Not to argue-BUTT. If you do some serious checking the 200r4 is NOT going to handle 1000hp if you rip on it on a regular basis.
The top rated trans I've heard of will guarantee 800 hp for a cost of $5500, and that may not include the convertor, and it's meant for a 3500lb car.
I highly doubt you will get a 200r4 to hold up to much abuse of a 5000 lb truck, even at 400 rwhp, and the cost and hassle to get it to fit, along with the features you give up to make it work hardly make it worthwhile.
You can get a moderately built 4l80e trans in the neighborhood of $1500 to hold 500 rwhp in a heavy truck with very little modification needed to make it work.
Seems a no brainer of what the better choice is.

 

This trans is ok in lighter weight applications when built with good hard parts like mentioned above. I wouldn't even think about building one for a 5000lb truck though. If you seen the size of the planetaries side by side from the 200, 60/65, and the 80 it would be a no brainer why it wouldn't last long in a 5 to 6K truck with any kind of power. Just my 2 cents as a builder that's built them all for a long time.