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Got some good work done on my valance over the past few weeks. This involved several rounds of fiberglass and sanding then a couple of VPA rounds and saning. I'll start the finish work soon with filler:
The there's the fender corners and i've been losing sleep over the notion of screwing these up! I've mocked them up and adjusted them a LOT until I found perfection. I then sanded them down and figured out how I was going to clamp them and get them straight. I then started with the passenger side and put it in with VPA, i'll work on getting this one right then do the drivers side:
Then while scrolling marketplace last week I found a C3 5-speed conversion for $1500!!!! So I did the right thing and immediatley called the gentleman to get the story: collector that owned 7 C3's and this trans had 1200 miles from a frame off restored '78. He was going automatic for his wife and agreed to sell it to me without the bellhousing for $1300 shipped, so I had to jump on it! I'm super excited as this was the fnal thing I REALLY wanted for my car! It's a McLeod Muscle Car transmission. Not as good as a TKO, but it's rated for 500lbs TQ and a solid transmission that'll go perfect with my 3.70 gears!
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
You will love it depending on the gearing. The overdrive on mine was .63. I got great mileage on it. It's not a racing trans and doesn't like to be treated like one. It's as strong as a muncie. If you are over 500hp it won't take the torque. If it needs work, call McLeod. They still have parts and repair them in shop. Really great prices. I need to send mine back for a rebuild before I sell it. It didn't like my motor...too much torque
You will love it depending on the gearing. The overdrive on mine was .63. I got great mileage on it. It's not a racing trans and doesn't like to be treated like one. It's as strong as a muncie. If you are over 500hp it won't take the torque. If it needs work, call McLeod. They still have parts and repair them in shop. Really great prices. I need to send mine back for a rebuild before I sell it. It didn't like my motor...too much torque
That's great to hear!! I didn't know about these until I saw the ad lol It's a steep OD gear but I do have the 3.70 rear and my cam isn't too radical so I'm expecting (and hoping) it'll be fine! I have a mild SBC so it should be a great fit for my build! what'd you have to do for it to fit your crossmember? Do I need to make an adapter?
I was dragging after work this afternoon , but rallied myseld to get into the shop to get a round of filler and blocking done on my rear valance. First round came out good, it's not going to be bad getting this panel straight!
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by Arg0413
That's great to hear!! I didn't know about these until I saw the ad lol It's a steep OD gear but I do have the 3.70 rear and my cam isn't too radical so I'm expecting (and hoping) it'll be fine! I have a mild SBC so it should be a great fit for my build! what'd you have to do for it to fit your crossmember? Do I need to make an adapter?
I cut and shortened mine a bit. If you have small welder you can easily Make it work. I cut the ears back on the sides and cut and redrilled the holes on the top. You will most likely have to make your crossmember removable the way the shifter stub sticks up out of the top of the shifter to get it to slide past crossmember without getting stuck in the tunnel
Then you will have to get your drive shaft shortened a tiny bit.
For the shifter you will have to cut a square hole in your tunnel so you can get the tranny up in there tight to the floor. Once that is set you have to make the shift arm offset to the left. It will shift fine with the long arm or you can buy one. They are available on ebay.
I might have pics on my 68 hotwheels build. I will check
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Sep 13, 2024 at 09:10 PM.
I cut and shortened mine a bit. If you have small welder you can easily Make it work. I cut the ears back on the sides and cut and redrilled the holes on the top. You will most likely have to make your crossmember removable the way the shifter stub sticks up out of the top of the shifter to get it to slide past crossmember without getting stuck in the tunnel
Then you will have to get your drive shaft shortened a tiny bit.
For the shifter you will have to cut a square hole in your tunnel so you can get the tranny up in there tight to the floor. Once that is set you have to make the shift arm offset to the left. It will shift fine with the long arm or you can buy one. They are available on ebay.
I might have pics on my 68 hotwheels build. I will check
I didn't know I needed to cut the body for clearance! Good to know!
Did you weld in a removalable trans crossmember? I'm debating going through the trouble of installing one (and grinding off my pretty powder coating) . I should hopefully never have to pull this trans..
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Yes I cut my crossmember and welded flanges on it. I used harbor freight welding blankets to drape over the crossmember and a squirt bottle with water for flare ups on the blanket. Had a fire extinguisher if it went horribly wrong.
Yes I cut my crossmember and welded flanges on it. I used harbor freight welding blankets to drape over the crossmember and a squirt bottle with water for flare ups on the blanket. Had a fire extinguisher if it went horribly wrong.
I spent Sunday pulling the body back off the frame, it's too easy at this point for the trans install and to finish the body work to not do it. I used the winch from my Jeep again and had my buddy spot me so we could slowly lift the body off and then slide the chassis back out from under it. This will be a nice opportunity to keep the frame from getting further dirty and spray Feather Fill without worrying about a mess. Next step this week is to get the T10 out and see how the new 5 speed fits!
We had a few dark clouds, light winds and a sprinkle or two of rain and that was it. Everyone was holding their breath as they had just imploded a 22 story building a few days prior that was heavily damaged beyond repair from the last storm. Last thing we needed was 100+mph winds picking up all that glass, and light debris and scattering it all around this part of the state. Family in BTR had no issues and back to work the next day.
I got the wheels back on the car and put the wheel dollies under them so i could move the chassis around and start work on the 5 speed.
I removed the T10 that was intstalled out my car and had the opportunity to compare it to the ne McLeod 5 speed: pretty close!
I then wrestled the new trans in without too much drama
After lots of measuring, thinking, and configurations, this was the best I found on the trans/crossmember mount. So i have two choices it appears currently:
1) drills holes and use a lowpro trans mount on currect OEM crossemember bracket it's resting on
2) Make a newbracket and bolt it in where the current OEM one is
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
In the last pic You can see how much protrudes under the trans. I cut that much off the mount that bolts to the crossmember and redrilled the holes. I did all the manufacturing at the back of the mount and kept the front the same as but had to cut into the slope and make a pocket for the mount to drop into . After moving the mount backwards the pocket was minimal
In the last pic You can see how much protrudes under the trans. I cut that much off the mount that bolts to the crossmember and redrilled the holes. I did all the manufacturing at the back of the mount and kept the front the same as but had to cut into the slope and make a pocket for the mount to drop into . After moving the mount backwards the pocket was minimal
