C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Driveline Install Order

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 7, 2024 | 06:08 PM
  #1  
nwav8tor's Avatar
nwav8tor
Thread Starter
Old Fart Pilot
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Air Force
15 Year Member
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 991
From: Spokane, WA
Default Driveline Install Order

Moving forward in my LONG term resto project I am prepping to remount my rebuilt 350 & 4-speed back onto the refinished chassis (body-off).

I'll be working solo with a chain hoist hanging from a beam in the ceiling and the frame on roller dollies.

I request input/recommendations on the best way to accomplish this...

I'm thinking of installing the new clutch & pressure plate, then the original bell housing onto the engine. Then hoist all that into position and sesure the two engine mounts, After that, I'll hoist the transmission into place and and secure it to the bell housing and the mid-body crossmember.

Does that sound like the best/least difficult way to go????

Additionally, I've read about having to check the bell housing or scatter shield for proper concentric and parallel alignment. Granted, this was mostly connected with installing 5+ speed transmissions so I thought I'd ask if it's really necessary when re-installing the original bell housing and Muncie 4-speed????


Thanks all


Paul
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2024 | 10:23 PM
  #2  
ratflinger's Avatar
ratflinger
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
Default

I'd install the tranny onto the bell housing. I stabbed my SBC with the 700R4 attached.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2024 | 10:27 PM
  #3  
sullyman56's Avatar
sullyman56
Drifting
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 282
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Default

Originally Posted by ratflinger
I'd install the tranny onto the bell housing. I stabbed my SBC with the 700R4 attached.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2024 | 06:30 AM
  #4  
4-vettes's Avatar
4-vettes
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,248
Likes: 7,839
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Default

Your body is still off? Install the trans to the bellhousing. Then drop it all down as a unit. Far easier.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2024 | 08:31 AM
  #5  
69L88's Avatar
69L88
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,412
Likes: 1,823
From: Apple Valley, MN
Default

Agree with all above.

Regarding concentric alignment of the bell housing to the block, while it is true the Muncie is much more forgiving when it comes to the alignment, it’s best practices to check/correct while you are in there. Not hard to do. All it takes is a set of offset dowels and a dial indicator/support.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2024 | 01:14 PM
  #6  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 9,354
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

If your frame is off put in a removable transmission mount now or you will hate yourself so bad later you may not ever talk to your future self again.....then, if you are using a chain fall, put it in all at once. It's easier to get the tranny on an engine while it's on the floor than while suspended and not being at the correct angle
Reply
Old Jun 10, 2024 | 09:22 PM
  #7  
60 SHARK's Avatar
60 SHARK
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 1,174
From: CLEVELAND STUCK IN OHIO
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Default

Originally Posted by 69L88
Agree with all above.

Regarding concentric alignment of the bell housing to the block, while it is true the Muncie is much more forgiving when it comes to the alignment, it’s best practices to check/correct while you are in there. Not hard to do. All it takes is a set of offset dowels and a dial indicator/support.
💯%,,,,,,👈.....
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2024 | 12:49 AM
  #8  
nwav8tor's Avatar
nwav8tor
Thread Starter
Old Fart Pilot
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Air Force
15 Year Member
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 991
From: Spokane, WA
Default

Okay, I'll try to mount the engine and trans as a single unit, assuming I can get them together first.

As for the alignment check, contentric was OK at .008" TIR without having to use offset dowels. However, the flywheel to bell housing's transmission mounting surface parallelism check showed a TIR of .007". I'd have to play with shims to reduce that down to .002" if I was going with a "modern" trans, but I think (hope) what I presently have will be OK for my old Muncie.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 11, 2024 | 07:52 AM
  #9  
69L88's Avatar
69L88
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,412
Likes: 1,823
From: Apple Valley, MN
Default

My OCD would force me to take the bellhousing to a machine shop and face it to bring the parallelism to within 0.001” but that’s me. I read a post where a 1961 Impala manual was referenced, stating that parallelism was 0.010” max so you are probably ok with what you have.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2024 | 08:06 AM
  #10  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 9,354
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

My original shims from GM are priceless
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2024 | 11:41 PM
  #11  
nwav8tor's Avatar
nwav8tor
Thread Starter
Old Fart Pilot
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Air Force
15 Year Member
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 991
From: Spokane, WA
Default

Originally Posted by 69L88
My OCD would force me to take the bellhousing to a machine shop and face it to bring the parallelism to within 0.001” but that’s me. I read a post where a 1961 Impala manual was referenced, stating that parallelism was 0.010” max so you are probably ok with what you have.
Good thing I only have a VERY, VERY mild case of OCD...

Originally Posted by Rescue Rogers
My original shims from GM are priceless
Only original GM shims I have are for aligning the wheels and I don't think they would've helped here...
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2024 | 05:09 AM
  #12  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 9,354
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by nwav8tor
Good thing I only have a VERY, VERY mild case of OCD...



Only original GM shims I have are for aligning the wheels and I don't think they would've helped here...
Hahahaha!!!!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Driveline Install Order





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:24 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE