C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Automatic to 4 speed conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 08:50 AM
  #1  
shamby's Avatar
shamby
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 10
From: Blairsville Ga
Default Automatic to 4 speed conversion

I have a turbo 400 trans in my 77 vette, and would like to change it over to a 4 speed. Does anyone know where I can get some info on how to do this?
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 09:44 AM
  #2  
Alwyn678's Avatar
Alwyn678
Team Owner
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (shamby)

Shamby, U live up by Lake Lanier..I can't imagine anyone in atlanta wanting a 4 speed............Too much traffic... :smash: :cry
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 09:58 AM
  #3  
shamby's Avatar
shamby
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 10
From: Blairsville Ga
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (Alwyn678)

I'll agree with you on traffic. My daily drive is an Automatic. This is my weekend toy. It is much funner to drive a stick in the mountains then an auto. And yes i live about 1/2 mile from the lake.
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:00 AM
  #4  
Alwyn678's Avatar
Alwyn678
Team Owner
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (shamby)

Gotcha man.....My daily driver is an auto(SAAB TURBO) as is my vette....I have a friend that owns a shop in Atlanta and he has done two auto to 4 speed conversions..I was thinking about it as well...It is a pain in the butt he says.....I can ask him if ya like what it will cost....

Al :cheers:
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:03 AM
  #5  
shamby's Avatar
shamby
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 10
From: Blairsville Ga
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (Alwyn678)

that would be great. Right now my 77 is striped down and no front clip. I plan on taking the body of the car within the next couple of month. By doing this, it may make the change over a lot easier.
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:08 AM
  #6  
Alwyn678's Avatar
Alwyn678
Team Owner
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (shamby)

U got it I will ask him this afternoon and e-mail ya back.... :chevy
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:12 AM
  #7  
shamby's Avatar
shamby
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 10
From: Blairsville Ga
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (Alwyn678)

Thanks
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:48 AM
  #8  
norvalwilhelm's Avatar
norvalwilhelm
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (shamby)

While the swap is not hard it is very labor intensive and on the tension scale it is a ten. The transmission is easy to swap but go with a five speed T5 instead for the overdrive. The transmission will stand up if driven decently. The hard part with the swap is the peddles. The steering column must come out along with the drivers seat. The dash remain intack. The 10 bolts are mostly easy to remove except for a few witch are a pain in the foot. One bolt took me all evening. You can use a complete hydraulic setup from a camaro or even a mid 80's half to one ton chevy truck. The slave cylinder and master cylinder bolt right on.
The crossmember needs a small amount of work in the form of welding but this is minor.
Keep my address handy if you do this swap and e-mail me anytime for advice. I did this swap last year and it came out very well.
Good luck
Norval
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:50 AM
  #9  
norvalwilhelm's Avatar
norvalwilhelm
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (shamby)

I used this post as a practice to post new pictures and I think I overdid it.
Sorry.
Norval
Thought it was a little big George :seeya :seeya
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:51 AM
  #10  
BOBS-2001-CONV's Avatar
BOBS-2001-CONV
Pro
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
From: Reisterstown MD
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (shamby)

If you're going that far.. I would look into a Tremec 5 speed. They have a nice 5th gear overdrive and a lower first gear to get you out of the hole. I converted my 66 Nova and it made a hugh improvement over the Muncie. It was an automatic originally which I changed to a 4 speed then the 5 speed.
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 10:55 AM
  #11  
shamby's Avatar
shamby
Thread Starter
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 10
From: Blairsville Ga
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (BOBS-2001-CONV)

The Tremec 5 speed would be nice, but I was hoping to find a used 4 speed some where and try not to spend a small fortune on the conversion
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2001 | 02:43 PM
  #12  
norvalwilhelm's Avatar
norvalwilhelm
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (shamby)

Tremecs are definitly nice transmissions but hard to find used. A T5 has alot to offer and if not beaten will stand up. They are rated up to 330ftlbs which isn't that far behind the tremec at 350 and 405 for the TKO. If you don't power shift the T5 is will last. It has a 3.35 first and a .68 overdrive. It is small compact but the shifter comes out in the middle of the consule rather in off to one side. This can be modified by bending the shifter of using a spacer. In extreme cases a mustang T5 fits with just a 1/2 inch adaptor plate.
Norval
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2001 | 11:56 PM
  #13  
jcanney's Avatar
jcanney
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: Highlands Ranch CO
Default Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion (norvalwilhelm)

I was thinking of converting my TH350 in my 81, to the "stock" super T-10. Does anyone have any documentation on the hydraulic setup mentioned above?

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Automatic to 4 speed conversion





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:02 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE