My father pulled the motor on his 79 vette 13 years ago for a freshen up, and transmission improvement. After raising the funds for the Bowtie Overdrive and motor parts by selling his boat, he parked the trans on the floor of the garage, and the motor collected dust. After his death, we hired the engine work (325hp) he had planned for retirement, and had the trans installed.

The process has raised a few questions: ]How hard should the gear shifts hit in this transmission under load? I have not had it full throttle yet as it is a fresh motor. And I have only done rolling 5mph starts, but it seems to be very abrupt. I just don't know if it is functioning properly.

The seat belt is too short for my Step Mom. As she has to move the seat up to reach the controls. Are there any stock options that would have an improved fit? Aftermarket?


The head lights are vacume driven. It seems like a lot of people abandon the stock arrangement for fewer moving parts. Are there ways to make the pop-up's more predictable, ie: stay up better? The right stays down, the left comes up with road wind, lights off.

And finally, due to the time in the Garage there is some mouse damage in the interior. Any advice for doing it yourself? Or know a good vette interior man in VT?

 

It would be a lot better for you to break this one post up into different threads focusing on the specific areas. Trans. Headlights/vacuum. Interior/Seat Belts.

I have had transmissions that shifted very hard, and being that it's a Bowtie, I would consider calling them and asking them what they think.

The headlights being vacuum controlled won't ever be perfect, but with all new lines, no leaks, and luck they will go up and stay up and go down and stay down. Search for a vacuum diagram, make a list of things to check, and get started one step at a time.

I have a feeling the seat belt's lower retractor is probably at fault not letting the belt release. You may need to remove the seat, and check the retractor for proper working condition, and have it worked on or replaced accordingly.

For the interior, make a list of everything that needs to be replaced. Start shopping around and find the best prices and best quality. Use Ebay, and the various vendors that advertise on this forum. Order all your parts and slowly start replacing them.

 

On the interior peices, the only name you need to know is Al Knoch interiors. Finest interior peices made.

 

it sounds like the O/D transmission is a 700r4 and i bet the TV cable that goes from the carb to the trans is not adjusted properly. got to the BTO web site www.700r4.com and read up on the TV cable adjustment.


or click here
http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.php

 

my transmission started shifting hard and it was a vacuum leak going to the tranny from the vacuum port, my hose had dry rotted....check that out at both ends as a starting point

 

The adjustment of the TV is easy. Wire the throttle to wide open, or have a friend hold it. Then, get under the trans where the pan is already removed, and make sure the cable end and piston are at full extension. You want them to be full or wide open at the same time.

 

1) Using the gas petal, ensure the carb will go to WOT
2) Adjust the tranny TV cable such that it is fully extended at WOT

And yes the BTO should have a crisp shift under load. If fact, my 2004R chirps the tires between 1st and 2nd under moderate accelleration.

 

I will look into these things. I just don't know enough about the BTO to know what it should shift like.

Bird 2

 

That's why calling BTOs tech line could really clear up a lot of your questions.