RS500 install without moving the engine?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 744
Likes: 19
From: Salzburg Austria
RS500 install without moving the engine?
Hello!
I´m in process to install the new RS500 tranny in my 427/390 car. The munci is already out of the car.
The Keisler install instructions says, that the engine must be removed or put forward to install the RS500.
Two years ago I installed a TKO500 in an other Corvette. I didn´t move or pull the engine to install it. It was tight, verry thight, but it worked.
Now my question is, if the RS500 install is also possible WITHOUT pulling or moving the engine forward? Any experience?
Regards, Günther
I´m in process to install the new RS500 tranny in my 427/390 car. The munci is already out of the car.
The Keisler install instructions says, that the engine must be removed or put forward to install the RS500.
Two years ago I installed a TKO500 in an other Corvette. I didn´t move or pull the engine to install it. It was tight, verry thight, but it worked.
Now my question is, if the RS500 install is also possible WITHOUT pulling or moving the engine forward? Any experience?
Regards, Günther
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
With the tranny out. support the rear of your motor with a floor jack. If you have other than solid motor mounts, just lower the rear of the motor as much as you can. The extra angle gives you more room to work
Do you have the flywheel off? They make a tool to grip the flywheel teeth so you can TQ the bolts to 60 foot pounds. Or you can just use a big screw driver against the dowel pin.
You have shim or unshim the tranny to cross member to get the angle you need
Do you have the flywheel off? They make a tool to grip the flywheel teeth so you can TQ the bolts to 60 foot pounds. Or you can just use a big screw driver against the dowel pin.
You have shim or unshim the tranny to cross member to get the angle you need
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 90
From: Sacramento California
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
Good Luck!!
I removed the engine rather than fight it.
Removing the engine is fairly easy, and that lets you do you dowel alignmnet measurements and clucth and flywheel install on the bench rather than under the car.
Just my .02.
I removed the engine rather than fight it.
Removing the engine is fairly easy, and that lets you do you dowel alignmnet measurements and clucth and flywheel install on the bench rather than under the car.
Just my .02.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Mine has a removable cross member and I did the install without removing the engine, but if I would do it again, definitely I will just remove the engine, waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much work to do the dowel pin alignments while laying on your back!!, its much easier to just remove the engine.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 744
Likes: 19
From: Salzburg Austria
Yesterday I did it, the RS500 is installed. 
BUT, there is absolutly NO WAY, NO WAY to get the tranny in without moving the engine forward.
To be honest, it was a PITA to install it, glad that it´s done. And I´m glad that I bought a COMPLETE clutch set so hopefully I will not have to exchange the clutch the next years.
The TKO500 conversion was so much easier, didn´t have to move the engine.
Günther
BUT, there is absolutly NO WAY, NO WAY to get the tranny in without moving the engine forward. To be honest, it was a PITA to install it, glad that it´s done. And I´m glad that I bought a COMPLETE clutch set so hopefully I will not have to exchange the clutch the next years.
The TKO500 conversion was so much easier, didn´t have to move the engine.
Günther
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I'm alot faster with a SawZall and just not worry about that it might be worth an extra dollar on resale originality
I'd never sell my Vette so what it is worth to someone else never occurs to me. So cutting and hacking to make things better has been its poor life.
Have a great weekend.
George
I'd never sell my Vette so what it is worth to someone else never occurs to me. So cutting and hacking to make things better has been its poor life.
Have a great weekend.
George