81 Corvette Project near completion..
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Branson Missouri Area
81 Corvette Project near completion..
Started a performance upgrade 10+ years ago, everything we going fine until I was diagnosed with late stage NSCLC and given a couple of months to live. Fast forward and I am still here, cancer free and finally regained enough strength and interest to finish the project after surgery 3 years ago in August. Sad part is I can't do all/much of the work myself anymore, but have found a Custom Shop and a good friend who is doing all the heavy lifting and let me help where I can. Anyway 350/350 with a little hotter cam and roller rockers 1.6 and MSD fuel injection next week. MSD distributor, headers, stainless steel pipes and a bulletproof (so he says) TH350 rebuild and Jegs 2300-2500 stall. .373 gears, new rubber and slicks. Going to run it 1/8 mile at the Ozark Raceway this summer without Nitrous at first and then see how that goes. Anyway probably way to much intro, but I need some advice, I want to put a shifter with a transbrake in the car and don't quite have that figured out so anybody who can give some guidance or send me the right way please help. Oh, and I bought an enclosed trailer yesterday, so I am almost there! Thanks!
Rick
Rick
Moderator
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 15,242
Likes: 4,201
From: Northern Illinois
2023 Corvette of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C7 of the Year Winner - Modified
St. Jude Donor '18 thru '25
I moved you over here to Tech I hope people here can help you out with your questions. Welcome to the forums , maybe post a pic of her when she's done love to see it 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 201
From: Willoughby Ohio
First and most importantly, congratulations on your recovery and I wish you the best of health.
The 81's have an aluminum dana 44 which can be upgraded with a steel cap.
The half shafts have a weak spot with the stamped u-joint straps.
Solid spicer u-joints and good half shafts are needed for racing. Some of the automatic cars use the smaller u-joints
in the half shafts and I would encourage you to upgrade to the 1350 ones used with the 4 speed cars.
Good luck with your project,
Dave
The 81's have an aluminum dana 44 which can be upgraded with a steel cap.
The half shafts have a weak spot with the stamped u-joint straps.
Solid spicer u-joints and good half shafts are needed for racing. Some of the automatic cars use the smaller u-joints
in the half shafts and I would encourage you to upgrade to the 1350 ones used with the 4 speed cars.
Good luck with your project,
Dave
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Branson Missouri Area
81 Corvette Conversion
First and most importantly, congratulations on your recovery and I wish you the best of health.
The 81's have an aluminum dana 44 which can be upgraded with a steel cap.
The half shafts have a weak spot with the stamped u-joint straps.
Solid spicer u-joints and good half shafts are needed for racing. Some of the automatic cars use the smaller u-joints
in the half shafts and I would encourage you to upgrade to the 1350 ones used with the 4 speed cars.
Good luck with your project,
Dave
The 81's have an aluminum dana 44 which can be upgraded with a steel cap.
The half shafts have a weak spot with the stamped u-joint straps.
Solid spicer u-joints and good half shafts are needed for racing. Some of the automatic cars use the smaller u-joints
in the half shafts and I would encourage you to upgrade to the 1350 ones used with the 4 speed cars.
Good luck with your project,
Dave
Pictures in a couple of days..
