4+3 trans swaps
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 714
From: Bartlett IL
Wrong. The 84 came with a D36 whether auto or manual. The D44 driveshaft and c-beam are an inch shorter.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
Then again, even if I got sick of the T5 I'm not sure if I'd use the ZF's pull style clutch setup. I'd probably be on the phone with LD85 on how to make the hydraulic TOB work.
-- Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 714
From: Bartlett IL
This swap is very cost effective if you have an '84 manual car, or an automatic car and want a stick. For folks with D44's the cost of shortening the driveshaft might be prohibitive. I had a budget I went with for swapping my 700R4 to a manual transmission. Budget was about $1200 total, for everything I needed. If I had to spend another $250 shortening a driveshaft, it would lend more to the case of just going with a ZF trans. If someone is willing to shorten a driveshaft for less than $100, than it's a different story. Everyone I called around here wanted $250+ because it's aluminum. Luckily my rear is D36.
Then again, even if I got sick of the T5 I'm not sure if I'd use the ZF's pull style clutch setup. I'd probably be on the phone with LD85 on how to make the hydraulic TOB work.
-- Joe
Then again, even if I got sick of the T5 I'm not sure if I'd use the ZF's pull style clutch setup. I'd probably be on the phone with LD85 on how to make the hydraulic TOB work.
-- Joe
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
-- Joe
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
What Joe's saying is, with the longer T5, you need to shorten the beam. Just happens that D36 cars can simply bolt-in the shorter D44 beam. D44 cars though don't have anything shorter to put in so they have to modify their beam.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; Nov 30, 2007 at 06:02 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
This is a great thread and since I have a 4+3, I am watching with great interest. Many thanks to the pioneers that are keep us posted on the results.
I have two questions:
First, if it is going to cost over $250 to get a driveshaft shortened, was there a way to get the standard length one in, before the C-Beam is bolted up? That might be a pain, but for $250 it might be manageable......
Second, with regards to the modification of the shifter, is this necessary in order to make it come up in the stock location? Would it be possible to just modify the console, or would that put the shifter too far over to the right? I am thinking it might be easier to make a plate to go over the top of the console and leave the shifter in the middle.
thanks again
I have two questions:
First, if it is going to cost over $250 to get a driveshaft shortened, was there a way to get the standard length one in, before the C-Beam is bolted up? That might be a pain, but for $250 it might be manageable......
Second, with regards to the modification of the shifter, is this necessary in order to make it come up in the stock location? Would it be possible to just modify the console, or would that put the shifter too far over to the right? I am thinking it might be easier to make a plate to go over the top of the console and leave the shifter in the middle.
thanks again
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
Second, with regards to the modification of the shifter, is this necessary in order to make it come up in the stock location? Would it be possible to just modify the console, or would that put the shifter too far over to the right? I am thinking it might be easier to make a plate to go over the top of the console and leave the shifter in the middle.
thanks again
thanks again
Personally, i'd rather have my shifter in the stock location. I understand the trade off as pointed out by CC.
I just noticed you are from Mass. I invite you to come visit my shop any time you'd like to take a look at things first hand.
Once the car is finished you can take it for a spin as well.
-- Joe
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
You bet, it will come up in the dead center, with a bias to the front. You still need to make the shifter straight, either by heating it up or cutting and rewelding it OR use a mustang shifter. If you use a mustang shifter it will come up in the dead center. This is how pro-street does their conversions, they actually make a plate that will go into the center console.
Personally, i'd rather have my shifter in the stock location. I understand the trade off as pointed out by CC.
I just noticed you are from Mass. I invite you to come visit my shop any time you'd like to take a look at things first hand.
Once the car is finished you can take it for a spin as well.
-- Joe
Personally, i'd rather have my shifter in the stock location. I understand the trade off as pointed out by CC.
I just noticed you are from Mass. I invite you to come visit my shop any time you'd like to take a look at things first hand.
Once the car is finished you can take it for a spin as well.
-- Joe
I would love to come and check out your shop, maybe on a nice day, you can pick me up at the airport.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
When it comes straight up, is it too far forward, I mean will you be hitting your knuckles on the radio *****? If that is the case and the shifter needs to be modified anyway, then it may be easier to use the stock location.
I would love to come and check out your shop, maybe on a nice day, you can pick me up at the airport.
I would love to come and check out your shop, maybe on a nice day, you can pick me up at the airport.
The shifter is tilted so the stick wouldn't come too close to the radio, but would still be far forward for us guys who sit way back.
-- Joe
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
I've been working on the plow truck lately but I took 20 minutes today to finish the shifter. The magic number ended up being 2" back, and 3" to the left, with a 20* angle. I'll take some pix this week.
The shifter base hits the cup holder bottoms BTW, which may not be acceptable fro some folks. A mustang shifter might give a little more clearance, but the cup holder (forward one) is going to need to be trimmed out of the shifter plate to make this work.
The shifter "rise" isn't really that noticeable.
It's almost done. I gotta button up a few things but overall the swap is doable. I'm gonna re-word some of the how-to with the disclaimers (i.e, things you'll have to live with).
-- Joe
The shifter base hits the cup holder bottoms BTW, which may not be acceptable fro some folks. A mustang shifter might give a little more clearance, but the cup holder (forward one) is going to need to be trimmed out of the shifter plate to make this work.
The shifter "rise" isn't really that noticeable.
It's almost done. I gotta button up a few things but overall the swap is doable. I'm gonna re-word some of the how-to with the disclaimers (i.e, things you'll have to live with).
-- Joe
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
thanks for all your effort and sharing on this.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
I have another shifter concern, and thats the height of the stick. I feel like it's too tall, but don't have another vette to compare it to. Anyone got a pic of their interior for comparison?
-- Joe
- 1986 Original Owner -
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,193
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From: North Yorkshire, England
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Joe,
Not sure if this is close enough for you to get anything from, but the shifter is in neutral and the top of the shifter is about at the bottom of the radio opening. I'd be happy to get some closer shots or even take some measurements if you'd like. This is the stock 4+3 shifter.
Not sure if this is close enough for you to get anything from, but the shifter is in neutral and the top of the shifter is about at the bottom of the radio opening. I'd be happy to get some closer shots or even take some measurements if you'd like. This is the stock 4+3 shifter.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
Joe,
Not sure if this is close enough for you to get anything from, but the shifter is in neutral and the top of the shifter is about at the bottom of the radio opening. I'd be happy to get some closer shots or even take some measurements if you'd like. This is the stock 4+3 shifter.
Not sure if this is close enough for you to get anything from, but the shifter is in neutral and the top of the shifter is about at the bottom of the radio opening. I'd be happy to get some closer shots or even take some measurements if you'd like. This is the stock 4+3 shifter.
Thank you!
-- Joe
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 3
From: MD
Joe,
My 4+3 always felt too high with the stock stick. I think it's mainly the seating position, the console is so high to start with. Is the McLeod shifter adjustable for height? Is it shorter than yours?
BTW, what other problems have you run into? You said you were posting some more "things to live with"
My 4+3 always felt too high with the stock stick. I think it's mainly the seating position, the console is so high to start with. Is the McLeod shifter adjustable for height? Is it shorter than yours?
BTW, what other problems have you run into? You said you were posting some more "things to live with"
