87 vette. Switching from auto to the Zf6 speed.
Question?
How to go about cutting the holes for the stick and clutch pedal?
We were gonna cut the stick hole out... but don't want to hack at things yet till we are for sure.
We dont know how to line up where the stick will go. Obviously its where the auto scoop is but do you just kinda guess. Am I gonna need to bondo or is there a template of some kind that will show exactly where it fits? The last thing id want is a gaping hole where i didn't need to cut.
ANy help plz

 

Did you try taking any measurements?

 

i went the other way, may the force be with you

 

your better off selling your automatic C4!!! and purchasing a C4 with the ZF...
your going to shell out lots of dough.. and use up lots of hours to convert
these car are not easy to work on in area's... like a F body car

 

agree and you'll still end up with a dana 36, the swap cost me 5k, but I was able to keep the dana 44

 

This subject has been covered and covered many, many times over the years on this forum.....do a search on this topic and I would guess alot of threads will come up for you.

 

I think most will tell you not to do it. If you insist buy a donor car place it side by side with your car and swap away.

 

Muff is correct. If you do it anyway, may as well get the Dana 44 while you are at it.

 

I say do it! I'm at that point in the zf6 swap and the only thread I've found that addresses the drive shaft tunnel mod is eight years old. I cut the hole by measuring from the bell housing back and will make a cardboard mock up and make a cover plate out of stainless steel to fit the hole. Clutch pedal is easy, holes are already dimpled on the firewall. Just drill them out. I'm sick of hearing the "don't do it, not worth the cost" BS. Doesn't anybody love their corvettes anymore? Would you trade your kids in because it's cheaper and easier than nursing them back to health? Takes no talent or skill to trade a car. "If you didn't build it yourself it's not really yours". It's the journey as much as the destination. The self satisfaction of doing something yourself.

 

I agree. I want do the conversion to mine to. It doesn't look that hard.

 

smoke your on fire!!!! of course it's worth when completed!!!!
nobody said it was hard.. it's a swap... but if you wanted a 6sp.. why not just buy the car you wanted in the first place.. for the same price.. now it will take around 4K to upgrade
and time.. of course we all love cars and working on them.. you could be working on the engine and other mods.. it appears you already have the ZF... so YES swap.. and the payoff will reward you .. when you have full control of power and RPM's
trust me i'm with you.. I make any part my self as long as I have the tooling....
or have access to.....

 

I once swapped a ZF6 into a 3rd gen Camaro. Putting one in a C4 where it was made to fit shouldn't be that hard.

I have done two Auto to T56 swaps in 4th gen F-bodys.

I also have the ZF parts you need for sale, as I am parting out my '94 track car. The Dana 44 is not for sale, as it's going under my '72. I have all of the transmission parts though.

LINK

If you are local, you are welcome to come take a look at the floor pan and take any measurements you need. The transmission is already out, and the interior is gutted.

 

HAHA thx bud.
Thats a good measuring idea. Well just got back... i should of took pics but the wiring in this car has been messed with. Theres loads of wiring and electronic boxes under the dash where i need to see.... looks like an aftermarket alarm system and audio mods. and they use the holes that i need for the clutch. lol. I only see one dimple to drill, the other is drilled for the random wires. and idk where the third is. nothing i could find that matches the holes on the master cylinder unit

Went to put pedal in which my buddy had... and it doesn't fit. Then realized it was for a newer c4 when mines an 87. Can anyone confirm that the clutch assembly is different for newer and older c4's???? do i need an older gen one or the 4+3 clutch assembly?

 

Yes, the early and later interior clutch/brake pedal set up is different.
You need to get a early.

For my patch, what I did was install the transmission.
-I covered the hole with a shape (patch) made of thin cardboard and tape.
-Covered the shape with aluminum foil and rolled the ends like a lip.
-Covered the aluminum with fiberglass mat and resin.
-Removed the fiberglass patch and trimmed it to perfect fit.
-Reinstall to cover the hole.

 

http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/zf6/

 

You asked for pictures of the pedals from my 90 parts car. here they are took them out yesterday as I said the switches are incuded they are still on the loom but will put them on...

 

Havent posted in awhile but i got the correct bracket now, but now my question is how to screw it in? Theres the two holes that go to the firewall and the two that attach inside the car on a metal framing that goes across the steering column. IDK how to put the bolts in for those two that mount on that framing unless you completely take the dash out to get to it from the top. Going from the bottom wont work... cant see where the holes line up.
Is there any other solution?
ANy help is appreciated.

 

That's the best part of the swap

There is two slots in the dash. You slide two body nuts over the slots, and screw the body screws (they're huge, like 10mm) through the top of the pedal bracket into those body nuts so the pedal bracket is sandwiched to the dash. You absolutely can get to it from the bottom. You need a small flashlight and a cold beer. If a 280lbs guy like me can crawl under and do it, anyone can.

Other than the fact that the seat has to come out, and it's tight under the dash the swap wasn't bad. Swapping my '79 Z28 was worse because there was no obvious guide as to where to drill the firewall.


When I first was thinking of doing mine, I was on here reviewing posts and gathering information. The majority of members on the forum said "dont do it", "It will cost 4k", waaa waa. Do yourself a favor and don't take advise from people that have not actually DONE the thing you are seeking advice on. Unfortunately, the real hardcore tech guys who own C4's hardly post so you are stuck with what you got.

IF you check out my site that was linked earlier, I also have a page regarding swapping a T5 into a '87. It has some pictures for cutting the hole and some other helpfulness. I've swapped manuals into everything I ever owned. seems like all the cheap cars are automatics. Which I guess means when you decide to sell the car down the road, you are more likely to get a few bucks for it. I know when I sold mine, the kid wouldn't have bought it if it didn't have a manual.. Then again, the supercharger probably helped too!


-- Joe

 

THX So much for the response ill see if i can get up there but it doesnt look like i could get a bolt in from the top.

what link are you referring too?

 

http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/zf6/