Auto to 6-speed Conversion Part 1
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Auto to 6-speed Conversion Part 1
Not really much to see so far. Last weekend I got the car up on the jack stands and removed the convertible cross brace, complete exhaust system, and drained the trans fluid in preparation for removal.
This weekend I removed the transmission and most of the interior. I also found time to replace the engine pan gasket and rear main seal. Ill drop the flywheels and flex plate off at the machine shop tomorrow to have them match balanced and resurfaced.
If the Richmond trans arrive sometime this week I should be able to start the install next weekend.
This weekend I removed the transmission and most of the interior. I also found time to replace the engine pan gasket and rear main seal. Ill drop the flywheels and flex plate off at the machine shop tomorrow to have them match balanced and resurfaced.
If the Richmond trans arrive sometime this week I should be able to start the install next weekend.
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by redfast
Hope it all goes smoothly.
Did you have to drop the engine back to get to the trany/belhousing bolts? Good luck with the swap
Did you have to drop the engine back to get to the trany/belhousing bolts? Good luck with the swap
I think the only way to get to the upper two bell housing bolts is to tilt the trans and engine back. Maybe if you were to take the intake manifold off you could get to them from the top.
I used a long 3/8th extension and an air hammer to get to them. The long extension was probably about two and a half feet long. Made it real easy to get em out, and don’t forget to remove your distributor cap before you tilt the engine back.
I had to cut one of the trans cooler lines off. There was just no way of getting it out with having to disassemble a lot more of the car.
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by ld85
Cool, fixing stubborn old problems makes the whole project that much more worth while,
Yeah it does.
I thought it was my rear main seal that was leaking, but after inspection minus the trans it appears to be the intake manifold gasket.Guess ill be pulling the intake manifold when the trans conversion is finished
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Indianapolis IN
Originally Posted by redfast
Hope it all goes smoothly.
Did you have to drop the engine back to get to the trany/belhousing bolts? Good luck with the swap
Did you have to drop the engine back to get to the trany/belhousing bolts? Good luck with the swap
I did every time, makes it much easier to crank them down when it goes back together, but I did pull the distributor and driver valve cover.
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Safety Car
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Was just told it’ll be another week before the transmission ships. Next Monday will be three weeks. How long does it take to pull the parts off a shelf and assemble a transmission? Oh well, whatever
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,228
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From: Dallas Texas
So are you going with the Richmond ROD-6? Glad to see someone is actually documenting this on posting on the forum. Lots of people would love to ditch their automatic for a manual, myself included. I am thinking about going with the TKO-600 and making my own adapter this winter.
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by montie98
I noticed you already installed your clutch and brake pedals.
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by zelement
Keep them coming! BTW: Nice interior! Who did that???
Stilllllll waitiing on Richmond 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Carlsbad, CA CA
Originally Posted by IBEAM700
Are you referring to my 94-96 interior in the 1990? Just another project that took years.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: South Lyon Michigan
When I blew my 4+3 trans I was waiting on a Richmond six speed and after I waited a month and the same old story that it would be another week I cancelled my order and built up a strong 700R4 to replace the 4+3, someday I might go back to a 6-speed. While your waiting for your trans, you should order some transmission studs from Summit, it will make the 6-speed easier to bolt up and will be easy to guide the shaft into the pilot bearing with studs on the engine so the trans just slides on. Good luck and keep us posted on the swap.
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by jp2002ls1
When I blew my 4+3 trans I was waiting on a Richmond six speed and after I waited a month and the same old story that it would be another week I cancelled my order and built up a strong 700R4 to replace the 4+3, someday I might go back to a 6-speed. While your waiting for your trans, you should order some transmission studs from Summit, it will make the 6-speed easier to bolt up and will be easy to guide the shaft into the pilot bearing with studs on the engine so the trans just slides on. Good luck and keep us posted on the swap.
I’m already to far into this project to turn around an go back to a slushbox.
The Richmond supplier told me it would ship last Friday or Monday, so if it’s not here tomorrow ill call them Friday and have them call Richmond to find out the new ETA.
As far as the Trans studs. I already purchased some long bolts from Lowe’s and cut the heads off, so I saved a few $$ and made my own.
I’m also going to do the drive shaft loop project while I have the C-beam out. Found the idea here.
http://users3.ev1.net/~vettefolk/122...shaft_loop.htm
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by zelement
Very nice, how hard was that? Can't wait for your current project to be done!
Most of the work was performed on the passenger side dash frame, and the rest just slid into place.
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by rick lambert
Just curious if your changing rear end too?
I ordered the Richmond with the .52 over drive ratio. If I had the torque to pull the 2.59’s all the way to redline in overdrive I could probably set a new land speed record.