So, I'm like a day or two away from doing *something* about swapping out my rear carrier. I've got 2.73's and will probably install 3.42's & a Yank 3000 stall t/c (still debating this decision) - Anyway, what I'd like to know is how many fellow Forum members have actually done this swap themselves in the garage at home? Would I need a lift? Anything I should be prepared for?

Any info would be appreciated. Thankfully there are a TON of great tuners on this forum, so I don't mind paying for the install but if it's possible to do it at home I may give it a try.

TIA!! :steering:

 

Try Mike Mercury's site, it's what I used :cool:

http://mikemercury.home.att.net/342.htm

Good luck :cheers:

 

Thanks for the reply! I knew Mike did the swap & I've read his info before, I guess I'm just looking for *more* people that have done it for additional affirmation. :D So I guess you did the swap too? What's your take on doing it? Did you use a lift? What gear and/or t/c did you install?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really interested in this project (whether or not I do it myself).

Thanks again for any advice.

:seeya

 

I am going to do the rear myself on my friend's lift but would not do it on my back. Lowering the rear carriage is the risky part if you are not prepared. Technically it should be cake as no internal adjustments are required.
I will do my own heads and cam during winter storage as time is not an issue.

DIY is great unless> unless you screw it up then it is a very dark memory.

 

I did my converter myself using a kwicklift (not much higher then jackstands), its not hard at all. A cheapo trans jack easily handled the rear suspension (get some 1' 2x4 sections and nail them together to keep it level between the jack and crossmember). I also left the torque tube in the car which saved some time. Once you start unbolting things it will go pretty quick, I would remove the carrier before the trans if you are changing gears anyhow. The trans/transaxle combo was a little awkward on the trans jack but I got it up there myself :) Two people working on the car would make it alot quicker but I didnt have that luxury...

 

Man you guys know how to give a guy CONFIDENCE!!! :thumbs: Keep the good tips coming, I'd love to hear from more people as I know we all have different levels of expertise.

Personally I've done a bunch of stuff to *lesser* cars, I guess I'm just a little intimidated working on the Vette.

Please check in if you haven't already, I'd love to hear your experience!!

:seeya

 

I'm glad I had Andy do my rear gear swap. But watching him do it, I think that someone could do it much more slowly but just as well if they take meticulous care about what bolts go where, etc. Also, I noticed that he needed a bench to handle the rear wheel drive assembly and had to loosen the driveline to get the rearend out.

My feeling is that it I could have done it myself if I had all the tools, equipment, and expertise...but since I don't, the $350 was well spent by having Andy do it.

 

I agree with you, for the cost of an install it is worth paying someone.... My problem is that everyone is like 3 hrs. away! From what I hear, these guys need a full day to do the swap and then with an A4 it's best to put a few hundred miles on the car to program the tranny.

Basically, I'm looking at a two day process out of town. This kinda worries me with the long ride home. So I guess I'm still on the fence. :crazy:

Keep your comments coming folks! Any more tips or things to watch out for are most appreciated. :seeya

 

Yeah, I understand. Mine was a three day operation when I went to Andy down in Ventura. It was 6 hrs each way but I got to stop and see a friend on both days. Andy is really good and really fast, so he would have had it done in half a day except for other engines, etc. he was working on.

And remember, you need to break in the rearend too. It takes 20 minutes of driving at different speeds, wait an hour to cool down, drive another 20 minutes at various speeds, and let it cool down again. Then you can be on your way. Of course I have an MN6 so I don't know about the auto break-in requirements for shift points, etc. This a little different from breaking in the stock gears, but even then GM wants you to drive at various speeds for awhile.

My guess is that if you can get an appt, you can do it easily within one day. Find someone familiar with the process, drive the 3 hrs and get there at 9-10 AM, and you will have it done and back home by that evening. Again, breaking in the gears takes almost three hours so that chews up a lot of the needed time. But if you don't do it, you run the chance of a whining rearend.

Personally, I would still go to a professional if it's not too expensive---but that's just me. You don't need to take the risk associated with putting something in wrong, losing some bolts, forgetting a part or whatever. Just watching Andy move the drivetrain up and down with a lift, muscle the transmissioin and gears around, take off the axle assembly, etc. was enough to convince me that I had made the right decision.

Good luck on making a decision. Once you get the gears, I think that you will be pretty happy. We finally have some nice weather today and I'm going out to run my new 4.10's for awhile. Man does it scream in 3rd! I shifted down to 3rd last night on the freeway and after just touching the accelerator, I shifted back to 4th. There was no way I was going to come close to punching it after it had rained earlier because it just felt so powerful.

Hope this helps. I still say you can do it in a day easily if the person has done it before.





[Modified by FunDriver, 12:39 PM 12/21/2002]

 

I think the key to a successful DIY swap is to not rush through it. If your Corvette is your only means of transportation, then no doubt I would pay to have an experienced person perform the work.

I learned a lot doing mine... and now could easily do it in a day. But I am glad a had a few days to finish it the first time.

 

[QUOTE]I learned a lot doing mine... and now could easily do it in a day./QUOTE]

But the real question is, knowing what you do now, If a freind came to you would you do his for him or tell him to go to a professional?

 

hmmmmm, I would say if it was strictly a money matter, or the situation where there aren't any experienced C5 mechanics in the area... then DIY is the answer.

If a friend asked; that is good enough reason to help with a DIY project. There is always the "personal satisfaction" reason to DIY a project like this also.

One thing for certain about what I learned the first time; that is... I wouldn't want to pay anyone to do a carrier swap that had never done one before on a C5. Mainly because once a price is agreed upon, its the job of the mechanic to get it done quickly... to insure profit. The C5 is too unique to have someone rush through a job like this for their first time.
For example:how many seal-plates have been left off (A4), only to require a second tear-down. Only a mechanic that was familiar with the C5 and had done carrier swaps in the past would know how important that 6" round disk is.

I've read here on CF where a paid mechanic questioned the correctness of the 2-be-installed carrier, claiming it had holes in the tranny mounting face and the one he removed did not. Yes; this person may be a well experienced mechanic, but hasn't a clue to the certain areas where the C5 is like no other car he has worked on in the past.

.



[Modified by Mike Mercury, 11:05 AM 12/22/2002]

 

Hey guys, thanks soo much for your input. Mike, it's not a question of money but rather the time/distance required to get the swap done. The Vette is certainly not my primary car (2001 only 9000 miles), but I would hate to mess it up on my own. :eek:

I'm starting to feel pretty confident (wife thinks I'm feeling FOOL-HEARTY) but I just may do this one on my own.

I'll keep you all posted once a decision has been reached.

Take care,

 

Very good point. I sometimes loose sight of the fact that my dealer has a Vette Only guy with 25 years of Vette Only experience, and I was maybe his 20th at a minimum rear gear exchange. I just realized how lucky I am in that respect. I have watched it done twice now and still do not want any part of it. My hat is off to you Tim.

 

dads01dream,

too bad you don't live closer, I'd certainly lend a hand.

 

Mike ,
Since you have done it is there any part that requires technical knowledge beyond basic skills and patience?

 

haahahahahaa :lol: Yeah, I wish you were closer too! So I guess knowing what you know now...... Would you recommend doing it myself based on your experience with this project?

Anything else I should know about concerning this project? I hope we've covered all the bases, though I'm sure once I start there's bound to be a few more questions that will come up.

:seeya

 

I have waffelled over this for months myself. Doing a t/c, gears & tranny all at the same time. Just waiting on my trany to come in from Frank at RPM. I have read over Mike's diy install & the procedure in the shop manual many times. Don't think I could handle it physically any more on the garage floor. I found an installer only an hour away that will do the whole job for $360. That made the decision for me. My local dealer wanted $700 and a couple of local shops wanted up to $1k. :cheers:

 

Some parts do require a second person. It's too risky IMO otherwise.

I'd suggest reading the Mike Norris article (linked to on my web page) and determine yourself if you should do it or not.

If you decide to DIY; make safety your highest priority.

 

AGREED, Safety will be my primary objective! Thanks again for all the info.