Author Topic: Uuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmm (Read 16123 times)

rebel · « **on:** February 18, 2003, 10:16:47 PM »

Guys,

The ONLY complaint I can make of my vette (and this ain't her fault), is the fact that I cannot stand automatic gearboxes! All my life I've driven manuals and love 'em.

Anyway, I don't want to go ripping out the box as 1) it's costly and 2) it's one of the best auto's you can get!

So .... to enjoy the drive experience a bit more and get some manual type performance, I'm thinking about a trick shift kit or something...

Does anyone know or can they recommend something for a C3 (TH400 or 700) .. ? Does anyone have theirs done - 77CVT ?

Thanx ..

Adam · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 1970, 10:00:00 AM »

"Does anyone have theirs done

Scott81 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2003, 11:15:39 PM »

My 81 is an auto trans but I converted to a 700r4. If I had known earlier I would have went with a 200r4 as the conversion is supposed to be easier, put a TransGo shift kit in it for some good neck snapping shifts. Personally, I wish I would have had some extra $$$ and went with a Richmond 6 speed, manuals are so much more fun.

Look at the Bow Tie Overdrives web site for some ideas, http://www.700r4.com/

Brutus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2003, 11:28:33 PM »

Scott81 has a 700R fitted to his Vette and I have to say it made a great improvement to it's highway cruising ability. I shared the drive with him from Florida to Kentucky and at cruising speed the car never went over 3,000 rpm.....well almost never.:b2
I have done some research on the 700R and the 200 R4. One of which will find it's way behind my engine when it's rebuilt.
I've got a brochure from a guy who had a stand at the Summernats. I'll dig it out tomorrow if I have time.

77CVT · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2003, 10:22:43 AM »

Yeah, I got a shift kit! It was installed many moons ago in the States before I got it (funny, because a lady real estate agent then some older people owned it!). Basically you gotta get one! :evil Mine hammers into gear and chirps on both shifts @ WOT. I changed my converter recently and the bottom of the trans pan was not as bad as I expected (metal stuff) but at some point my clutch packs will need replacing - I'm surprised I haven't had to do it yet.

If you got the bucks to spare get a TH700 from a VN Commodore. To shorten the driveshaft and make a new trans mount can't be that hard. A neck snappin' 1st and overdrive is exactly what our cars need! 200R's were very scarce over here and for the money to freight one over, the 700 seems cheaper. There is a guy up here that can sell you a wiring kit - e-mail me for details.

If I can ever get a TH700 for a couple of hundred bucks I'll rebuild it and put it in my '77!

Brutus - I'd be interested in that info.

jdunne · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2003, 10:29:23 AM »

The VN commodore v8 box is an easy install,i have a well built up one in my 74r....the reason for the vn is that it is the last of the boxes that doesn't need any electronics,just a vacuum lock up/kick down.....works really well...john;34

Scott81 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2003, 11:53:17 AM »

I'm happy with my 700r4, but here I have easy access to all kinds of GM goodies so it's much easier for me to do these mods and a 200r4 would have been easier yet, I just didn't know it then. When Brutus came over for our trip to the museum I'd say we averaged around 21-22mpg on the trip.....and that's even with old lead foot Bob driving. The one thing you do have to do is to build it with the toughest parts possible, 700's were not known to last behind big HP motors.

The non-electric trannies work well, be warned though that if you have a big cam like I do (Comp Cams 284 XE) then you won't be able to use the vacuum lockup harness for the torque convertor, you'll have to wire up an electrical one, which is not hard at all.

rebel · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2003, 04:32:58 PM »

hmmm .. great responses thanx!! I wasn't thinking of changing the box though. Otherwise, I'd be seriously tempted to throw a tremec t56 manual or something in there.

I believe that changing an auto to a manual requires many other mods including carbies, stall converter and diff ratio.

Adam · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2003, 04:37:24 PM »

...and an extra pedal!

rebel · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2003, 04:47:32 PM »

get outta here ... you mean you can't get paddle shifts ...

Brutus · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2003, 09:42:01 PM »

Check out your mate Monty in the CF. He's been toying with the idea of setting up paddle shifters to his car.

rebel · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2003, 09:44:15 PM »

I know .. but I was toying with WR. :22 !

One of these days I'm probably gonna loose it and get into one of my "What the @#$%" moods and change over the auto for a manual tranny.

Adam · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2003, 10:27:09 PM »

Well, the vette is your ultimate car, almost, are you gonna let a silly little thing like the gearbox ruin your dreams?

GO FOR IT!

Brutus · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2003, 09:39:39 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by rebel
I know .. but I was toying with WR. :22 !

One of these days I'm probably gonna loose it and get into one of my "What the @#$%" moods and change over the auto for a manual tranny.

I've had similar thoughts (dreams), but it's just another thing to ponder in the realm of Corvette possibilities.
Have you considered what pedal assembly you'd use if you went to a manual trans?

rebel · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2003, 10:59:35 PM »

Brutus, nope, I hadn't even considered a manual trans until this session .. ;-)

what can you suggest .. ?

also, just finished scanning those pics of my car's panelwork. They'e old and need some cleaning but I should have them clean enough to post in a day.

Brutus · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2003, 12:17:48 AM »

I've always got the idea of converting to a manual in the back of my mind, but in the end I'll probably go with a 4 speed auto whether it be a 700 or 200.
Looking forward to seeing those pics of yours too.

rebel · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2003, 11:21:55 PM »

OK, I've given it some thought here ....

If I went to the trouble of doing this, it'd have to be a top job! Therefore you'd have to use a Tremec 5 spd. Add to that a nice billet pedal assembly, change of axle, 3.55 in the rear and ofcourse the necessary clutch etc, add labour (the interior from dash outwards would have ot come out, gearbox alignment etc etc) ... would I be wrong in suggesting a healthy $15,000 - $20,000 ..... ?

All of a sudden that Turbo 400 ain't looking so bad .... ;-)

77CVT · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2003, 10:10:04 AM »

To work on your car it would cost at leat that much due to the extra extra care that would have to be taken!

You could always get a fully manualised auto if you wanna shift gears! ;laugh

rebel · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2003, 10:04:24 PM »

yeah, steve from SR Performance keeps talking about a "clutch-less manual" ... I tell him, "isn't that another word for automatic" ..... ;laugh

I aleady drive the car by shifting through the gears (unless I'm just cruising) but in line gears ?? ... it's not the same feel as a H pattern. Overall I think a manual allows much more control, better handling and "drive - ability" ...

Adam · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2003, 10:15:45 PM »

I think I already mentioned this once but my dad has a Ford Transit van that has the full mechanics of a manual, clutch- not torque convertor, but changes gears itself. Whats more it upsh#ts when you go downhill, and it can tell by the load what kind of shifting behavious is required. You select D by pushin a button on the dash. It disengas its clutch when stopped of course, and it engages very smoothly, even if its half clutch/ minimal movement.

The only thing is, being truck like, the shifts arnt speedy.