OK GUYS BACK ON TOPIC!!!!! lol



Seeing my TV/kickdown cable is frayed and i have the trans out now i mise well change it. Can i go aftermarket or should i stick with stock? If i can go aftermarket which one to buy?

(NOTE)
i will not be going to a junkyard and take one out lol

 

lol, its fun to stray every once in a while!

Back on topic.
I love my factory equipment......If the factory one worked well, I would use that. Can you even buy a factory oem piece anymore?

If you had trouble with the geometry between the factory t.v and your aftermarket carb, I would look at this setup, a friend of mine had it, and it worked well for him.
I don't know of the jobber type factory knock off type, if its made in Chine? well you know!

 

was there suppuse to be a link gbay? lol

i bought the trickflow throttle cable, i had to fabricate it to work with my throttle and kickdown cable as WOT was nowhere close. But it does work now and works with the factory tv cable. no clue where to even start looking for a stock one. Mine has been frayed from day one

 

So i took the converter off today, and looking into it the first set of gears has alot of play when moving the converter around. Anyone know if this is normal? I just want someone to say its not normal so i am 100% sure its the converter lol Either way am ordering one tomorrow, just want to sleep good tonight lol

 

[quote=LS4GXP;4995827]So i took the converter off today, and looking into it the first set of gears has alot of play when moving the converter around. Anyone know if this is normal? I just want someone to say its not normal so i am 100% sure its the converter lol Either way am ordering one tomorrow, just want to sleep good tonight lol

Sorry, didn't add the link.

http://www.tvmadeez.com/index2.html

Cant tell you about the converter.

 

Seems there selling the bracket, i need just the cable at the end that hooks to the carb is frayed apart alittle

 

They sell everything, just click on the 'online catologue'. You will get into Bowtie Overdrives website.

 

sweet, kinda overlooked that button :P

 

Need some opinions or just plain answers. Most likely only gbay or gunmetal will answer but thats fine


***Dashboard and gauges, what to do***

As of now i have the v6 87 firebird dashboard, it has the 7 or whatever idiot light panel. Looks plain ol stupid!

I did however by the Trans am Faceplate, 4 holes, think its 5 inches round. As of now i own 2, 2 1/8 inch Autometer oil pressure and fuel pressure gauages. If i put the new dash plate in what am i going to do with the 2 extra holes? One would be speedo,, second rpm, third and fourth am lost. How should i run my gauges in my situation.

Car should be road worthy this coming weekend, but with the gauge situation, it sucks driving at night as nothing is setup. I have my fuel pressure gauge and tach zip tied to my windshield wipers LOL Its time to get the ball rolling again!

 

I love the factory dash personally, but since you are doing aftermarket,
I would consider a trans temp, and fuel level gauge.

No fuel pressure gauges inside vehicle unless its fed from an electrical source.

 

A guy I knew ran a cheap pc of copper to a oil gauge on a high oil pressure engine and he mounted it to lower dash.As he went threw the lights at the top end,it burst burning his right leg pretty badly.Now I admit I have never seen that one before.But sure does get me to think about the parts mounted inside.

Gas pressure gauge inside........................naw

 

OK alittle confusion is going on now that am sober let me clarify lol

The oil pressure guage and fuel pressure gauge is going to be mounted under the hood, on the lip behind the carburator under the cowl.

Can i convert over to the trans am dash or is it going to be a huge hassle? I agree with you gbay, i dont mind the stock T/A dash, but the firebird dash with idiot lights is tacky, and has to go. I wasnt sure about wiring how the swap would go, or if it would be easier to just buy 5 inch autometer gauges. Again the problem with that is i will need to fill 2 holes.

 

Not sure which way would be easier, both will pose issues (as you know)!

It may depend on what you have done to the factory wiring and sending units/switches. I would run the oil pressure gauge where you can see it inside.
I can not see why you would not be able to run the factory set up? that way, no empty holes to worry about, especially considering an aftermarket 5 inch guage will be costly.
If you go factory gauges, you can install a seperate pod with dual guages, ei; trans temp, and AFR, and tuck it under the dash pad infront of the air vent, thats how i am doing mine.
Somewhere, there has to be a write up on v6-v8 cluster swap?

 

As the other guy said I don't want oil pressure in the cabin due to line failure. My buddy had one break on him also and made a huge mess on the carpet and on all the radio components. I can see it good under the cowl by the windshield. As far as factory wires and gauges I haven't touched anything. Guess ill search for the swap.


Converter will be ready for pickup on wensday

 

Itll be nice to have the converter in!

I should have said- ditch the oil line and under hood oil pressure gauge since it is just another place to break a line, I am not big fan of mechanical fluid gauges. You dont need it and the factory one is good enough, you either have pressure or you don't.

I would get an electrical oil pressure switch/sending unit on the block and bring the electric oil pressure gauge inside.
I think by leaving the factory harness intact, it would not be too difficult to use the trans am cluster.

 

If you have the entire factory cluster, it should swap right in.

Autometer 5" gauges are a little deep to play nice with the factory box behind the bezel (the white plastic housing), but it can be done.

If you look at the TA cluster closely, you will see that the black plastic bezel is aimed slightly down, and there is a tapered piece behind the clear plastic that points the gauges up a little for easier viewing. It looks really goofy to have the big autometer gauges mounted flush to the outer bezel, and have them pointed towards the floor.

Just some things to keep in mind.

As far as gauge choices, AFR is nice to have :P, I'm kinda thinking a trans temp gauge would be helpful too. Aside from the factory complement of gauges of course (Oil Pressure, Water Temp, Fuel level, and volts).

I picked up a set of 3 gauges just to have backups when I first started my engine, and I really like them. they're like 1 7/8" or something, so they wouldn't look tacky mounted below the dash pad or something, if you're trying to keep a somewhat factory look.

 

After doing some thinking, pondering, going back and forth about my car i might have came to a conclusion.

After reading swap guides on dash gauges, Still need to fix the windshield and headlights, swap doors ( rot ) and paint the car.....I think its more feasable i Just sell it.

BUT, i have found my donor car it looks like.
http://cnj.craigslist.org/pts/2538405510.html

i have more pictures the guy sent me but there not that good looking. I am going tomorrow to look at it. All interior is in tact, leather seats, dashboard is nice, carpet is nice. Should take a day or two too strip the birds drivetrain out ( motor,trans,driveshaft,rear) and swap to the camaro.

On a good note.....I do have my torque converter on hand, just debating if i want to put it in the bird or not. Will keep ya posted tomorrow

 

Thats interesting!

Just make sure the camaro's body is worth the hassle of converting everything over.

 

From pictures it has 80% less rot then the bird. Pics can be deceiving tho

 

I know they can, it always worth a look.

 

Its crazy how much those odds and ends add up. Gauges and other interior stuff can be a pain and its nice to be able to replace whats needed instead of starting from scratch!

$600 for a complete shell is a good price tho!

 

Not a thirdgen in my project,but I started it on the bases of a body that I had all the patch panels for and found a 1989 Florida body that is rust free and I do think I am better off.So I hope this deal works out for you.

 

 

 

 

Went and looked at it as you can see. Decent shape, engine bay is clean with little rust, doors are nice, body is nice, Rust on rear quarter panels as you can see but very common in jersey. NO STRESS CRACKS ( yet ) lol Will have to get my *** rolling on SFC, and roll cage. T-Tops leak in heavy rain he said, easy fix hopefully, also spare tire hole is holding water and needs alittle freshening up. Floors are solid, looks clean under the car.

He is a member of the board he told me, he might chime in here. Ill go pick it up next weekend and bring it home after he pulls the motor and trans. Hopefully in a month time ill have the bird stripped and the camaro running.

As of now, am putting the trans in the car today, fingers crossed everything will be smooth with vibration issues. Ill go get my inspection sticker tomorrow and hopefully can have a recent video up for you guys

 

Looks pretty decent!
For the price, you have a very nice roller.

Now get rid of those Newfie louvers on the back window and your good to go!

 

Already told him to remove it before I pick it up lol

 

A good find.Sure does help a ton when you want to tied it up for a long time to do chassis mods,body repairs,and paint work.Got ideas if you are going to tie the chassis/roll bar??.Any thoughts to paint work and color??.With those pixs you could photoshop it.

 

I would get all the bodywork done on the shell before trying to get it running. The 'bird will keep you entertained until you have a rolling chassis worthy of that engine

 

Seeing i have a 2010 fusion as a DD and my work mini van i bring home everyday i can afford to not have the play toy on the road.

Mody work is very minimal, so wont be much down time with that as to if i did the work to the bird it would be weeks lol

UPDATE: we all love my updates!



New torque converter WILL NOT mate to the trans. After playing with it for an hour, she will not click in. The old one goes in smooth, new one, not a chance. I did notice though while using a flat head screwdriver into the converter, if you slide it down the bottom gears it opens up toward the end, the New one if you do same thing it gets small. I dont know what the very end of the converter is, but i know it wont slide on the trans shaft.

So its down until i call this clown on monday and ask him wtf he did to the new one. I did check and it is a 27 spline converter, same as the trans. Completely sucks! Only bright thing is i get to pick up a nice camaro at the end of next week

 

There a local guy who gave me a price for a custom 6 point cage using thick tubing ( forgot the size ) for $1100. Herd he does awsome work. As far as the paint, i dont get to choose lol The deal was i had an unlimited amount to spend on my project if the wife gets to choose the paint. I have little say, but not much. Trying to get her to go with a two tone color, midnight blue on top and black at bottom, or K@N orange on top with black on bottom. We shall see though.

 

Are you sure about the TC? Have you tried to place the tranny on its tail stock? When you turn the tc slowly, pull up on the TC to unload the meshing a little and than drop it back down.

 

me and a friend played with it under the car for 20 minutes before we dragged it out, I placed it in a 5 gallon bucket ( full fluid, on its tail ) and messed with it for awhile. We can get the old one in and out plenty of times, just not the new one. Seems the tip of the trans is not fitting at the end of the converter

 

With the Photoshop deal,you put together acouple of paint schemes you really like and then let the wife pick one.That way she thinks she picked it out.

 

I don't do photoshop, but if u want to be my guest, ill enjoy different themes lol

 

I have that app on my computer,but don't know how to use it.Hopefully someone will chime in to help out.

 

So I brought both converters to the shop. The old converter is a 30 spline,and I ordered a 27. I counted the teeth twice and so did my friend, trans had 27 teeth...this is very odd. Seeing I know nothing about trans and converters I asked the guy if it was possible to have a 30 spline converter on a 27 spline trans and he said no, so now he is ripping new one apart and changing it.

 

Are you counting before or after the beer? Lol

 

before....and after....smartass

Am still confused...friggen shaft. first set of gears count 27! and am sober dammit lol Whatever, if a 30 spline converter doesnt and noway shape or form work on a 27 spline trans then its a 30, But i still count 27!

 

ok i swear on my grandmothers grave, Monday it was a 27 spline, Saturday it was a 27 spline, Today its a 30 SPLINE! just counted it again, damn transmission god is playing games with me! lol or am just losing it!

 

I dont know how things like this happen, but they do! When do you get the converter back?

When are your starting "383 swap part deux"?

 

part deux will probably start in 2 weeks. part deux will be a 2 day project not a 10 month! lol Already have the bird sold, so the camaro didnt set me back any money

As far as the converter goes, hoping before the weekend. I just got my inspection sticker, so she is "legal" now lol

All brakes, brake lines, fuel lines were replaced on the camaro 6 months ago. And i dont have to mess with the harness on it as the guy has it tucked away in the fenderwall already.

I do however need to find an ac delete box, i think a friend has one, i know my valve covers will not have clearance with it in. Also need to figure out where to mount the MSD, was thinking on the ac delete box

 

Sounds like your off to a good start with this Camaro! Look forward to seeing the project started.

 

If i get this converter in the car this weekend and all is good, i will most likely have the motor tuned and dyno'd in the bird, then swap it out. I might have to do the rear end at my house, which will require hand tools.

Of course, i will have the pictures flowing! Am going to try to get a video of me and a 12.8@110 car going at it from a roll ( no traction till 55-60 ), ill get that up before i go for swap part deux lol


i wished i painted the engine bay in the bird before the motor went in but i didnt. Seeing i get a second chance with that, You think regular spray paint will look ok? Of course its not going to be a showroom quality and am not looking for that. But it should look good right? am not going to strip the compartment out to do this, ill cover the essentials the best i can. Eh or Na?

 

I think your due for a vid! Just be sure not to use a video phone, bit a real camera!
I say yeh, tape everything you can and spray bomb away!

 

buying a real cam would just take money away from my "project" lol. Wifey getting alittle irrate about renting, meaning she wants her own house lol.

I have $1200 between my droid and hers, i think the 2 phones will do just fine video taping it lol

 

Converters done

Cost me a total of 30 budweisser cans to replace 27 spline to 30 lol The guy says its a common and honest mistake. Now if the weather can hold out to put it in before the weekend am golden!

 

So lets get off the converter issue a moment here and move on to the next topic!!!

I have a ticking noise from the rockers. My friend said he would adjust them for me after the trans is back in but....Just incase he is not around, how would i accomplish this. I have seen him do it before many years ago, but i have not actually done it myself.

I want the car driveable come saturday, and if he is not around to do this am screwed. I wont drive it unless its fixed. All help is appreciated. Please get technical step by step And you can start after i take the valve covers off :P

 

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti...r_preload.aspx

And to consider:

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti...r_preload.aspx