Well I finally broke down and paid a local shop here to put in this TH350 Ive been carrying around in the trunk of my Crown Vic for about 2 months. I just haven't had the time, just got back from a 2 week business trip in South America. It should be ready in a few days. Cant wait. I've been driving it to the corner market now and then to keep it running ok, no third gear at all. I haven't raced it since putting on the total Superram intake, SLP headers and AFPR.

What happened to Sams show? thats gone for the winter or what? I ve been out of circulation

 

We just met (well, me and a couple board members from TGO) at Sonic Burger car show on FM1960 at (FM1960 and Aldine Westfield intersection).

It's a decent car show. Lot's of nice rides there!

Good luck with the tranny.

 

Im having problems with this shop. They say the Bracket with the HURst adapter kit I bougtht out of JEgs doesnt line up on the VSS and other stuff. I only see one model in the JEgs catalog and it says for 82 and up Camaro/Firebird. Do they just have to modify that one by drilling holes or what?

 

Page me after you goto that shop and let me know what you found out.

Mike

 

Well I guess its going but I dont' feel good about it. I explained to the mechanic guy what needs to be done with the stock bracket, removing the rubber bushing from one side and bolting it to the adapter bracket, then lining up the other side of the stock bracket. Problem is, none of the holes for the two parts of the stock bracket, or the VSS, line up with the holes on the HUrst adapter bracket. Not really to hot of an adapter kit. I don't know why they just dont furnish a big bracket with holes and say just drill your own. The mechanic guy acted all pissed off, throwing things around, real *******. I was going to pull the car out and tow it to another shop, a performance shop nearby that I know, but the owner talked me out of it, like you know mechanics, tempermental etc. Its not a custom shop, I guess I should expect to be treated like they are doing me a favor. STarting to really regret not doing it myself even stuggling with jack stands and a floor jack.

I get the impression if one more thing doesnt' line up just right the guy will just snap and run screaming down the street.

We will see tomorrow. I am planning on eventually going with the Spohn crossmember and torque arm. Wish I would have just bought it from the beginning

 

Well, good luck Larry!!

First off, if it was my car I would do it myself anyway. But, if I was treated like that at any shop, I would immediately flat-bed the car and tranny back home or take it to another shop (especially if the dumbass mechanic had a temper and no fabrication skills).

It's really not that hard of a job! even if you have a weld a small metal plate to the bracket and drill your own holes to make it work. It's really not that bad!@

Oh well, let us know how it turns out!

Mike

 

Yeah, I kind of wished I would have just done it myself in the garage, no matter how long it took. I was ready to pull the car out, but the owner took me aside and talked out of it. It would have cost me, towing and more since he was giving me a lump sum price and it is taking longer than expected. I called today and everything is in. They needed some kind of adapter or "bullet" he called it that holds the gear for the VSS. I called and got that from GM locally.

Is there any kind of break in period on a tranny like that or can you just start standing on it immediately?

 

I would take it easy on it for the 1st 100 miles. Leave it in drive (3rd) and make sure it shifts through all gears on it's own for the first 20 minutes or so. Then come to stop and put it in 1st and drive it easy while manually shifting through the gears. Then after a 100 miles if everything is shifting ok, beat on it! When your done kicking in the guts, park the car and look up underneath of it to see if the torque arm brackets / mounts etc... is holding up.

Hope it works out for ya!!

 

Got them car back. Torque arm mount looks fair. they only put on bolt on the top of the outer stock bracket because, like I said the top bolt is higher and goes over the top of the adapter bracket. I would have drilled a hole lower in the stock bracket and put a second hole in the the adapter bracket. It may be all right tho.
I will leave for now and eventually replace with spohn crossmember and adjustable torque arm

Lines to radiator were not cut off and raised up for the shorte distance, so they are now equal to the lowest part on the car, the catback system. Just laziness, non custom shop stuff. I will fix.

1-2 shift nice, hard, snaps you neck back. 2-3 shift is like instananesous, but have not tried at WOT yet. Trying to take it easy like you said.

The tranny guy said when he test drove it, it seemed to start out in 2 gear when in auto mode sometimes. I noticed that a couple of times it started in first, shifted to second, then hesitated to shift to third. I think he was mistaken, it actually started in 1st, shifted to second, and he thought if started in 2nd an shifted to third. He would have to be stupid to mistake this, but I think thats it. It never started in second for me.

anyway, even thou this has been less than optimum, im happy to have a car that seems to run good.

 

Sorry to hear of your "adventure"--Sad state of affairs!!

I really wish we could all put our heads together on this board and come up with a GOOD list of shops that we can all recommend to each other to get work/custom work done. I know there is a list/sticky at the top of the board, but that seems somewhat limited in the H-town area. I have noticed from time to time when somebody asks for a recommendation for something, that there is usually very little response.

Maybe we could at least we could start a list of places "NOT TO GO TO???!!!'

 

Yeah, I would say this shop A+ Transmission, would be OK if you just want something standard done. Anything custom would not be advisable. This is probably true of most shops. I had the same experience with Mikes Muffler on I10 here when they installed my Borla Catback. Anything even slightly out of the ordinary just causes brain lockup and outright obnoxious behaviour towards the customer. I guess this is normal for a non custom shop that makes their money by cranking out standard type operations. Still I don't appreciate the attitude. If they don't want to do the work, just say so, like the guy at Mienecke when I asked about putting on the headers. He actually did me a favor because then I had to put them on myself, did a good job, and learned a ton.

I just havent had the time on the tranny, Ive been carrying the rebuilt one around in the trunk of my other car for 2 months, it was getting a little embarassing.

I think Brumbera Performance shop on HWY 6 is a good shop. He is the guy who first told me to put in a TH350 instead of a shift kit on the 700r4. Probably more expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for

 

Thats why I do ANY and ALL work to my vehicles myself. I can handle it and it always turns out right (not rigged). Besides, I'd rather spend the labor money on more go fast parts!

But, Glad to hear the car is back together Larry!

 

Are you ready now, Larry?