GlenYappa

Chevy's conversion kit for a 305 to a 350 includes a crate ZZ motor. The Catalog says the conversion is only for automatics. Do they say that just because the HP of the kit will shred a stock t-5 or is there a hardware reason for the only automatic rule? Could I use a Richmond 5 or 6 speed with the engine in the kit?

Vader

Glen,

The new engine may have a flexplate instead of a flywheel for a manual, and may not have the mounting provision (ball) for the clutch shaft mount. The V-6 engines DO NOT have the flat milling and hole drilled and tapped for the clutch ball, and the V-8 in the kit you describe may not have the provision, either. What is the part number of the engine kit?

Later,
Vader

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"Some Body...Someone"

Jester90RS

Clutch ball? wtf? man the clutch ball is in the bellhousing, it has nothing to do with the engine.

[This message has been edited by Jester90RS (edited July 31, 2000).]

bigvic

I think that it might have something to do with the same reason that GM never offered the 350 with a 5-speed. Either because of emissions produced while under a load would be too high (read: illegal)with the manual or from just being too powerful for the manual trans. It seems that no one knows for sure why GM never offered the 350/manual combo, but I guess they dont want you to do it yourself at home either.

Eggplant Jeff

Bigvic: All it really means is whatever reason they didn't offer the 350/5 speed combo still applies. They couldn't care less whether you do it or not, but for legal reasons they still have to say it. Either durability or emissions would still be valid: They wouldn't want to deal with complaints from people who dropped a 350 in and broke their T-5, and if they weren't allowed to do it originally for emissions reasons they still can't do it as an add-on kit :-).

GlenYappa

Thanks for all the info. The kit engine, part no. 24502609, comes with an auto trans flex plate. The question is would changing to a manual transmission effect emissions. Did Chevy not offer the manual option on the kit because they knew the T-5 would not handle it? ( I think we all know the answer it yes on that one.) More importantly would you not be able to pass emissions with a manual trans with this kit?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I was at the dealer's at lunch time, they have a ZZ4 on display in the parts area. It has Q-jet manifold, HEI, and a 6-speed bolted to it. There's a sticker on the valve cover that says, "Off-road use only." Admittedly, this isn't a "kit" ZZ4, but it illustrates the point.

The conversion kit was certified for automatics only. Someone on this board who claimed they worked for GM at the time has stated 350's only came with auto because of emissions - I tend to believe them.

If you buy the conversion kit and put a manual behind it, you're on your own at emissions time. GM won't acknowledge your existance. Depending upon the severity of your inspection/testing, you may pass, you may not. The kit comes with a sticker that says it's emissions certified if installed per the instructions. If you don't have an automatic behind it, you didn't follow the instructions. A sharp inspector may pick up on that.

Oh, if you buy the kit and use a manual tranny, mail me the automatic parts that come with it - you won't be needing them.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car. Rescued w/86 LG4/TH700R with all harnesses, sensors, ECM, etc. 3.08 open, cat-back from '90 305HO, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress.
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. Currently 396 .030 over, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.