fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Title says it all. I have a turboed 3.1L camaro. As you can imagin the 60* engines and there matching trans have very limited aftermarket. So I keep tosting the tq converter I have and I know in time my narrow 700R will be toast also.

Some info on the car. Best passes of 13.30's @106Mph. 14psi of boost. Stock rear, 3:23 rear end gears. 2800 stall on the current 700R4(4L60) Not a daily driver. I just drive it arround town here and there and race the car every weekend at the local track. Basiacally its just a toy.

I have searched but there seems to be little to know stickys about the swap and it could take me hours and hours to find just a few simple questions so If anyone can help with some personal experiences that would be awsome.

I have a friend that has a TH350 trans and its slightly built up. Im told its a TH350 from a 2wd truck. I believe its a 9 inch tail one but need to see it in person first to confirm the length.

So here are some questions I have. But let me first say there is a adapter plate that will allow me to bolt the TH350 trans up to a 60* motor. So consider that not a issue yet but it may be easier said then done. But if anyone has any info on that please elaberate the process. As there is basically no threads of people adding a trans of this sort on a V6 Car.

Heres a adapter to match the trans. Will this affect the overall length?
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Chevy-...ates,3280.html

1: How does tq arm work on this swap? Do you absolutly have to buy a relocation kit of somesort?

2: How exactly will the speedo equiptment work?? This is a 1991 camaro here and I want to make sure the speedo works.

3: A kick down cable must be installed right??

4: I've heard that the trans is a bit heavier and larger? How much and is it a complete pain to install.

5. BIG QUESTION. Will I need a flexplate off a V8 and if so what needs to be done for this to work.

6. The TH350 works on a Vac reference insted of the TV cable on the 700R4 correct?

Thanks for any help or tips guys!

jmd

iTrader: (4)

The adapter is only 1/8" because you're using nuts in front of it to retain the bellhousing bolts. Usually, a converter has 1/8" extra it can be pulled from the pump (or spacing it off the flexplate) as long as it's round pilot is seated correctly in the crank. And of course the 3 bolts need to bolt snugly without distorting the flexplate.

You'll also need a converter that matches your flexplate which:

5. It's not going to match your crank bolt pattern and it may not fit inside the bellhousing flange of the block / bell.

1. Torque arm adapter kits are available but the torque arm has some impact on the tailhousing. Just get a crossmember that allows for the torque arm mount.

2. The TH350 with a Chevy tailhousing (1" speedo hole) and the 1991 T5 speedo gears and VSS would work properly. Alternately if you went with a 700-th350 switch kit (spacer block + 700 tailhousing instead of the 9" tailhousing) you could run the 700-r4 speedo gears and VSS you have now.

The ratios of the 700 are not ideal for a turbo application. A narrower ratio gearset can be had for them but it's not cheap.

3. If you need kickdown functionality yes. If it's 1/4 mile only, no.

4. There is plenty of room for a TH350 and the weight difference is negligible.

6. The vaccuum line to the TH350 and TH400 regulates line pressure for part throttle shifts. So you absolutely need this on a regular valvebody application TH350. The same function is performed by the TV cable in the 700-R4/200-4R.

Big picture? If you're going to keep the car and get good streetable use out of it, I'd get the 700 re-geared w/ the 2.7x first gear. This way, it's done, the gearing is more suited to a turbo engine and you can drive it, including long trips. The capability of the 700-R4 can hold what power you're making. As for finding a converter that doesn't die, I wish you luck.

project89

iTrader: (1)

the th350 converter will bolt the to v6 flexplate with minor modification to the holes, the 3 flexplate to converter mounting holes in the flexplate need to be filed outward .100 of an inch, u could file them likemars did but the best way would be to set the flexplate up in a bridgeport and machine the new holes in

the kit also comes with a crank piloit adapter which allows the larger crank piloit of the th350 converter to go into place and makes up for the difference in the thickness of the adapter plate

the first gear swap for a 700r4 is almost 1,000 bucks and u totally have no option of a transbrake with the 700r4

th350 with a full manual valve body/brake and converter will be cheaper and more reliable for alot less

and this is comming form somone who runs a 700r4 behind his turbo v6 thats just a few psi away from running 11's

project89

iTrader: (1)

there are a few converters that will hold upt0 the turbo v6 with the 700r4 unfortunately these are exspensive as hell 600-1k each

i run a tci super street fighter that i had restalled to 4,500 rpms converter works great and listed for 550 bucks ,475 my cost, unfortunately they no longer make this converter


the biggest problem is how much tq ur making we already know ur over 400ftlbs at the crank and my motor is around 450/475ish, at these power levels the picking becomes real slim when it comes to parts that will work

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

I want a streetable car but you know its not a DD car anyways, just a big toy.

I like the TH350 route as long as it doesnt cost me as much as the car cost just to fab it into the car.

I do have to say I bet your right about the Tq numbers as ever since it spooled fast and the headers were finally on right, it didnt take long(a few WOT's) to see the shift from 1st to 2nd not drop any rpms.

What is a bridgeport? New to these terms.

project89

iTrader: (1)

the th350 swap should only cost u the trans , a 10 inch or smaller converter the tq arm mount

edit

just thought of something with the th350 u should even be able to use a fullsize 12inch converter as it will have a fullsized bellhousing, but the smaller the diam of the converter the less rotating mass, id go with altleast 10 inch and nothing bigger

friend of mine uses some th350 conveters off ebay that are about 125-250 bucks each , behind a nitrous powered sbc (250 shot ) and hes never had an issue

waiting for a reply from him so i can find u one of those converters

bridgeport is just abrand of milling machine

ideally to redrill the mounting holes i would put the flexplate on a rotary table and set the dril out to the diamiter of the bolt circle then drill the holes, the rotary table just allows u to spin the flexplate to the right positions

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

I just talked to the trans guy.

Its got: Reverse man. valve body
Shift kit
Shifter with neut. safe switch
Rebuilt last winter?? He says.
300 bucks with no converter.
Of course Id have a trans guy I know take a peak in there and make sure its ok and doesnt need a rebuild as of now.

The problem is those he said that the thing is the exact same length as a powerglide. And that he "thinks" the drive shaft is shorter then the one that was on the camaro originally but im unsure of what trans and the length. Its a 84 or 82 camaro and I cant get back ahold of him at the moment as hes racing tonight. Sure wish i could remember the right year of it...
He said he never used a tq bar and that the frame connectors and the x-over worked fine. Hes a 11 sec car before and now a mid 11 sec car with the glide.

Im still a little lost when it comes to the flexplate fabbing as im not a machienst and have no idea what something like that would cost.

I have a few other chevy guys I need to talk and see if they have any laying arround also(Trans thats is)

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

the car was indeed a 1982 Camaro! Is that good or bad considering the length of the shafts?

project89

iTrader: (1)

it depends what tailshaft is on the th350 this may help u

btw u have a welder and can fab so u will be able to modify the stock xmember and make ur own tq arm mount saving u money

as long as that th350 has the right tailshaft id buy it

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Ok dave thanks for the help. Im going to have him measure it tommorow and if its ok, i look to buy it although it may not get on the car this season with 2 races left. It will be a mean car in the end.

He jsut said that the stock driveshaft was too long and it had to be shortened for it to work. IIRC the 1982 Camaros had shorter trans anyways. So this may work out, but the measurements tommorow wont lie.

Let me know about the tq converters if ya can. Im lost at what will work out well on my set up and doesnt cost too too much as some converters I was looking at are alot and major high stalls.

project89

iTrader: (1)

hmm looks liek the one he has wont fit

700r4 is 30 inches long
th350 with 9 inch tailshaft is 29' and 5/8's ( correct )
th350 w 6 inch shaft is 27 5/8'd ( stock ds is to short)
th350 with 12 inch shaft is 33 5/8,s ( ds is to long )
power glide can be 25 5/16's or 28 5/16's (ds is to short)

so u need to know the measurement of that th350 to know for sure

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Ok well I will check on that soon tommorow, I know another guy who has a 350 and a 400 in the shop, will probly need rebuit but I know the 350 has a full manual valve body and shift kit. Not the deal that I was looking at on this above trans but Im sure Ill get it straighened out.

I just know that the original trans in that car was shorter, and there was a custom DS made at one point to fit the 350 and now the glide fits in. Im just hoping that its the right one and he just pushed the limits on the length or modded something that he didnt tell me.

project89

iTrader: (1)

earlry 3rdgens had 200c transmission which were shorter so they had longer driveshafts

i got u covered on a converter like i said before have him take an overall measurement of the transmission, btw it costs about 75 bucks to have a drive shaft shortened if thats somethng u may have to do.

but as mentioned a th350 with the 9 inch shaft will work with ur stock ds

project89

iTrader: (1)

look in mars's build thread he shows how to modify the flexplate for the th350 converter iirc he used a die grinder/dremel to modify his

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Ok dave. Ill get some info tommorow. Im hoping for the best here because its a good solid trans and a good price if its right.

Ill let ya know what it measure tommorow. Thanks man.

ill read into mars thread and look at it well as Im going to have to do it. Thank god for the net...lmao

project89

iTrader: (1)

they say pictures are worth 1000 words so here u go the gold brackets are the b&m 700r4 to th350 swap kit


flewplate mods as u can see the th350 converter bolt mounts are basically in the sameplace as the v6 the holes just need to be moved slightly outward

adapter

swap kit for tq arm mount and trans mount
u could easily make ur own using the stock xmember just modify it and attach tq arm mount it it
this kit just extends the stock x member foward to the th350 trans mount location and attaches tq arm to the tail shaft

project89

iTrader: (1)

few places to grind for bolt clearnace as well

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Hellls ya man. those pics help me understand much more. Thanks.

I understand the trans mods, but on the block I grind the spots to let the head of the adapter bolt fit in, and then I also have to grind the area for the dowle? I didnt relize before but the dowles are in the block permently?? Or do you mean to clear the adapter dowles?

Also how do you grind that the dremmel right? Im assuming that as I havent gotten to look though mars thread, being on the phone sux doing that stuff.

This adapter would work fine correct? It seems to be the right one, im not sure if a brand matters or what the prices of others cost.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Chevy-...ates,3280.html

project89

iTrader: (1)

mars used the same adapte rthat speedway motorsone is the only adapter made

and yes u grind the block so the bolts fit behind the adapter p[late.

and where itsay grind for dowel pin clearance its so the th350 dowl pin dont hit the 3.1 block were it goes threw the adapter plate

fasteddi

iTrader: (2)

Ok I understand the dowle pins then.