Need advice to fix suspension

Hey ya'll. Some may remember from my opening post (thanks for the kind words for those that replied), I recently picked up a 30 Model A. Well, the rear suspension is a total hack job, and I need advice on how to fix it quickly, cheaply, but right. The original crossmember was cut out on both sides real bad to make room for coilover shocks. A repo frame would be the best answer, but then I loose the original VIN, and I don't like the idea of cutting the frame up. The car currently have a 10 bolt chevy with homemade looking ladder bars and some cobbled up brackets.

I was thinking about getting a 8.8 explorer rear out of the pick n pull to get a cheap traction lock and disk brakes depending on how much rework has to be done.
It also has a th350 that doesn't have reverse. I don't want to spend money to fix something I don't like, so I am thinking about swapping for a 200/700R4. Can anyone tell me how to hook up the "kickdown" on a 700?

Thanks for the help.

Ray

 

www.purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/techinfo/700R4p1.html

www.bowtieoverdrives.com sell the required brackets to suit your carburetor. TV adjustment is critical to the longevity of your T700. Get it right so your transmission doesn't become toast.

 

Ditch the crappy ladder bars, coils and cross member.

Get a reproduction rear cross member, and a set of Pete and Jake's ladder bars, with cross member. Top it off with an Model A leaf spring and hardware, shackles and mounts.

Classic, simple and effective.

 

thats too bad, real nice car on the outside, shit underneath......looks like a whole backhalf redo to me.......sucks.....

 

200-4R Shifting Problem!
A few more links to look over. And its a Throttle Valve, or TV, cable. It controls the pressure in the transmission, its not just a kickdown cable.
TH2004R Identification
On the tailshaft of the transmission is a metal tag riveted on. It will have in large letters the transmissions code, two or three letters
KZF -- Olds 442/Hurst
CZF -- 85-88 Monte SS
CRF -- 85-88 LG4 305 powered Monte Carlos/Pontiac Grand Prix
BRF -- 86-87 GN/T-Type/Turbo Regals
BQ -- 84-85 GN/T-Type/Turbo Regals
BR -- 83 Model T-Types
TAF -- 89 Turbo Trans Am
OZ -- Hurst Olds
OM -- Olds 350 Diesels
OG -- Olds 307
BY -- V-6 252 Cars
AA and AP -- Cadillac's

The sport models, Turbo cars; H/O 442; MCSS, would be the most coveted and out of the box most aggressive shifting. The AA/AP Caddy will be the softest shifting. The CRF and OG would most likely be the prime candidates for a buildup. The main differences is the valve body and the weights on the governor. http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/oft200.htm

I prefer the TH200 4R, the gear drop between gears is better, and the case length is the same as a TH350, but it uses the TH400s rear mount location. Really easy swap on vehicles with a crossmember that can slide back from TH350 to TH400 mounts. No D shaft mods. Also the 2004R will upshift under WOT into 4th.

The 700R4, the 1-2 drop is pretty significant. Avoid early '83/'84 models, they have a smaller input shaft. In fact, avoid any 700 that is not '88/'89-'92(called 4L60, '93-up are 4L60E which require a computer to shift). I've had two 700s blow up for no apparent reason. First one a slight incline on the freeway(no load, ~70MPH) did a 4-3 down shift and the stator in the TC grenade. Any throttle input past 1/4 in OD will cause a downshift, there is the B&M sleeve, like found in Corvettes and 9C1 Caprices, that will allow for more throttle input before a down shift, but still no WOT 3-4 upshift.

 

Having been in the repair business many years, someone wanting a fix that is quick, cheap and right brings back a flood of bad memories. If you can fabricate, the cheapest fix might be to get another stock crossmember and modify it, box it in to do the same basic function. Maybe you could move the coilover mounts on the axle too.

 

Thanks for the help. I've seen my share of quick and cheap repairs, so my emphasis is on right. But I have a couple other projects going and would like to have this running with the nice weather breaks hear in Virginia. That said, I was thinking about making a square tube cross member like I saw in a web add that curves around the axle to the rear and mounting the coil-overs off of that.

 

Oh no. Follow Gimpys advice, post # 3. Easy to find, looks fantastic, fool proof, etc. Sell the coilovers and whatever you can salvage from current setup. You will be instantly happy, and more importantly, happy years from now as opposed to a quick fix.

 

I have a brand new Posies super slider reversd model A rear spring with mounting brackets i'll make you a deal on if you go that way. pm me at bkollar44060@msn.com