Hmmmm...four months till Michigan Billetproof, and so far the STEERING system is the only "go for launch" aspect of the Punch Drunk 49 Chevy that's semi-functional! (So what's a LITTLE slop, eh?? ) Wiring is no big deal, I can do that easily enough in a few days time...already bought the goods, just need everything to be where everything will be to start connecting wire ends to shit on the car! Brakes remain to be seen...my original plan called for discs, but if the front drums can be made functional, they'll do for now. (Like, how FAST is this thing REALLY gonna BE?? ) The motor will be a 2.8 GM V6, much to the dismay of many Stovebolt fanatics! (Hey, y'all should be GLAD...it means I got 216 junk up for grabs that I'M not gonna be using...although RocketJ2 gets the long block back for whatever twisted, maniacal goins-on he has planned for it!). Now, to go hand-in-hand with the car's name...I've been plotting the possible use of the old three speed tranny behind the tiny little 60 degree V6. (Tiny motor...tiny tranny...they should get along famously!). Nobody has had the sense to offer a 2.8 V6 to old junk three speed adapter kit for whatever reason, so I've thought up a couple of schemes that are totally whacked, but consistent with my other ideas, at least! First...uh, no...wait a minute...I think I'd need fluid pressure to make THAT work... Ummm...moving right along...can a trans adapter be made out of say, 1/4" thick steel 'sheet'? Oughtta be strong enough for THIS combo, and then some...right? Whaddaya DO? Just trace the old bellhousing on one side, and the engine pattern on the other and start drilling holes? Use a 216 clutch bolted to a 2.8 flywheel and PRESTO??? The reason for this madness, is to try and make the swap as easy (and QUICK!) as possible, involving the LEAST amount of parts swapping just to get the beast on the road. I just thought whipping up a trans adapter and retaining the stock tranny, torque tube, rear axle, rear suspension and rear brakes would be the most economical way to have at it??? (Saving the rear axle swap (and subsequent other mods) for a later point in time eliminates one whole aspect of the short-term goals for this project...am I on crack, or is it really a do-able possibility???)
Hack, You have all together too much time on your hands. Unless I'm mistaken (I probably am) the old 3 gear tranny separates from the stovebolt bellhousing, right? Instead of adapting the bellhousing to the V-6 why don't you adapt the v-6 bellhousnig to the tranny. Just center the tranny up on the bellhousing and redrill the holes. Unless there is a depth problem with the later hogs head, that would be the easiest solution. If you have a hole thats going to overlap, just stick a soft stud in the hole with some red locktite, and then drill away. You don't have to use a hydraulic clutch, get a cable setup off a 3rd gen camero. Orrr... the adapter plate is also a good idea.
I've seen 440 Mopar engines adapted to Farmalls that way... the 1/4" I saw was even diamond plate, for effect... I agree with P&B, why not just redrill the bellhousing on the 2.8, or is the block from an auto, and you don't have a bellhousing. If that's the case, sounds like it's time for a ROAD TRIP... BTW, it's like 34 degrees, y ain't ya outside working? Jay
i think the only "logical" solution, if there is such a thing is this swap...is to run a t-5 behind that 2.8! it really ain't no work to swap the rear end, especially compared to making tranny adaptor plates...you'll really want the overdrive and deep first gear. and first gen s-truck trannys are a dime a dozen.
[ QUOTE ] i think the only "logical" solution, if there is such a thing is this swap...is to run a t-5 behind that 2.8! [/ QUOTE ] Sorry Hack but Raven got mine BTW unless the drums are just wasted,(like in beyond repair) I'd just run 'em. nothin' in the world wrong with drums, unless you talk to the disc manufacturers, or the people that they sponsor.
Plus, if that trans in the car turns out to be junk (snicker snicker ) it's not like I don't have a few lying around as "spares". Jay
Why do I keep thinking a running 216 would make your life so much easier, and the summer so much more fun. Maybe I'm just getting too old
Hey FH, this is easier than you think. A 48-54 truck trans will bolt to the 2.8 bellhousing... use the 216 clutch disc, and the 2.8 pressure plate. not sure on the input shaft length, it should work. And, the truck trans will hook up to your enclosed driveline...you will need it all put together before you mount the engine to accomadate for shaft length. Got any more dilemmas I can solve? I still think you are a strange lttle man.... Brian
Your original (car) 3-spd won't bolt to the s-10 bellhousing, because the center hole is too big, and the bolt pattern is smaller. Could be possible to adapt it with a piece of plate, but I think the input shaft would not reach the crank at that point, evern if you could get a plate made to center the smaller trans in the larger hole. Brian
Them's fightin words!!!! So, since the babbitpounder is going into a modified, which weighs half as much, it's like doubling the horsepower, right? Woo hoo, 184 hp...(snicker, snicker) Jay
Nope, no 2.8 for me...It's just that I was doing the reverse of what you are...putting a t-5 in place of the three spd...what works one way will work in reverse...actually, what got me started on the 5-spd conversion was I was loading up a bunch of junk one day, and threw on a 2.8 bellhousing on followed by a '55 trans...wait a minute, that looks like it would bolt together...and it did..so I just reversed it and used a '55 bellhousing and the t-5...and damn if it didn't work! I'll add the bellhousing to the pile.... Brian
Hack, I'll be in Coldwater in April. I pass on free stuff lie truck rears often. What kind of rear do you think you'll need? Would a 4x4 S10 part work?
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