Author Topic: GtoRa2 (Read 358 times)

SFRT - Frenchy · « **on:** June 10, 2005, 02:59:32 PM »

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2005, 03:08:46 PM »

Nice but...

I wont do a convertable.

What is up with the white scoops lol?

I would be tempted if it was a 4 speed, with a hardtop. No more autos for me. One was enough.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2005, 03:50:21 PM »

i bet its still hiding alot of rust and tons of bondo .. 6x headed 455 isnt any thing to get very excited over either ..

theres a couple of really nice ones for 7k also on ebay (hardtops)

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2005, 03:54:17 PM »

What problem did u had with the Auto? I have 140,000 miles on the TH400, and it still jerks tires when it shifts to second gear.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2005, 04:19:35 PM »

im on 500 passes on my th400.. no more lost races over a shift .. no more stop lights w/ my left leg shaking trying to hold a 3600 lb plate .. no more broken off bell crank balls, no more counter shafts spit out

the kenny bell convertor has hung in there too witch really suprises me .

oh yea while im at it ... the Vette I built last year ... in paint

7.20's last weekend at Boise .. Next weekend here in Seattle ..

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2005, 04:35:21 PM »

The turbo 400 is a fantastic tranny.

I just dont like driving autos.

All my other Gto were Manuals, when I bought the one in my icon it was the first auto since my very first one before I swapped a munchy 4 speed in.

I just don't like driving autos. I can live with it in my truck, but it just is not as fun in an old mucsle car.

If I do it again, I want a 4 speed car so I can swap in a modern 5 or 6 speed.

Laz is running the 6 speed I had in the GTO before the last and it was MUCH MUCH more fun to drive then the last one.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2005, 06:05:16 PM »

Laz has a Richmond doesn't he? It's an easy swap from the 400 to the Richmond? How's the "Rock crusher"

compared to let's say a 700-R4?

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2005, 06:14:25 PM »

To go from a turbo 400 to a richmond would prolly be medium hard?

You would either need to dig up a pedal setup from a manual firebird, then a bellhousing, though it would be better to buy a steel scatershield version then using the stock GM aluminum one.

You would then either need to get all the clutch linkage and brackets or install a hydrolic setup.

The floor pan on my 68 GTO that the 6 speed was in needed a fair amount of modification. We ended up cutting out a big section then taking another goats floor and making a cover from that. Your firebird may have more room though.

the cross member bolted right up with no mods. Just needed to be moved back.

I had a custom drive shaft made.

For you to put a 700r4 in you would need an adapter plate, GM only makes the 700R4 with the chevy bolt patern and your 455 will be the BOP bolt patern. They do make an adapter.

for a direct bolt in you can get a 200r4, they have BOP version, ( the Buick GN used a BOP version) but they need lots of mods to live with the torque your 455 will put out. With the mods I still think it will be slightly cheaper then a 700r4 setup to take the torque.

The richmond 6 speed made a HUGE dif in the driveability of my GTO. Hell I even got decent gas milage out of it if I didnt play to hard.

It was worth every pennie of the 2800 bucks lol.

I would still have that car if the frame had not cracked.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2005, 06:33:17 PM »

Frenchy's F body has even less room then the A body ... Also remember the engine is set back futher too .

Grand nationals had a 700r4 that will BOP bolt up but there kinda scarce .. also the olds diesel 700 works too .. they need the hvy duty clutch packs and then theres the converter hassle .. remember a pont 455 comes up on Torque way faster then the other big blocks . (my th400 has a 3600 stall and it stalls at 2800 and thats with a 421 crankshaft in mine )

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2005, 02:16:56 AM »

CC, I do a lot of highway, and I cruise at 90. I have a 3.08 rear end, so I'm not going too crazy in the RPMs at 90, but at 120 it starts to scream.

When I restore my eng, I'll probably get a 3.73 rear end and a 700r4 or Metric 200 (whatever that is ... is it a 200 R4?). I have a trany guy that is doing miracles with 700R4s, he already built a sick AOD for the Grand Tomato. I'm confident will build me a bullet proof 700.

If the car was just drag racing or city, I'll get a 4.11, a det locker and reinforce the 400.

I was thinking about a manual as the pleasure of shifting is irreplacable, but I think it's a bit of a shame to butcher a matching number car.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2005, 03:44:23 AM »

ive ran 3.90s, 4.11's and 4.33s in my poncho's befor and they SUCK on the hiway even with 30+ inch tires they buzzed to high for any longivity . but this was w/ 1 to1 high gear .

3.55's or 3.73's is the best bet w/ the od trans ..

3.36 / 3.42 has always been my fav gear for a poncho .. with 1 to 1

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2005, 04:00:45 AM »

I think the 700 R4 4th is 0.7-ish, I think 600-ish HP engine, 700 R4 and 3.73 should do it for a daily driver. That's what I'm planing on, but I'm just a book worm, don't quite have any practical experience. Wondering cruising at 4,500 would give me speedwise.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2005, 10:15:29 AM »

Another route you could go is with a Gear vendors overdrive.

You would attach it to the rear of the turbo 4 and it would give you an overdrive.

They are strong, and this combo would prolly be stronger over all then a 700r4 or 200r4

You also get 6 gears cause you can you the doubler on any gear.

Only major mod needed this way is a shorter drive shaft and the money, but I bet the unit is cheaper then a prepped 700r4 that can take the torque of the 455.

Gear Venders

lazs2 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2005, 02:39:05 PM »

the richmond 6 speed is 1 to 1 in fifth with a .76 sixth gear. With 3.36 12 bolt posi I am pulling 2100 rpm at 70mph.

The tunnel needs to be beat in a bunch for the richmond but... the non toploader box with "long" (brand) shift linkage is a dream... think Hurst competion plus at it's very best every single time.

I got rid of the 3200 lb clutch and went to a centerforce... very light clutch that grabs like crazy ... dropped the clutch in second gear the other day and did a 150 foot smoky burnout.

I also got tired of destroyed clutch linkage... this should be the answer.

If you are going for a car that only races at the drags and is trailerd... go for the auto.. drag racing today is too complex to have any variables... it is computer racing.

If you drive on the street and have a car that handles halfway decently.... you absolutely have to have a stick.

lazs

NUTTZ · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2005, 07:44:14 PM »

I adapted a rock crusher from a chevelle to my 400, the only problem i had Besides cutting the drive shaft, was the clutch. 11" was in the rock crusher, pontiac used an 10 3/8 I found a buick had a 10 3/8 clutch with 26 teeth rather than the 10 toother.

BTW, my motor is completely rebuilt and going in this weekend.

I CAN'T wait to see this bill!!!!! ( insert rolling eyes here)

My Take: I had enough of the shifting, the automatic have come a long way, and I like to free up my other arm, ifin' ya know what i mean:)

NUTTZ

Quote

Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
Laz has a Richmond doesn't he? It's an easy swap from the 400 to the Richmond? How's the "Rock crusher" compared to let's say a 700-R4?