God help me, what have I done...
#32
Administrator - "Tyson"
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Agreed. 700 is a great box and can handle tons of power. But I am thinking (since it's a bastard car anyway) i might go for a manual. I'm much more of a row-your-own guy (and yeah, i know the fact that i now own a car with *two* automatic transmissions is a special kind of irony...)
#35
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I am gobsmacked, just knackered thinking about how SBC could have bought this car out from under Jolly Roger. He must be absolutely barmy right now.
#36
Nordschleife Master
There was one in California with a 4.6 Ford setup that claimed a double Rogerbox setup too. He wasn't going to smog it, but that wouldn't bother Roger in Texas.
I'm certain that Sean would LOVE to have that in his shop.
#38
Cruisin'
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It's a little complicated: in 3 days (Monday), car arrives from Wisconsin at my Dad's shop on the Cape (looks like you're there too? Dad lives mid-Cape - i grew up there). In 8 days (Saturday), I go to the car (I live in the NYC suburbs). Wish it could be sooner but, you know, job.
#39
Cruisin'
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Hey guys, while i sit on my hands and wait for this damn thing to arrive, i've been thinking over all my various options for making the drive train a little less, you know, crazy town. I've come up with the following - your feedback is warmly welcomed:
Option #1: remove GM slushbox, source replacement torque tube, and restore the 928 transaxle to its rightful position as gear-shifter in chief. Might also require some adapter parts courtesy of my friends at Renegade Hybrids. Upside - mostly-German; retain 50/50 balance (ish). Downside - no idea of the condition of the transaxle; limited ability to handle expanded power of SBC.
Option #2: Remove slushbox, remove (automatic) Porsche transaxle and replace with a manual 928 unit (reconditioned with warranty. Upside - still mostly-German, and I really prefer a manual. Downside - see above, plus additional parts/cost/complexity.
Option #3: Remove slushbox, torque tube, transaxle, rear suspension - the lot. Source a complete C5 vette rear end (including Dana differential, suspension, brakes, etc.) and fit that, along with a Tremec TKO 600 or similar. Upside - GM end-to-end = simpler, cheaper, plenty of power handling. Downside - Frankenstein suspension, (German front, GM rear).
Option #4: same as option #3, but instead of a full chevy rear, just replace the Porsche transaxle and diff with the Dana diff, and adapt it to fit the Porsche rear suspension, halfshafts, etc.
I think i like the last one best so far - i really want to keep the original suspension intact if possible. But really we just need to get a look at the car.
Oh yeah:
Option #5 - 9-speed.
Option #1: remove GM slushbox, source replacement torque tube, and restore the 928 transaxle to its rightful position as gear-shifter in chief. Might also require some adapter parts courtesy of my friends at Renegade Hybrids. Upside - mostly-German; retain 50/50 balance (ish). Downside - no idea of the condition of the transaxle; limited ability to handle expanded power of SBC.
Option #2: Remove slushbox, remove (automatic) Porsche transaxle and replace with a manual 928 unit (reconditioned with warranty. Upside - still mostly-German, and I really prefer a manual. Downside - see above, plus additional parts/cost/complexity.
Option #3: Remove slushbox, torque tube, transaxle, rear suspension - the lot. Source a complete C5 vette rear end (including Dana differential, suspension, brakes, etc.) and fit that, along with a Tremec TKO 600 or similar. Upside - GM end-to-end = simpler, cheaper, plenty of power handling. Downside - Frankenstein suspension, (German front, GM rear).
Option #4: same as option #3, but instead of a full chevy rear, just replace the Porsche transaxle and diff with the Dana diff, and adapt it to fit the Porsche rear suspension, halfshafts, etc.
I think i like the last one best so far - i really want to keep the original suspension intact if possible. But really we just need to get a look at the car.
Oh yeah:
Option #5 - 9-speed.
#40
Nordschleife Master
Well, first off, good luck finding a "reconditioned with warranty" manual transaxle. And make sure you are sitting down when you find out how much a decent (not great, just decent) used one costs.
I'm guessing you have enough experience to know how involved converting auto to manual is going to be.
Second, the "Rogerbox" is plenty strong enough for a SBC, even a moderately built up one. There are guys running superchargers with stock autos.
Simplest would probably be a Corvette torque tube and transaxle. "Simple" of course being a relative term. No need to change the suspension, you mainly need to adapt the axles (there's a lot more to it, of course).
Tony and Dinsdale built the "Just Peachy" car with this (Corvette motor, torque tube & transaxle). The thread is pretty long, but has good detail & tons of pics (you just have to put up with a bit of silliness like the "Fan Club").
Carl at 928 Motorsports is developing a kit for this too. He's got a thread going too, it's just slid a few pages back.
By all accounts, Carl is a great guy to deal with, you might shoot him a message and get his input.
Dinsdale seems to be a good guy too, just a bit... Odd
I'm guessing you have enough experience to know how involved converting auto to manual is going to be.
Second, the "Rogerbox" is plenty strong enough for a SBC, even a moderately built up one. There are guys running superchargers with stock autos.
Simplest would probably be a Corvette torque tube and transaxle. "Simple" of course being a relative term. No need to change the suspension, you mainly need to adapt the axles (there's a lot more to it, of course).
Tony and Dinsdale built the "Just Peachy" car with this (Corvette motor, torque tube & transaxle). The thread is pretty long, but has good detail & tons of pics (you just have to put up with a bit of silliness like the "Fan Club").
Carl at 928 Motorsports is developing a kit for this too. He's got a thread going too, it's just slid a few pages back.
By all accounts, Carl is a great guy to deal with, you might shoot him a message and get his input.
Dinsdale seems to be a good guy too, just a bit... Odd
#41
Burning Brakes
Whatever you do, I'd live with the car as-is for as long as you can stand it. That way, you'll have a better idea of what you don't like and what needs attention, before spending on what might be considered non-essential changes.
Good luck, and please feed the hordes with pictures when you can
Good luck, and please feed the hordes with pictures when you can
#43
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I'd say look at your mission with this car. Did you buy it to drive around and enjoy somewhat? Or did you buy it to have up on a 2 post lift for the next 3-50 months?
From there you gotta decide if you want the Frankenstein to be able to do. I think you said you like to row, and given the early Merc trans aren't very good, it's time to go full on Chebby front to rear.
I'd pull the TH350 and stuff the 700R4 in there. That's a pop and swap deal with maybe a slight change in the rear mount. Super easy, and the ratios are made for the SBC. Next, remove and sell the Merc 3 speed trans in back. Get yourself a C5/C6 diff mount that in and sort out the stub axle joints. This is gonna be a bit more work, but the diff shouldn't be too hard. The axles are a bit harder.
The nice thing with this is when something goes wrong in the engine, trans, diff - hey! it's all Chebby already so you can get parts from O'Reilly! Meh - If you want to row I guess grab the trans from some other Chebby, but with the 700R4, and a good stiff TC up there, I think you get plenty of driving out of it without a lot of agony along the way. I just don't care for the 3 speed Merc in the back.
From there you gotta decide if you want the Frankenstein to be able to do. I think you said you like to row, and given the early Merc trans aren't very good, it's time to go full on Chebby front to rear.
I'd pull the TH350 and stuff the 700R4 in there. That's a pop and swap deal with maybe a slight change in the rear mount. Super easy, and the ratios are made for the SBC. Next, remove and sell the Merc 3 speed trans in back. Get yourself a C5/C6 diff mount that in and sort out the stub axle joints. This is gonna be a bit more work, but the diff shouldn't be too hard. The axles are a bit harder.
The nice thing with this is when something goes wrong in the engine, trans, diff - hey! it's all Chebby already so you can get parts from O'Reilly! Meh - If you want to row I guess grab the trans from some other Chebby, but with the 700R4, and a good stiff TC up there, I think you get plenty of driving out of it without a lot of agony along the way. I just don't care for the 3 speed Merc in the back.
#44
Cruisin'
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Hi guys,
So... no pics yet (coming this weekend) but the car *did* arrive at my Dad's shop in the Cape and I have quite a bit more info (good and bad).
The BAD:
-Motor is *not* a 327. It's a 305. This is the ugly stepchild of the small-block Chevy lineup. Still, it has a decent carb and intake on it (and maybe a hotted-up cam in side, who knows), so it will probably at least match the factory HP output. I'll try to tweak it a bit more on a budget and save my pennies for a proper SBC at some point down the road.
-Somebody slapped a pretty terrible red paint job on top of the original brown. I guess with a whole lot of wet sanding and buffing it will be passable for now. Paint jobs are expensive.
-The A/C compressor is, well, gone. as is the power-steering pump. in fact, the only thing hanging off the motor is an alternator. So it'll be a bit more Spartan than original factory spec.
-Windshield is cracked. Anybody selling?
The GOOD:
-while it does indeed have two gearboxes, the one in back (the proper one) is a MANUAL. Hallelujeah! So next stop is to ditch the auto and find a proper manual torque tube (anybody selling?)
-The body (under the crappy paint) is just about perfect.
-the wheels (factory rotary-dial style) are also just about perfect - either new or close to it. So are the tires. They alone are just about worth the $1900 selling price.
Pics to come... i swear...
So... no pics yet (coming this weekend) but the car *did* arrive at my Dad's shop in the Cape and I have quite a bit more info (good and bad).
The BAD:
-Motor is *not* a 327. It's a 305. This is the ugly stepchild of the small-block Chevy lineup. Still, it has a decent carb and intake on it (and maybe a hotted-up cam in side, who knows), so it will probably at least match the factory HP output. I'll try to tweak it a bit more on a budget and save my pennies for a proper SBC at some point down the road.
-Somebody slapped a pretty terrible red paint job on top of the original brown. I guess with a whole lot of wet sanding and buffing it will be passable for now. Paint jobs are expensive.
-The A/C compressor is, well, gone. as is the power-steering pump. in fact, the only thing hanging off the motor is an alternator. So it'll be a bit more Spartan than original factory spec.
-Windshield is cracked. Anybody selling?
The GOOD:
-while it does indeed have two gearboxes, the one in back (the proper one) is a MANUAL. Hallelujeah! So next stop is to ditch the auto and find a proper manual torque tube (anybody selling?)
-The body (under the crappy paint) is just about perfect.
-the wheels (factory rotary-dial style) are also just about perfect - either new or close to it. So are the tires. They alone are just about worth the $1900 selling price.
Pics to come... i swear...
#45
Archive Gatekeeper
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Here's your bellhousing to attach your new fire-breathing LSx to to your manual TT:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-928-...c3cc2a&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-928-...c3cc2a&vxp=mtr