Not a Chevelle, but I thought you guys might enjoy a thread like this!
After the recent performances of John Wilson and Garret (40Coupe) I decided it is time to take my shop car to the next level! So i thought I would post about the upgrades I'm going to try! Here are some pictures before I tore the car all apart!
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Now For the Torn Apart Picture.........
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Before I pulled the engine took a few measurments to see how much room I had to safely move the engine back in the car. I also did a bunch of math to figure out how much I could lower the engine and transmission to straighten the drive line angles out and allow clearance for a transmission shield inbetween the tunnel. After it was all said and done the engine can move back 1.5" and down .650", and on the new trans crosmember Im building im goin to lower the tailshaft of the transmission about 1.25" I designed the motor mounts to be light weight but strong. I drew them out on my CAD program and had them CNC Plasma cut out of 3/16" cromoly sheet and I tig welded them together. Because they are double layered there stonger than a moroso mount but not much heavier.
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I mocked up the engine and new Turbo 400 transmission with its shield in the car using the new engine mounts and results were great. The only modification I had to do was change the lower control arm bolt to a button head allen and dimple the firewall where one header tube was close to it. Its amazing how nice the engine fits in the car moved back and down compared to stock. The trans shield fits real nice also. Atleast a 1/2" gap between it and the tunnel all the way around. When I had the engine and trans mocked up I also took a measurment for a new driveshaft. Then I pulled the engine and trans back out so I could fabricate on other parts of the car and not get grinding dust all over everything. The engine is also going on the dyno for some testing.
Here is the new driveshaft from PST
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3 3/4" carbon fiber... 6 lbs lighter than my old alumnium 3.5" for the turbo 350 trans.
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I also have gotten a new shifter for the new trans from Precision Performance Products it came with a new cable and real trick alumnium cable bracket for the trans. I had one of these shifters in my old chevelle and Ill never buy another brand shifter agin. They are super high quality and made completly in the USA.
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Ill post more of the upgrades in the coming days... Im going to have the car ready to go to the track next month so I can see if it can hang with John and garret's times. So stay tuned!
After the recent performances of John Wilson and Garret (40Coupe) I decided it is time to take my shop car to the next level! So i thought I would post about the upgrades I'm going to try! Here are some pictures before I tore the car all apart!
Now For the Torn Apart Picture.........
Before I pulled the engine took a few measurments to see how much room I had to safely move the engine back in the car. I also did a bunch of math to figure out how much I could lower the engine and transmission to straighten the drive line angles out and allow clearance for a transmission shield inbetween the tunnel. After it was all said and done the engine can move back 1.5" and down .650", and on the new trans crosmember Im building im goin to lower the tailshaft of the transmission about 1.25" I designed the motor mounts to be light weight but strong. I drew them out on my CAD program and had them CNC Plasma cut out of 3/16" cromoly sheet and I tig welded them together. Because they are double layered there stonger than a moroso mount but not much heavier.
I mocked up the engine and new Turbo 400 transmission with its shield in the car using the new engine mounts and results were great. The only modification I had to do was change the lower control arm bolt to a button head allen and dimple the firewall where one header tube was close to it. Its amazing how nice the engine fits in the car moved back and down compared to stock. The trans shield fits real nice also. Atleast a 1/2" gap between it and the tunnel all the way around. When I had the engine and trans mocked up I also took a measurment for a new driveshaft. Then I pulled the engine and trans back out so I could fabricate on other parts of the car and not get grinding dust all over everything. The engine is also going on the dyno for some testing.
Here is the new driveshaft from PST
3 3/4" carbon fiber... 6 lbs lighter than my old alumnium 3.5" for the turbo 350 trans.
I also have gotten a new shifter for the new trans from Precision Performance Products it came with a new cable and real trick alumnium cable bracket for the trans. I had one of these shifters in my old chevelle and Ill never buy another brand shifter agin. They are super high quality and made completly in the USA.
Ill post more of the upgrades in the coming days... Im going to have the car ready to go to the track next month so I can see if it can hang with John and garret's times. So stay tuned!
