Well I have completed my 700r4 conversion and I really like the way it shifts. The engine runs about 1900 rpm @ 70 mph. and 1000 rpm @ 30mph. Much quieter in the corkpit and less stress on the motor. Of course if needed I can drop into 1st or 2nd and act a fool, but I wouldnt do that. 2tonevette19812009-09-08 23:11:38

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I'd love that info!  That is my next project. SOme genl question I have:

The crossmember is from a '79 Corvette...bolts right in! The only mods were to slot out the trans mount holes in the crossmember slightly. The trick is to use a 700 tailhousing from a Caprice...the mount location on the Caprice cars was farther back than normal, so the tailhousing has the mount boss cast into it. With the '79 x-member, and the Caprice tailhousing, the trans mount bolts right up, with NO cutting/mods to the car, or the x-member, other than slotting the holes out for the mount.
The x-member may not work on later cars with the catalitic converter system without some mods to the exhaust, since the earlier x-member still has the two holes in it for the dual exhaust. If you have gone to duals, then it' not a problem, but the pipes may or may not fit, depending on how the pipes are bent to start with.
The torque converter has a slightly higher stall speed than normal, but not much. It's a version of the same converter that was used in Camaros, and  '82 Corvettes.
The shifts can be tailored to just about anyone's liking, from sliding(Granma), to bust the winders out.
That's about all I know about Ed's swap. He got the trans from someone here locally, and I built it for him. All of the ancilliary items(shifter mod kit, TV cable & brackets, etc., came from the aftermarket).

Sorry....Joisey is just about that(thumb and forefinger mashed together) far out of my commuting range....-


hth....


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

[QUOTE=2tonevette1981] If anyone is interested in the gorey details of the conversion I will post it. I am not going to type all that detail if no one is interested.[/QUOTE]  

You Bet we're interested . I've been waiting on a little more info on this subject in order to get my courage up. I've got everything sittin right here, tranny, torque converter, drive shaft, shift linkage and tv cable. I've read just enough about this conversion to make me cautious about jumping in. There's nothing wrong with the wifes trans and she doesn't like doing any down time, but I'm sure she'll understand once she experiences the outcome.

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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The remainder of the story.....specifics from Joel's list...the shifter modification was an easy afternoon do it yourself with a kit from shiftworks.com http://www.shiftworks.com/corvette.htm#1968 you just have to have a good hand grinder and file to change the detent. The TV cable is pretty basic. I used the TV made EZ from bowtieoverdrives.com. http://www.tvmadeez.com/. There was no way the exhaust could be reused, besides I wanted different mufflers.

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Putting an OD in a C3 is one of the best mods you can do. I put in a 200-4R in my 73 a few years ago and love it. Lots of info can be found on Bowtieoverdrives.com.

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Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Sounds like a future project!!!!

I still love mine. I still don't have the shifts like I want them. I'll get'em there one day.

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Lifetime Member #73

The Money Pit.... and my niece

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Hey Ed, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get a crossmember for $120?

Well Ed, I guess you wont be stopping so much for gas now. Next trip we take you can run longer on a tank. Maybe we can all run together in 2011 to Mid America gathering.

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