Ok, so I've been planning my self to death trying to get ready to do one of the most major modifications to my Cutlass yet. The TH-350 to TKO-600 swap. I've been organizing parts lists and contacts for almost everything to be able to do it with almost all bolt in pieces and hardly any fabrication during the install itself. I will be starting to buy parts in late February to March and start the install a little after I get everything in one location.
I know Meat Drapes' thread is legendary... so if you want some awesome inspiration to do this swap yourself, go read it. That's why I am doing this swap. And that's also why I am doing this thread. I know he struggled like crazy to get parts to work and piece together and things just seemed to sometimes be working against him. But I figure, if he can do it, I can do it.
So here we go... post 1...
To start, here's a basic parts list of what I am planning to include in the build. Let me know if you have any other ideas on what would be a good idea for any other parts as well. This is the product of about 2 months of being locked to my computer screen at work just reading and finding parts.
Bellhousing, Fork, Pedals, Linkage - Used - Private seller, I can't reveal this until after I get my set, so someone else doesn't buy it out from under me. These are used factory pieces but reconditioned and G-bosy specific.
Clutch set - New - 10.5 stock set from Autozone for SBC. I am doing this because
Autozone has a good unconditional lifetime warranty and my motor is all stock on the inside for now, so I figure it can handle the power for a while.
Flywheel - New - Stock piece from Autozone. Again, Lifetime Warranty.
Pilot Bearing - New - Extra Long Roller - why not for $20 - http://www.pitstopusa.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=2719
Transmission - New TKO-600 from Keisler. $500 more gets you the Chevy II custom shifter installed just like they shipped with the G-body custom transmissions when they offered them. Not sure what I'm going to do about the shifter yet, need to take some measurements and see what I've got to work with.
Driveshaft - Shortened stock piece - from local shop.
Crossmember - Iceman Racing - made for TKO for g-body for $150, he's got the measurements now.
Clutch Linkage - Speed Direct pieces - $65 - I hear they make a huge difference.
Transmission mount - Energy Suspension - you can get these anywhere
I might replace the carpet as well with a JC whitney black piece while I'm at it... we'll see...
And my 7.5 rear won't last long with a manual, so I'm going to put a housing cover/brace in soon after to just make it last a while longer.
Most of these items you all know about already, but I figured I would put them all in one place.
I know it sounds crazy but I hope to be able to do this swap in 1 weekend... yep, 3 days... that's why I'm doing my homework first. I want it to go together right the first time.
So ya... there it is... post #1... any ideas or input or questions would be great...
I know Meat Drapes' thread is legendary... so if you want some awesome inspiration to do this swap yourself, go read it. That's why I am doing this swap. And that's also why I am doing this thread. I know he struggled like crazy to get parts to work and piece together and things just seemed to sometimes be working against him. But I figure, if he can do it, I can do it.
So here we go... post 1...
To start, here's a basic parts list of what I am planning to include in the build. Let me know if you have any other ideas on what would be a good idea for any other parts as well. This is the product of about 2 months of being locked to my computer screen at work just reading and finding parts.
Bellhousing, Fork, Pedals, Linkage - Used - Private seller, I can't reveal this until after I get my set, so someone else doesn't buy it out from under me. These are used factory pieces but reconditioned and G-bosy specific.
Clutch set - New - 10.5 stock set from Autozone for SBC. I am doing this because
Autozone has a good unconditional lifetime warranty and my motor is all stock on the inside for now, so I figure it can handle the power for a while.
Flywheel - New - Stock piece from Autozone. Again, Lifetime Warranty.
Pilot Bearing - New - Extra Long Roller - why not for $20 - http://www.pitstopusa.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=2719
Transmission - New TKO-600 from Keisler. $500 more gets you the Chevy II custom shifter installed just like they shipped with the G-body custom transmissions when they offered them. Not sure what I'm going to do about the shifter yet, need to take some measurements and see what I've got to work with.
Driveshaft - Shortened stock piece - from local shop.
Crossmember - Iceman Racing - made for TKO for g-body for $150, he's got the measurements now.
Clutch Linkage - Speed Direct pieces - $65 - I hear they make a huge difference.
Transmission mount - Energy Suspension - you can get these anywhere
I might replace the carpet as well with a JC whitney black piece while I'm at it... we'll see...
And my 7.5 rear won't last long with a manual, so I'm going to put a housing cover/brace in soon after to just make it last a while longer.
Most of these items you all know about already, but I figured I would put them all in one place.
I know it sounds crazy but I hope to be able to do this swap in 1 weekend... yep, 3 days... that's why I'm doing my homework first. I want it to go together right the first time.
So ya... there it is... post #1... any ideas or input or questions would be great...