I cut it

 

It will be a pita to change it all out.
Have you priced it all yet? Can get costly.
Don't forget that you will have to pull the
engine apart to have the crank drilled for
a pilot bushing for the 4 speed.

I have heard that you can cut the input
shaft on the 4-speed so that it would fit
into the existing auto crank, but that would
be another discussion for ones in the know.

I also saw on your other thread that you were going
to put buckets in to replace the bench. You will have
to get the weld in b/s mounts for your floor pans for that
swap also. Good luck with it, I am enjoying reading
about all the progress you have made so far.

 

You were obviously trying to not spend a lot of money in your other thread. The conversion is going to cost you almost $2k even if you cheap out on things.

That being said the hole in the floor is no big deal. Just cut it in the right place and save the piece you cut out. You could always weld it back in later.

Is there any reason you just couldn't ask your dad what he thinks?

 

Yeah its will be expensive I'm sure, theres a conversion bearing you buy and don't have to drill the crank, just grind down the tip of the manual trans 1/2 inch. I'm actually thinking of using Cavalier seats with cavi brackets and I'm hoping they'll fit in the flat seat-mount area of the car so I can just drill new holes. Making brackets isn't too bad

I already know what my dad thinks, no cutting I'm trying to find out if this is actually something to worry about as far as cutting up a factory auto car and lowering its value, and see if that'll convince him to let me swap it. I prefer manuals a lot

Yeah I'm keeping costs low for now but in about a week I'm going to NC to sell my two other cars, I expect to get a pretty hefty lump of money.

Looks like it won't be horribly expensive
Used Saginaw local: $200

Complete pedal and z-bar kit: $219 on ebay repop

guy selling a BOP bellhousing local $50

Conversion bearing: $49

rockauto has manual flywheels for olds motors for $55.98
they also have clutch kits but they list both the flywheel and clutch kits as for 3 speed transmissions. Its listed as a manual flywheel under manual
transmission category so I doubt they mean auto flex plate.

either way, clutch kit $80

manual trans mount I found for $13 and should work with TH350 crossmember

Shifter hump is like $70

hurt shifters are way overpriced. I'm gonna look for something cheap and used at swap meets or whatever

So were at about $740 before shifter. Could be $200 could be $40 depends if I can score something cheap. But overall its not a crazy amount of money.

 

It's a Cutlass S, the value is not a big deal as there is really not a collectability issue. Why not put an automatic shifter on the floor and use that money for other things.

 

Listen to your father. You're contemplating a cobbled together POS

 

Don't do it lol You are hearing from someone that has gone thru this, its not cost effective or time effective. Have you ever drilled a crank before? I would assume you know that you will be needing a friend for change over lifting aspects. Just my 2 cents but at the end it is your car

 

IMO you would be cutting it up and doing it against the conditions set by your Dad.

 

Auto with a floor shifter isn't nearly as fun as a full manual with a clutch, but I've considered a ratchet shifter and full manual valve body in the TH350. I think with 4.10's that'd be fun.

I wouldn't consider it cobbled together, just using a couple used parts with a bunch of new ones. Just cheaper than all the people than go straight for a full TKO swap with a brand new trans and all kinds of over-spendy stuff.

I wouldn't need to drill the crank, the conversion bearing takes care of that. Some people drill a dead hole with a hand drill others grind 1/2 inch off the transmission input shaft (the round smooth part) and that's what I'd do.

basically I want a V8 4 speed car. I love my 76 Datsun with its 4 speed but the little L6 only spins tires in 1st, I can spin second in the rain though lol

 

I would concentrate on the needs for the car now, and the wants down the road. Keep your dad happy. BTW the Olds should spin the tire all the way up the street in the rain.

 

Hey, its winter, fun stuff time Its not gonna be on the road until march. May as well have a little fun. I stripped the interior and wire wheeled the floors started painting today, keep an eye on my build thread for updates.

 

Anyone installed a manual valve body in a TH350 before? I'm seriously considering that option, I'm picking up a set of cavalier bucket seats today and keeping my eye out for an affordable shifter

 

Ahh spinning the tires...... something we have all done and likely still do from time to time. I know I do in my Vette and will in my 442 when its done. Just remember that is not a fresh motor you have, it has ? miles on it. Its old, bearings, rings, timing chain?
Just take care spinning those tires or you will be rebuilding that matching numbers "old" motor..been there done that. My Vette was my daily driver years ago, I did get tired of constantly switching gears but i still love the car. I love a strong shifting automatic. It does all the work, i can shift it manually if i want, or concentrate on the drive.

 

Yeah I know what you mean, the motor only has 62k miles on it, hasn't smoked since I started her up after a 25 year slumber. Has fresh oil and filter, plugs, ect. Plans are a lumpy cam, performer intake, and I already have a Demon 750 carb for it. I'll inspect the insides really well while I'm doing all that and replace the timing chain and water pump. Honestly I'd be happy if it spins 1st and chirps 2nd, a shift kit may do that but it still won't give me full control of when it shifts. I love my 4 speed Datsun, so I don't mind shifting all the time. What shift kit did you use? Any installation problems?

 

You can have a 350 Chevy motor and run away with the big boys

 

Seriously? You dig up a thread from 2013 just to lob this turd into the punchbowl?

 

Now that is funny.

 

 

Wow, not gonna lie didn't expect to get any sort of email notification on -this- thread again. Eventually I put a built 355 SBC and 4 speed in the car, had some fun, yanked it out, fabbed up a turbocharged LQ4 6 liter LS setup with a built TH350 and EFI conversion, drove it like that for a while, and now its currently apart in the garage for a 5 speed swap and cam/springs. I still have the numbers matching engine stored in my garage if I ever felt like putting it back in for some silly reason and I didn't have to cut the car beyond the rusty floor. Everything else is bolt in reversible. Doesn't really matter anyway, its just a base model 2 barrel 2 speed auto bench seat Cutlass S with a rotted out roof and window channels . I love the car, wouldn't sell it for anything, but don't give me the whole "ruined with a chevy engine" when the car wasn't worth diddly before anyway

 

Yeah, but are you still in the old man's will?

 

We made the agreement long ago that its my car to do what i want with after I've sunk about 5k of my own money into it. My dad loves all this crazy hotrod stuff and what I'm doing with the car.

Thanks! Right now the car is apart but I've been getting the itch to put it back together soon. We'll see what happens. Wanna get the 5 speed in it. Too many projects these days.

 

Sounds like this is a question you should be asking your father.

 

This thread is 5 years old and I just updated it a couple posts ago since someone resurrected it.....

Car is mine and has had several engine swaps and transmission swaps since.


Anyone know how to delete a thread?

 

Haha don't delete it I enjoyed reading down to hear the car kicks *** now, and you enjoyed it. My 71 is in pieces and shes getting put back together with a 454 an 700r4. Its a base model brown on brown bench car I got for 80$ a couple years ago should be fun.