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81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling

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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/24/14 5:24amMessage 11 of 18
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coral springs, FL - USA
Joined: 3/25/2014
Posts: 71
Vette(s): 81 beauty all original (not anymore!!) Its more fun now!
just for fun, My plate is-----GRR8WHT---
What do you all thing? ( I think its just right on my Arctic white beast  :-)  )

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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/24/14 7:27amMessage 12 of 18
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2381
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
If you lower your gear ratio at the rear end your gonna lose bottom end acceleration. The car will become a real dog off the line in other words. If you still have the stock 2.72 gear in the rear end, a gear change isn't really going to help you out. I'm not even sure you can get a lower ratio for that Dana 44 IRS unit. There was a 2.72 and 2.87 gear offered in '81 and '82. '80 vettes all had 3.07's. 
So the only way your going to get the results you want is to bite the bullet and spring for a overdrive kit. Expensive yes, but the final result will be worth it especially if you are going to drive the car a lot like I do with mine. 
Speaking of your license plate, good old "dads2vette" from Hamburg, NY has a similar plate. He stopped by the shop for new u joints in the halfshafts. Here's a pic of his car w/ plate "GRTWHT81" Dave is the one on the right. The other guy is the riff raft that stops by every so often. lol.


GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/25/14 3:53pmMessage 13 of 18
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coral springs, FL - USA
Joined: 3/25/2014
Posts: 71
Vette(s): 81 beauty all original (not anymore!!) Its more fun now!
Love the plate----Great minds think alike! 
I have decided to swap auto to Tremec TKO 5 spd with od.
Should be a good weekend project.
I think it will give the blast of the line and a low RPM cruise.
Plus it should be fun!!
What do you think? 

Here is a pic of my GR8WHT looks familiar right!!



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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/25/14 4:43pmMessage 14 of 18
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coral springs, FL - USA
Joined: 3/25/2014
Posts: 71
Vette(s): 81 beauty all original (not anymore!!) Its more fun now!
forgot, its a TKO 600---0.64 5TH gear
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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/25/14 4:52pmMessage 15 of 18
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coral springs, FL - USA
Joined: 3/25/2014
Posts: 71
Vette(s): 81 beauty all original (not anymore!!) Its more fun now!
Guys,
Any advice on weather striping?

I need to do my window pillars, glass t-tops and doors. I have heard that the aftermarket stuff isn't that great. 
What so the experts think??
Thanks again
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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/25/14 5:19pmMessage 16 of 18
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2381
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
Good choice. Just get ready to cuss a lot and throw some wrenches on occasion. Lol.
It'll probably be a couple "weekends" project. Just take your time and follow the instructions to a "T." Keep us posted on your project. Great looking car! 


GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/25/14 8:15pmMessage 17 of 18
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coral springs, FL - USA
Joined: 3/25/2014
Posts: 71
Vette(s): 81 beauty all original (not anymore!!) Its more fun now!
yup i am getting my family ready for the event!! I already have new Spackle for the upcoming LOLholes in the garage walls

Thanks she is a looker now. Kind of looks familiar right!
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Re: 81 C3 auto to 5 speed conversion

Posted: 8/29/14 6:26pmMessage 18 of 18
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East Bridgewater, MA - USA
Joined: 8/11/2014
Posts: 11
Vette(s): 1978 Red Corvette Coupe T-Tops
KOOL
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