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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling

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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/10/10 5:51pmMessage 1 of 36
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lukesvette
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.


Well team, it was a busy day at the Lukas house today. Put the Lukester up in the air real high on jackstands to start the TH350 to 700R4 swap.  (click here to see airborne Lukester)   (click here to see trannies side-by-side)
 
Went something like this:

Disconnected battery
Removed starter
Drained Trans
Unbolted exhaust and removed
Unbolted converter from flexplate
Disconnected trans lines, shifter cable and speedo cable
Disconnected kickdown and modulator
Disconnected e-brake
Removed driveshaft

The Bill (Per4mance) arrived to give a much needed assist!! (THANKS AGAIN BILL!!!)Star

We then proceeded to drop the trans and crossmember. Sailed out of the car without a hitch thanks to Bill and some very creative maneuvering!!

We then started the transplant by putting in a much needed flexplate replacement.

Then the new 700R4 went in. We lifted it up onto a jack with a square rubber pad and jacker her up into place. Bill is an absolute magician with a long extension and a wobble socket when it comes to bellhousing bolts!!!

I replaced the factory crossmember with a Bowtie Overdrives crossmember. The crossmember went in beautifully - lined up perfectly and they re-engineered the e-barke pulley location to keep it away from the driveshaft. What a great piece. My hat's off top them on that one!!Clap  That's Bill trying to hug the trans cause he like it so much!!LOL  (click here to see)

Took care of a couple of other odds and ends and Bill and I wrapped up for today. Off to the driveshaft shop on Monday to get a shorter shaft made up>

Things left to do??

  • Connect and adjust the TV cable
  • Mount Lokar trans dipstick (that thing just looks too cool!!)Cool
  • Put new trans cooler in and make up braided lines
  • Add Shiftworks shifter kit - it realigns the detent with the extra gear and they even give you a OD selector plate to replace in the console.Thumbs Up
  • Fill trans and roadtest.
  • CRUISE BABY, CRUISE!!!!Big smile

Stay tuned - I'll keep you up top date on how the rest of the Lukester's Trans-Plant goes!!

Thanks Bill!!!   YOU ROCK!!!
 

 
Later folks  Big smile  Stay tuned!! Wink

Paul
 
 
(large images modified to clickable links - Norsky)

Norsky2010-04-10 19:47:33

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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/10/10 6:19pmMessage 2 of 36
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KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA
Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484
Vette(s): White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.

Paul,

Sounds like you two covered alot of ground today. A big thumbs up to Bill! Good stuff!!

I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say after you git 'er done. Hope the rest of this job goes smooth.

I've got a 700R4 being rebuilt by a local guy who has a solid reputation. I can't wait either!!!

Kevin
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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/10/10 6:48pmMessage 3 of 36
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lukesvette
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Everyone I know who has done this conversion has had nothing but good to say about it Kevin!!  It's all about getting the TV cable set correctly and we're off to the races (in more ways than one!!!) Wink

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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/10/10 7:23pmMessage 4 of 36
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KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA
Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484
Vette(s): White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.

.....and two questions for ya, so far;

1) The new trans. cooler you mentioned - Are you going to have an external trans. cooler or will it be run through your radiator?

2) Do the braided trans. lines aid in the cooling process of the fluid?
Question
 
You're right. Everyone raves about it after doing this swap. Seems like money well spent.
KDADDY792010-04-10 19:27:00
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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/10/10 7:43pmMessage 5 of 36
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Good Deal, Paul!! And you're right...it's ALL about getting the cable set properly.
I do have to question the choice of the deep pan on the trans, tho....looks like an easy mark for an errant rock, or dip in the road...

Joel Adams
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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/10/10 8:14pmMessage 6 of 36
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DaveM
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Flanders, NJ - USA
Joined: 1/27/2004
Posts: 2556
Vette(s): 1982 Black, ZZ4, Hooker Side Pipes, 3.55 Rear, Rebuilt & upgraded 700R4, All new suspension, brakes, & new Charcoal interior.
Nice job Paul! When you're done don't let that 1st gear get you in trouble, it's a neck snapper Shocked
I'm spoiled I guess since I've had a 700R4 all along. Too bad you won't be going to the show next Sunday at Stockton, would enjoy the ride down the parkway with you. Hope to see you in AC the following week end.
Dave
DaveM2010-04-10 20:15:26

 

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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/11/10 6:23amMessage 7 of 36
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lukesvette
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Kevin, braided lines and an external cooler.

Joel, I hear ya. The pan looks to be the same depth as my oil pan and have had no issues since I've been drivin with the new motor. I guess the fatal rock or dip will take out both of em if it happens Shocked  Lets hope that never happens...

Dave, yep, all that HP and I already have 3.70s out back. The difference with that ratio bewtween the 2 trannies comes out close to a 4.50 ratio. Goodbye tires!!!   Big smile    Notice grin!! Big smile   Plans have changed a bit for AC so I will probably be going down Saturday as a spectator due to some family things on Sunday. LMK if you still plan to go - maybe we can meet up along the way...or you can stop at my place and jump in Yogi the Yukon for the rest of the ride.Wink

Making lines and mounting cooler today.

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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/11/10 9:58amMessage 8 of 36
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aceinthehole
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Manteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
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Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold 1975 L48 4 speed
Excellent Paul. You're one step ahead of me. Maybe I'll pickup a few tips. The wife wants to take her car to the gathering so I started pulling the top end of the engine off 1st. New intake and exhaust gaskets, a few adjustments, and when all is well I'll drop the tranny and dive into that project. I don't have the crossmember made for that swap but I do have the drive shaft, shifter detent and a few things I learned from Joel so here goes. Please post your progress, especially about the TV cable setting and adjust, it'll come in handy. Good luck buddy. (of course, with the great results of your efforts on your car, it doesn't look like "luck" has anything to do with it Thumbs Up)

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

 
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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/11/10 1:50pmMessage 9 of 36
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lukesvette
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Will post all the details as I continue Jimmy. Thumbs Up

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Lukesvette Trans-plant (350 to 700R4)

Posted: 4/11/10 7:07pmMessage 10 of 36
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Per4mance
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Morganville, NJ - USA
Joined: 1/25/2009
Posts: 92
Vette(s): 1971 350 270 hp roadster millivanilli red, black interior, white rag top, white hard top, I've had it 18 years and intend on giving it to my son for his 25th birthday(another 18 years from now)
Hi Gang, Working with Paul was a blast ,he had his toolbox set up almost like mine so things went real smooth.This little project gave me a idea. I have a 383 stroker available to me for dirt cheap, also with the deal is a 200r4 that was just rebuilt by art carr,this has me really temped to make this swap but i don't want to hack up a almost original car.Ya my vette has 100,000 miles on it and it is a little tried,but as the old saying goes "If it anit broke......." So maybe I'll keep a eye out for a project that is dirt cheap and make a c3 blaster.(Sounds like a new energy drink don't it?)Later all.....Bill                P.S. Paul it was my pleasure to give ya a hand,I don't mind working on such a nice clean car
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