Howdy, I recently found a Regal with a 4spd in it from the factory. Since I don't know much about the car otherwise I can't say much and this won't give it away either. I've been interested in a stick car for sometime since I've never had one and am constantly getting ribbed by my friends for being a car guy and not being able to truely drive one. I however don't want to be stuck with a 1:1 final ratio and ofcourse that leads to OD. Everything I read about G-body conversions is for Auto to Manual so I can't tell what will work with the stock stuff easiest since for the longest time the G-body stuff was expensive and hard to find so most guys used F-body stuff creating information I can't really sort out. Will a W/C T5 bolt in inplace of a Muncie 4spd in this application with driveshaft and crossmember changes of course? What are my real options for stock engines in front of it from the junkyard perferably? I'd like to stick with the stock engine if its a Buick or switch to either a V6 or a 300-350 V8 but since thats so much in the air, I'll leave that for later too. Thanks,
Check out this link, http://www.garage-scene.com/t5-into-ag-body/ I was planning to do the swap with a Regal I had. Some G-Body Cutlass's came with a stick shift and the Olds motor so the G-body specific bell housings are out there if you go with a Buick motor, I have one. Otherwise you can modify an A-body bell housing to work. Floydsbuick, on this board done that to his. The link above tells you which T-5's will work with the swap. Ken
No Offense but this is why I'm in a state of semi confusion.... The car already has the manual transmission setup in it so most of that site doesn't work so well for me since its practically all TH200-4R to T5. Well I think I've gathered enough information to say that I'd need a new trans mount crossmember, a V8 2nd Gen F-body driveshaft for a 8.5" 10-bolt if I swapped that or a 1st Gen F-body driveshaft if I kept the 7.5". For a transmission I want an 88-92 F-body unit to get the WC rating with the GM bolt pattern vs the Ford. I'd have to get a new clutch to match the input splines and because a new clutch is a good idea. If I wanted to swap to a hydrallic unit I'd have to follow the firewall proceedures to mount the master cylinder and either use a Howe throwout bearing or a stock unit. How far off am I?
Hi, Just my .02 on this swap. The F-body W/P 5 speed is "clocked" by 18 degrees to work in an F-bomb. So, you would need to index the bellhousing by the same amount to get back to the straight up design needed. Now, your existing bell is quite rare, so an a-body bell would be the way to go. Another way to go is by getting a muncie & gear vendors o/d unit. Then you would have plenty of strength if "spirited" driving is done. Remember, 350 HP & torque are not friends for the saginaw or the f-bomb w/p trans. Back in '84 I almost bought a new MC SS, but doing the swap would void my warrenty. Then while working at the dealership, we have many Camaro's in on the hook with broken transmissions. The '88 & up were much better transmissions, still had a few bad ones. Jim
Oh this thing wouldn't get more than a mild cammed 350. I have my Riviera for the serious fun, this thing would be a fun and different cruiser. To be honest I was very impressed with my 300 in my '67 Skylark so I'm tempted to get another one of those if the car is an Oldsmodog. If its a V6, I might just keep that and add the spare LC2 EFI stuff I have sitting around for even better mileage or toss on the 4.1l 4bbl intake I got off of my parts motor. Remember the car ain't mine yet, I just found it and I like researching stuff even if I don't buy it.
Know what you mean about the research. Torque is the killer of the new 5 speeds. Maybe the Mustang guys would know of an inexpesive T-5 that will hold up, but they kill 'em with just 230 hp and a Furd motor. How about one of those new fangled 6 speeds. I'm sure those are not expensive....... Jim If this was true, my GS would have one right now! '69 GS California 455 Stage 1/Muncie M20/3.31 12 bolt POSI "82 Turbo Regal 454/TH400 "For Sale"
Shifter location will be your biggest thing. The T-5 has it in the center, the 4 speed in your car is likely on the side. So you'll need to modify the tunnel a bit. One of the Moper mags had a good article on putting a Tremec in a Road runner, which would also have the tunnel extension. They widened the hole into the tunnel, then made a neato plate that covered it all nicely, except for the new hole for the center shifter. Pretty slick Jimmy, An A body bell won't work. The clutch fork will hit the tunnel.
With the F-body 17ยบ rotation, would that put the shifter more out the side closer to the original hole? Got a response from the owner of the car, might call tonight if I have time.
I thought they tilted to the pass side. Dunno for sure. You know, I used to run New Process aluminum case A 833 Overdrives in my Regal. Those bolt in, but theres some shifter braclet and linkage customizing necessary. Besides OD, they have a 3.00 1st!
