need tips on installing converter!!
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,566
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From: pa
need tips on installing converter!! I will be installing my vig 3200 either tonight or tomorrow. anyone have install tips?
never done a converter install before...
(can't be much worse than installing my slp longtubes!)
never done a converter install before...
(can't be much worse than installing my slp longtubes!)
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: NH
Re: need tips on installing converter!! This is the link I used to install my Vig. 3200.
http://modernmusclecars.net/articles...all/index.html
Remember Murphy's law: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Just for a sample, I stripped out a stock converter bolt (allen head) that sucked. The hardest bolts to get to are the drivers side and upper trans bolts, have a good set of long extentions and a universal to get at them. If your doing a converter do a TransGo shift kit, its worth the extra time. Allow for plenty of time and have a second car around, running for parts.
http://modernmusclecars.net/articles...all/index.html
Remember Murphy's law: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Just for a sample, I stripped out a stock converter bolt (allen head) that sucked. The hardest bolts to get to are the drivers side and upper trans bolts, have a good set of long extentions and a universal to get at them. If your doing a converter do a TransGo shift kit, its worth the extra time. Allow for plenty of time and have a second car around, running for parts.
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Little Rock, AR
Re: need tips on installing converter!! Just installed my first one this weekend (PT4000). Here are my thoughts:
Link above is very good for info.
Make sure to do this with a friend.
It will take longer than you think!
If you're on the ground, make sure to have a good tranny jack. My son made a plywood frame to fit the bottom of my tranny pan and the top of my floor jack. Worked great.
Get the car up as high as you can.
Have cushions available to rest your head while fishing for the bellhousing bolts. (neck strain was a bear).
Be very careful not to lose the cooler line clips. Putting them on was a real PITA. Be patient. I finally had success with pressing them on with my fingers with the center point oriented directly toward one of the grooves.
Torque wrench everything (39 FTLB for bellhousing, and I think 60 for the flywheel to converter bolts). Do not over tighten the bellhousing bolts. Use loctite.
Be sure to have trays down when you pull down the tranny. If you do not have it level (and have not plugged the tail and filler holes) you will have fluid everywhere while you're trying to wrestle the tranny down on the jack.
Put the filler tube in FIRST, as you raise the tranny and place it against the block. You will not get another chance (we had to unbolt and drop mine again).
Don't know if everyone's bellhousing bolts are like mine, but on mine there are 9 holes and ONLY 8 bolts. One hole (at 2 o'clock) is not tapped in the block. That confused the daylights out of us when rebolting it up.
Be patient.
Link above is very good for info.
Make sure to do this with a friend.
It will take longer than you think!
If you're on the ground, make sure to have a good tranny jack. My son made a plywood frame to fit the bottom of my tranny pan and the top of my floor jack. Worked great.
Get the car up as high as you can.
Have cushions available to rest your head while fishing for the bellhousing bolts. (neck strain was a bear).
Be very careful not to lose the cooler line clips. Putting them on was a real PITA. Be patient. I finally had success with pressing them on with my fingers with the center point oriented directly toward one of the grooves.
Torque wrench everything (39 FTLB for bellhousing, and I think 60 for the flywheel to converter bolts). Do not over tighten the bellhousing bolts. Use loctite.
Be sure to have trays down when you pull down the tranny. If you do not have it level (and have not plugged the tail and filler holes) you will have fluid everywhere while you're trying to wrestle the tranny down on the jack.
Put the filler tube in FIRST, as you raise the tranny and place it against the block. You will not get another chance (we had to unbolt and drop mine again).
Don't know if everyone's bellhousing bolts are like mine, but on mine there are 9 holes and ONLY 8 bolts. One hole (at 2 o'clock) is not tapped in the block. That confused the daylights out of us when rebolting it up.
Be patient.
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx
Re: need tips on installing converter!! Yea, watch out for those allen head bolts on the Stock TC. I stripped one as well and had to drill it out. The 13mm and 15mm swivel sockets are a must. I took mine off and on without unbolting the exhaust since I still had the stock manifolds on. Those instructions walk you right through it so just take your time. By the way you'll love the Vig 3200. I know I do. Good Luck
TECH Addict
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,950
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From: Magee MS
Re: need tips on installing converter!! Allen bolts????? I pulled my tranny twice and I didn't have any allen headed bolts on my converter..... I had a local dealership pull my tranny twice also and they might have stripped them out and put regular 15mm bolts in..... should I have something different???????
Josh S.
Josh S.
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: ILLINOIS
Re: need tips on installing converter!! The dreaded dipstick tube, what a nightmare. I made the same mistake by trying to put it in last. After about an hour, I finally got it. Definitly put it in before you bolt the tranny up.