BLKMGK

My particular Tremec, which has been professionaly rebuilt by Bob Hanlon, is NOTCHY. It has a Pro 5.0 shifter on it and still shifts like garbage. Having driven a T5 fo rYEARS and then switching to the Tremec I could never once hit third gear in a racing situation. I ALWAYS ended up missing in the heat of battle! Driving the T5 it was NEVER a problem. with the Tremec it would seem to get stuck between 1st and third - some sort of no man's land. It would hit 5th, it would sort of refuse to go in, I just never had great confidence in it. The new shifter helped greatly as did th rebuild but I still had a love hate relationship with it. Love the strength, hate the feel and noise. You like gated shifters like some of the Euro cars? The ones where if you shift wrong or too fast you break the gates off on the console? Then the Tremec is the trans for you, sign up! Having said this - my Tremec is a few years old, has seen race duty, and when disassembled by Bob was found to have some less than smart things done by the last person in it. Bob fixed all of this for sure and he's a wiz but this puppy has certainly seen better days and it's quite possible Tremec has improved the breed. Lord knows they had room for improvement!

My shifter isn't 2 pieces Mike, changing it around would involve some real PITA type work. In some was I don't like his shifter but in others I really do. I's staying for now. one I looked at the Hurst ball. It's like $30+ $6 handling form Jegs and summit but for that pice I can get a plain aluminum one formth ecompany I linked above. I REALLy liked the Pearl handle that Pete pointed out but the woman says black would look better in my car and she knows colors better than I So, I've ordered one and expect it sometime next month. I'd like something engraved in it but I have no idea what so I'll get it plain for now. A 6speed pattern would be nice at least but I'll live with a bare stick for awhile. I might try to modify the old knob I've got but the hole is too small right now and I'll probably wind up damaging it. Bleah, why did they choose such a large diameter that no one else uses? Kripes!

Has anyone actually CALLED MSA lately to ask about the rpices? when last spoke to a tech out there Imentioned that they were out of their minds with thei rprices and he admitted the yhad lowered some - the Toy brake upgrade for instance. Don't just go by what's in the last catalog - call 'em. He said they had lot's of V8 customers and I told him about this WEB site. I'm not sure that they've ever posted here but I'm sure that at least some of those guys read-in here. Me, I went JTR all the way. I spent a whopping $180 on an all aluminm radiator that I'd put up against the MSA brasscopper one anyday. JTR gives you the plans to build the parts if you want or you can buy them or yeah MSA is fine too. Lot's of options and you can mixmatch too if you'd like. Just realize this isn't plug n' play - you'll have some fabbing to do know matter what

I like it! Silicone the sensor with "safe" goop to prevent any leaks. Glad to hear it was a simple air leak

Guys, check out the link I posted in Misc. Tech for the EFI connectors. They've got the NICE Bosche relays listed and while the prices are decent (IMO) the best part is they actually HAVE them. I had little idea where to get them form when needed them although I seem to recall at least one person having a link for them. That site has som good weatherpack connectors and other things. Way cool!

I've lost track of the thread but it was a bit off-topic anyway so I'll startt a new one... Pete had mentioned TeamVoodoo.com as a good source for shifter knobs. I agreed that the knobs look AWESOME however they don't list a T56 application except for the 'vettes. I had hoped it was the same thread but... apparently NOT according to this site -> http://www.mbaproducts.com/ They list similiar knobs and for only $30 but sans the nice Pearl coating TeamVoodoo uses. Anyone else found a suitable source for decent shift knobs for theT56? The MBA folks are on vacation till the 6th of August so I've got some time to ponder other alternatives. I've a feeling that once this puppy fires that threaded rod is going to grow OLD real fast - especially for reverse! If I find good sources I'll try to list them here for others...

I thought you had decided on the Northstar - no? After some of th eWEB traffic I've recently read I think I'd understand a change of heart (cough).

Sweet! You're not too far away at all! Neat piece of history - do you have any pics posted anywhere? Would love to see what that puppy looks like. Glad you found us, as wihtout a board like this there's no way I'd be trying to do this all by my lonesome. I'll be interested to "hear" (har har) how the Borla works out. I've got a Sebring stainless steel muffler on the way and hope to have exhaust done on Friday. Side note - will the Sanderson headers work for you in the Scarab position? Anyone? I hope so, they're nice pieces... Ah, and the Mallory... I don't blame you. The Accel distributor I've got is a nice piece I think. I had some trouble getting spark at first but it seems to be doing okay now. However like your Mallory, if it poops I'm in trouble as I don't think the corner store is goign to have parts for it. It's NOT as bad as the Mallory I don't think but I'm still a little concerned. Since you've not got th efirewall issues to contend with that we do maybe consider one of the newer hopped up HEI deals. Several companies advertise them in the Chevy rags and parts in a pinch should be no problem IMO. [ July 30, 2001: Message edited by: BLKMGK ]

There are a TON of responses in the other thread I believe. However in a nutshell - it's up to you. If you prefer to drive a stick then do a stick. It's NOT hard to install.

That's it? Aw kripes, the heck with engraving I want a Pearl one NOW Have to measure the stick and see if it'll fit but that's pretty nice for $30 IMO. They have titanium ones too - I'm sure thye cost more though (lol).

There's someone in close-by Georgia that's building 510's with rotary motors in them?! Do tell! And please kep an eye out for a decent one for sale as I'd be VERY interested! I think 510's are really cool and a rotary one would be WAY nice. Must be 25 years old or older though but for 510's that should be just fine. Vroom, post som epics somewhere if ya' can - way cool

This site looks familiar to me but not as cheesy as I recall so perhaps this is a new one (lol) Check out -> http://www.nordskogperformance.com/prfanlg.html They've got some decent looking gauges that are electrical but also have warning outputs on them. You ould have a low fuel level warning if you wanted or recall low and peak fuel pressure (or boost) levels. Pretty cool if you like the look of the gauges and don't mind electric gauges. The use LED lighting, have a choice of face colors, and use "through the face" lighting so it's sort of backlit instead of the way Autometer does it's gauges. No pics of lit gauges that I could find but I'm still poking around. Pretty decent selection of gauges including air temp and whatnot. Oh, didn't see speedo and tachs but they supposedly have them in 5inch sizes too.

Wish I'd found this site previously! for those of you doing EFI conversions using GM sensors etc. and for those of you in need of good RELAYS and FUSE HOLDERS check out this site -> http://members.aol.com/bigturbo1/packard.html Doh, there's the BOSCH relays I wanted complete with holder. 50amps for $9?! Waaaa! They sells some nice EFI components and computers too. I'll be checking them out real closely in the future I think....

I've always wanted to say this...Nice Knobs! Okay, I see no prices yet but I think the Pearl knob is pretty nice. Maybe get it engraved with the 6speed pattern and the HybridZ logo? Hrm, do the ZF handles have the same pattern as the T56 in the GM cars? Kripes, half my problem is not knowing what size this monster thread is! 9/16X18? A HybridZ logo on that puppy could be pretty cool

Davy does make some good points - must it look perfect? And if there are local tech type places around perhaps they'd like to do some work on it? It's certainly worth a shot but try to find a place that the students are paying to goto. Otherwise there's no end to the crap that might get done to it. A friend is a teacher and he had his project in the high school "shop" area for awhile. He yanked it after some punk knifed his brand new convertible top for grins....

Just FWIW - my 240 had minimal pounding done on the tunnel. It's close in some p[arts and I wish I'd trimmed some little spikey "ears" off the trans by the reverse switch but overall it fit fine. Where it was too close I slipped a crowbar in and pried a little. I had to swing a mallet very little and mostly up front by the bellhousing. (shrug) Once you cut out the stock trans mounts it's really not so bad - don't let this dissuade anyone from the 240.

Heh, we posted at the same time As for fuse holders... my fan doesn't have them I've got a harness that has male blade connectors slid onto a 40amp "mega" type A/C fuse. The downside of this is that changing it is a PITA and right now both circuits for the fan go through this in a cascade sort of circuit. I need to buy a spare before I hit the road just in case. Fan shouldn't see 40amps but ya' never know. BTW - I now see why the Howe radiators cool so well. Silly thing takes OVER 3 GALLONS of coolant it looks like. That's not including what's in the motor either. Filled the antifreeze jug three times and it still had some room at the top! Whew, them's some big tanks...

Heh, and he did it in like 2 weeks too I think! Gathered the parts and then had at it - wow!

Just a heads up - if you're working on a car that didn't originally have catalytic converters the states will usually NOT force you to add them on in a swap. They reason that it's too dangerous due to heat issues... Hrm, VA's rolling 25year deal is starting to souond pretty decent. I'm shocked!

Done anything to the MAF? Removed screens or anything? That can screw them up. You've got a VERY short run from th efilter to the MAF - that could also be screwing it up IMO as the air that it gets will be pretty rough. That's a WAG BTW you've removed enough emissions equipment to lean it out I'd think. I'd seriously consider getting it to someone that can ROM tune it or get the LT1-Edit software. Actually, I'd get the LT1-Edit software no matter what! Join their forums too - those guys are bound to have TONS of information about the LT1 EFI that we've not got here (but bring it back to us would you? ) Here's a link to some info but unfortunatly NOT to their home page -> http://www.schube.com/obd2_lt1/default.htm A Google search will bring back tons of info on this software and I'm pretty sure it can be used on your computer. Our 94 Impalla SS has a MAF and it can be edited so you're 95 shoudl yield as well. I'm actually considering using the LT1-Edit software and an OEM computer on my car when I go EFI. I'm just not quite sure it'll like not seeing an Optispark and whatnot... Found the homepage www.carputing.com Good luck and please let us know what you learn and share with us. That's a WAY cool swap IMO and if it weren't for emissions here I'd be tempted as the 944 are pigs usually. Hrm, V8 914 anyone? [ July 29, 2001: Message edited by: BLKMGK ]

Did it on mine but haven't driven it yet. It allows you to replace the nasty rotted rubber with something that won't rot Con is it might squeek like a herd of mice! Buy some extra lube and use lot's of it - you'll be happier. Go through the archives and you'll find some links for getting the set cheap...

Getting my fan is a story in itself. I used th eJunkyardDog finder on the 'net to get it but when it shipped (for like $20!) it was just the motor. Doh! Then my friend's motor fried - he'd had a Cobra fan in his truck. Before talking to me he yanked it and I wandered through the shop just after he had replaced it with a different fan. The pieces of th efried Cobra unit were on the bench and when I told him I had a motor for HIM he gave ME the pieces. So, I now have a Cobra fan but it's apparently just one speed. when I quered JunkyardDog for Taurus fans I got MANY replies in the $30 range so... Brian, running the juice straight from the battery, through the fan, and through the switch is NOT as safe as using a relay. You're requiring a small switch to handle large loads and being forced to run high current capable wire into the cabin. If it shorts expect big problems. A relay will let you use any switch you want (I use the old defrost switch) to switch a much larger current sucking device SAFELY. As for fusible links over fuses, Pete can best speak to this as I'm honestly not very familier with fusible links and have always used fuses. If Pete prefers links I have nop doubt he's got his reasons and can educate us both as to why they might be better. As for that BlackMagic fan, other than the name I don't much like them. As you noted they cost like $200 and they will NOt moce as much air nor last as long as an OEM fan out of a Taurus (6cyl w/AC - 2speed fan) or Mustang (I've got a Cobra fan). Th eOEMs care much more about cooling their cars than Mr Gasket does about cooling yours. The BlackMagic fan DOES have some nice features like a thermostat and easy mounting but I've bought a screw in thermostat for mine for about $8 from Jeg's (replacement sensor for one of their expensive setups) and I mounted mine using tips from Pete and about $20 worth of stuff. I've got less than $80 in my fan and I can feel the breeze form it standing BEHIND my car with the hood off. It sucks paper from the ground to the radiator and holds it there firmly. I couldn't believe it but when I walked back to the front of the car there was paper stuck to the front. You can buy fans like these online cheap or stroll through the junkyard. I've got pics on my site as to how I mounted mine and so does Pete. If you hunt around here you'll see our discussions, my agony over how to do it, and the URL for Pete's setup w/pics. I followed his method mostly and it works just fine. Best of all if the motor goes I can get another to replace it pretty easily. Do bear in mind that it DOES suck bigtime juice - hence my relay(s) and fuses. Cobras had BAD overheating problems in past years due to engine size in the bay, airflow issues, and HP output. One of the Ford band-aid solutions was a giant fan. I'm more than happy to reap the benefits of that - this fan minus the frame ears that I cut off is almost as large as my radiator. I anticipate no cooling problems so long as it spins. If anyone needs better pics or explanations of mounting I'll be happy to take them or explain....

YES, this is dangerous. The switch will burn out it's contacts - when I was younger I killed many switches running foglights, now I know better. If it's getting hot that's "bad". Fuse should be as close to the power source as possible, like right by the battery. The reason for this is that if any portion of th ewire leading from the battery to the fuse gets grounded the wire from that point back to the battery WILL burn. I've learned this through experience too and until the wire breaks or the power is removed it will continue to burn. Relays aren't hard. They are pretty simple in design and consist of a switch that's closed by an electromagnet. Buy a setup that would be used for foglights, the amperage shoudl be high enough. The package should have a wiring diagram on it - substitute the fan for the lights Power to activate the relay should be fused and so should the power for the fan itself. Pete likes fusible links and can tell you where to put those if you want to use them instead - probably much the same way. I'd draw a picture but have no tools at my disposal or place to post a pic right now. If you use the relay setup you could even set it up such that the power for the switched side comes from a circuit that's hot only when the key is on - then you wouldn't have to remember to turn the fan off when you park. At some point you may want to setup a thermal switch for that fan. If it's your only means of keeping it cool I certainly would as a few moments of inattention and engine temps could climb. If it's just an auxilary fan then it's not so bad. I use both on my setup. A thermal switch and a manual one that overrides it (shrug). Hrm, have to see if it shuts off with the key or not but as loud as it is I don't think forgetting will be a worry! Good luck! I wired many circuits just like you did and learned the hard way. The relays make life much easier!

You should see it run in person Evan. That sucker fights for traction! Clean install and just so weird to see a GN under the hood when you open it. Parked next to a LINE of GNs most folks who wandered by didn't even realize what had been done, it was a riot. Scottie pulled on my RX7 no problem even with little traction. It must be a rush to launch that thing on the track! I too read everything about this swap I can and about the GNs in general. I only wish GM would build another worthy turbo RWD drivetrain like this one...

Aww, first I'd seen of it and wanted to tell folks ASAP. The 4.6 system is supposed to be coming but I don't recall if it said Cobra or not. I agree though, THAT would be an awesome swap! Don't tempt me.....