Guest Anonymous Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 Basically, I want to make things as easy on myself as possible, so I decided to use JTR's method to install a 350, but I wanted to ask for some advice first. It's a really simple question. What do I really need from JTR? Do I need to pay $325 for the whole conversion kit or should I simply buy the motor mounts and speedo cable. A friend who works at autozone told me he only bought the motor mounts and made his own speedo cable for his 383 conversion, so I'm not sure what to do. Do I even need everything they provide in the kit? Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 I'm assuming you have the JTR manual now--if that is the case, you can fab the set-back plates, spacers, tranny crossmember, etc. yourself. The speedo cable you can have made at a speedo shop or you can fab it yourself--one member spliced the two cables together, but I didn't want to do this. If you want to save money, it is probably the best way to go, especially if you have the knowledge and the materials to do so. One member made the parts for under $30!!! That said, I wanted to get the stuff directly from them, because I didn't want to spend the time doing all of that myself; plus I figured that the money was well spent and the kit not overly priced. To each his own. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 Well if you have the manual, you have a full set of drawings to make the parts. Which, if you think about it, is very generous. He didn't have to do that. He could have said, "Now go buy my kit". I would say try making the set back plates first. If that turns out to be no big deal to you, go ahead and do the rest. If you spend more time cursing and looking for bandaids than you do making parts I'd say buy the kit. It comes ready to paint. And, IMHO, is dirt cheap. Have you seen the price of bandaids these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modern Motorsports Ltd Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 Always many ways to skin the cat as this board is proof of. I got all my JTR mounts done by a fabricator for a bottle of his favourite hooch, cheaper than buying a grinding disc/tap/and drill bit....if you're asking I'll assume you don't have metal working tools....it won't cost more buying parts elswhere but if you want it simplified his offering is fair. I don't know what items you think you can 'skip' from JTR, in one form or another they're all pretty much needed for a sbc install (except LS1 for which mounts would differ....and trans can be done a number of ways). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 I should clarify real quick. Like I said in an earlier post, my car is currently not running. My roomate however is about to trade his non running 89 camaro to a guy with a monte carlo with a 350, posi, rally's, etc..., probably cause the guy can't smog it, but whatever; he says it can lay rubber for a 1/4 mile. Why trade, I dunno, mid life crisis? Anyway, he sounded nice enough on the phone as was willing to do the trade ASAP. My roomie, since he will be parting out the monte, will be selling the 350 to me cheap, so I wanted to get ahold of whatever I needed to get it permanantly in the car so as not to miss a great oppurtunity. The guy put hella money into this monte, but it's a 78, so, like I said, it probably won't pass smog the way it is, but hopefully he's beefed up the motor a bit. He said he used to rebuild motors in his garage until his landlord threatened to kick him out. Anyway, the point is I want to be able to drop the motor in and get tranny and drive shaft adapted later. If I need everything in the kit, I'll buy it cause I have no time or know-how to make it and I haven't gotten the manual yet, so I wouldn't even know how. All I was curious about is if I really neede everything in the kit. Also, will I need everything just to drop the motor in, or can I get by with just the mounts for now? Ok, I hope that helps. Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 Matt, you really need to buy the manual, because it will give you a clear picture of what is involved with the swap. The parts that come with the JTR kit are "necessary" items for a conversion IMO. The stuff you can negotiate on and shop for are items like a radiator, engine & tranny mounts, etc. Get a hold of a manual and you'll be good to go Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 If you're not planning on having the motor 'do' anything right now, just get the setback plates and motor mounts. Of course the rear of the motor won't be supported though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 FWIW, when I started my conversion, all I bought from JTR (AKA Stealth Conversions)was the setback plates and spacers. They aren't that expensive and to make them myself, even though a simple task, would take time, which it just wasn't worth. The trans mount, radiator support etc I made myself. For as simple as the JTR units were, they did seem quite expensive and I didn't agree with the design. All the other misc. items, like radiator, cables etc I picked up at the JYs. If I remember right, JTR wanted about $200+ for a Camaro Radiator, got a good one from the JY for $30 Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 30, 2001 Share Posted October 30, 2001 Hmm, I'd take that bit about burning them for a 1/4 mile with a grain of salt (or maybe it was just a figure of speech), tell him to take the line lock off next time... haha... The last car I remember burning them that far was the 'Hairy Olds' back in the 60's it used two 425" blown and injected toronado drivetrains front and rear, 4wd in what looks like, sorry I'm not a Olds guy, a cutless (?) body on relatively skinny tires. It made its debut in 1966 in California. Here is a picture of the beast coming out of the hole: Regards, Lone [ October 30, 2001: Message edited by: lonehdrider ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted October 31, 2001 Share Posted October 31, 2001 Lone, you've inspired me. 4WD "Hairy Z" Do you think JTR could make some motor mount? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 31, 2001 Share Posted October 31, 2001 That would be cool... Maybe use a 2+2 to get the added room behind the seat! Regards, Lone [ October 30, 2001: Message edited by: lonehdrider ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aaron Posted October 31, 2001 Share Posted October 31, 2001 And by using two FWD drivetrains you could rig up four wheel steering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted October 31, 2001 Share Posted October 31, 2001 You guys are twisted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 1, 2001 Share Posted November 1, 2001 I think we're on to something here.. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted November 1, 2001 Share Posted November 1, 2001 Car & Driver did a CRX that way in the mid 80's. I had a Dodge GLH turbo at the same time. I thought that would have been wild. 300 HP 4WD and super light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John Adkins Posted November 1, 2001 Share Posted November 1, 2001 Twin Engine Dodge Rampage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 1, 2001 Share Posted November 1, 2001 haha that would be one bad z could you amagen 600hpx600hp in a 2300lb car haha wow talk about burning them the hole 1/4 mile and what dus he have on that mony some donut tires and that possi must be broken because it ant doing that with out over 800hp in a big old mony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 1, 2001 Share Posted November 1, 2001 Thats cool, I was telling the wife the other day, a FWD motor in the back of a old beetle would be cool, automatic, A/C in a old bug, Mid engine with about 300 HP would be pretty funny. Theres loads of room behind the seats in the back the wheels are quite far back. It'd be neat, the chrysler turbo would suit the bill rather nicely. Oh well, dreaming here, I'd get shot for even thinking about it. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted November 1, 2001 Share Posted November 1, 2001 Actually, Lone, the engine swap for the Beetle is a pretty cool one, especially if it is turbocharged! I have read of guys taking Subaru motors and swapping them into the old VW vans--since it is a boxer engine, there is no reason why they wouldn't work in an old Beetle. Kennedy engineering makes the tranny adapters for the swap....New Forum Time! Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 3, 2001 Share Posted November 3, 2001 Funny you mention beetles with swaps cause a couple weeks ago I read hot rod magazine and this girl named carmen put a 427 bbc into the back of her little bug and it does 11's (probably cause she has no traction)!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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