Call me crazy - Ranchero's (again)

[Nathan289]

Well if my comment offended Roger or anyone else i apologize.

I keep my comments to myself.

I'll let myself out now.

[BadBird]

If we are really talking about Roger getting old, then that makes me really really feel old right now. Larry

[Luva65wagon]

No offence taken here at all...

I am getting old and cranky - even if I make the rest of you look even older and crankier!

[Luva65wagon]

I know... long dead post.



After quite a while of "hating" the changes I made to the Ranchero when I added the 3.25 trac-loc rear (previously was 2.79 open diff) I have opted to go to a the Modern Driveline T5 instead of the C4 automagic. It's on order and should arrive sometime this week.

I ordered the rear-shift version as opposed to the S10 forward-shift version. I already have a largish hole towards the rear where the B&M Gate shifter went through the floor. I saw a couple pictures of a T5 in this location and think I'll like it better, but it does require some tunnel modififications. I'll be fabricating my own hydraulic clutch setup for it as well as I couldn't swallow the $500 dollar setup. The S10 version was also about a $750 upcharge, so I widdled it down quite a bit. You can get a lot of hydraulic kits on RockAuto for about $25 (for both M/C and slave!) if fabrication doesn't scare you, which it doesn't me.

It's a planned deep-winter project, but keep an eye out for my progress. I expect it to make this car something I enjoy driving more - as opposed to the not so enjoyable experience I'm having with it now.

Not my parts, but I'm getting all of this:

sb_kit.jpg

[BadBird]

Very cool. Let me know if you need a hand installing. Larry

[SmithKid]

Count me IN for helpin' any way I can.

[Luva65wagon]

Wondering how many people you can fit under a Falcon...

I'll try to arrange this for when someone can assist. Of course I know I won't be able to keep Gene away - and why would I - but it's always great to share the joy with as many wanting to receive it.

Tracking says it is coming (shipping it to work) tomorrow, but I don't plan to dig into it (much) for a a couple more weeks. Initially it will be getting the car up high, and pulling the C4. Gene already helped me once doing that when it was determined I had the 50 oz flywheel. So he's the expert there. Then I'll be doing all the measurements for what tunnel modifications are needed. I know the cross-member brace needs to be cut where the shifter goes through the floor, so I'll do that before trying to lift it up.

Going to be a fun winter.

[Gitanesteel]

Count me IN for helpin' any way I can.

I don't have much for mechanical expertise - but, heck if I can swing it I'd love to be there to watch and learn and do grunt work

[doghows]

Cut, did I here someone say cut??

I think I can make room for three to four under the car with my special skills!

[Luva65wagon]

Everything arrived, but have not cracked it open. Will do so when I get it all home.

T5bits.jpg

Found it interesting to see on the end of the big box "Made in Mexico." Maybe we do need a wall.

mexico.jpg

[Luva65wagon]

Q: Where are TREMEC Transmissions made?

A: TREMEC Transmissions are proudly built in the place where TREMEC was founded: Queretaro, Mexico. Engineering, sales, marketing, human resources, and customer support are located just outside the world's motor capital in Plymouth, Michigan.

[doghows]

I'm glad they are made there. If we tried to do it in the states we'd have unions involved, then union dues, union wages, five workers to assemble one part and thus our costs double which in turn triples the cost to us common folk.

Looks like a fun job Roger. Keep us posted and if I can I'll buzz over with my sawzall just in case. But at least for moral support!

[Luva65wagon]

I hope to keep the sawzall away... More delicate cuts.

I'm glad they are made there. If we tried to do it in the states we'd have unions involved, then union dues, union wages, five workers to assemble one part and thus our costs double which in turn triples the cost to us common folk.

That's the catch-22 I hear nobody ever talk about. You can't bring [manufacturing] jobs back to America if American's expect to buy a microwave for $79. If you sell the $279 version, good luck. You can't have it both ways, sadly. We've been seeing this occur more and more at my job where everyone expects pricing to keep going down because competitors, who make most everything in China (pronounced Jhii-na), are way cheaper than us - which has nearly everything made in the USA. We are loosing that fight slowly, but surely.

Anyway, Tremec's reputation is good, so I'm sure their QA is going to follow suit.

T5.jpg

I have been needing to get another project done, which I started way back in May and have been too swamped to return to, but finished this up last night. Plan is to sell it off to help pay for the transmission costs. I'm thinking to start it off at $1212.12

scoot1.jpg
scoot2.jpg
scoot3.jpg

[Luva65wagon]

Gene came over last night and look at we accomplished:

C4.jpg

So now I can begin setting this car up for the 5-speed. My biggest debates at this time are:

1) Clutch setup. Should I go with my own hydraulic setup similar to the one you can see on the Internet by Dick Harrington? Or prove MDL wrong and see if I can do a cable setup.

http://www.cometeastcarclub.org/PDFs...conversion.pdf

2) While I'm At It™ should I work on converting the car to electric power steering.

Hmm... decisions, decisions.

[Bill Pierce]

Roger,

If it was me, I'd use a hydraulic throw out bearing and master cylinder.

I used that setup on a 240z I built with a small block and 5 speed. It worked out real well and the clutch pedal was real light even with a heavy duty pressure plate.

Just my 2 cents