1980 Pontiac LeMans Station Wagon - G-T-faux (stuck with it, and can't shake it... like a bad case of herpes)

[motorheadmike]

Picked up a couple of things. Including one plastic ball for that worn checkball bucket.

Also, I saved you from a full blown crotch shot... but, it did cross my mind to throw another package into the picture. Count yourselves lucky.

 

[motorheadmike]

Tatiana and I finished up the shift kit installation today.

So per TransGo instructions you could go nuts and drill the separator plate to .125" (also known as the Sloppy Mechanics solution) - but, then your ability to tune it goes away; and that is where most people have to live with their choices when it comes to choosing shift firmness. Me? I am just going to tweak the tune to suit. That being said here are the hole sizes I used.

A (4) = .093"
B (3) = .110"
C (2) = .100"

Others options I have seen are A/B/C: .093"/.093"/.086" , .093/.105"/.125" (per my Jake's kit), and .098"/.110"/.081"

I used the BLUE inner accumulator spring for "even firmer" shifts.

Drilled a hole in the Chinesium dipstick to mark the pan rail, and put a SHCH through the unused bellhousing hole to mount the tube.

I should add that installing the TCC regulator valve was a horrible experience.

 

[motorheadmike]

For future consideration.

 

[TURNA]

Pressure port?

 

[Texas82GP]

Pressure port?

My guess was for transmission temperature sender, remotely mounted for tunnel clearance.

 

[motorheadmike]

My guess was for transmission temperature sender, remotely mounted for tunnel clearance.

Good guess, but no. Actually, it is a remote line pressure access point so that I can hook up a pressure transducer and datalog the line pressure... and tune the transmission accordingly. It is moved to that location for two reasons:

1. The signal will be buffered by a longer column of fluid, and less sensitive to minor pulsations and the like; and

2. Ease of access. Getting wrenches up on the side of the case is a b*tch once this is all installed.

Reminds me... I need to add a breakout harness to the main harness for power, ground, and signal to/from the transducer.

 

[motorheadmike]

Filled the converter with fluid and ordered another 250psi pressure transducer (link for the Canuckistanian DIY tunas: http://canada.newark.com/webapp/wcs...estType=Base&partNumber=99W2079&storeId=10196) because it was on sale ($88 CDN) and is way cheaper than a gauge.

Hopefully I will find some time this long weekend to button this thing up. I just need to find a case of AMSOIL ATF...

EDIT: Screw it, I don't have time to shop around. Paid their 6 month preferred sucker membership fee and had a case shipped to the house.

 

[motorheadmike]

Well I wired it up for the 80E conversion tonight... only had to drink a pot of coffee to find the motivation to do wiring. This included the harness for the pressure transducer. I am running out of excuses not to have this thing done.

My in-laws are in town in mid-June so I want this back up and running by then to bring the noise for my girls and my nephew.

 

[motorheadmike]

Transducer and the transmission fluid have arrived. Yesterday I hit the ol' Princess Auto an grabbed some pre-made 8' long -6AN hydraulic lines (maybe a little over kill) and some fittings, and then I razed the offcuts rack at the local metal supply store.

Hope to get some time to wrench this long weekend.

 

[motorheadmike]

Weeeeeellllll... those 8 foot lines were way too long (6 feet would be better). So I made a pair of braided lines out of stuff I was saving for the Monte - oh well.

Note: There is an 8.5" difference between the front and rear cooler ports.