Greenbean - The 98GT - turbo 460 swap

Well, that is an unexpected setback. I never thought the flexplate bolts would interfere with the converter. A 460 has a much larger bolt circle than a 4.6L so the bolts hit the raised section of the converter.

I put the transmission all up in there and it just wasn't pulling together like it should. I really really really did not want to pull the transmission back out, but I did and the problem was quickly obvious.

Not sure how I'm going to overcome this setback just yet, but I am looking at flexplate bolts with heads that are not as thick. These are pretty tall with the weirdo castles. I'm going to do some measuring tomorrow and see just how much room I have.

Well the 4r70w is in. I picked up some flexplate bolts with smaller thinner heads. I still had to use the angle grinder to make them even thinner. Then I chucked them up in the drill press and hit the edges with a flapper wheel to round off the corners. I also put one hardened washer on each converter stud.

I wiggled the trans up into place and it seems to fit ok, so I guess I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best.

Oh yeah, loudest noises in the world:
1. Atomic detonation
2. Volcanic eruption
3. Flexplate falling off and landing on the shop floor.

Oof.

A trick I learned a while back was to put tie down straps under the trans (f&r) so if it were to slip off the jack it won't fall on the floor.

Sometimes things just fall in place.  Yesterday I monkeyed with a stock transmission crossmember trying to make it work.  After cutting and offsetting it to the rear 3/4", it sorta fit, but I was not happy with it.  

Today I pulled out the crossmember I made for the E4OD just to give it a looky.  I was blown away to discover the subframe already had holes for the brackets in the right place and the height in the chassis was perfect.  Bolt it in, done.   That never happens.  

I read a forum post where a guy had trouble with his 4R70w swap because the converter snout was too short to properly index into the crank.  I took some measurements and I think I am going to be in the same boat.  Fortunately, there is a fix in the form of a bushing that fits in the larger bore intended for a manual transmission pilot bearing.  Sooo, that means it has to come out again.....  Pics: 4R snout length, E4 snout length.

Transmission is back out. I took some careful measurements did some maths and concluded the snout only "engaged" the crank by 1/16". I put engaged in quotes because the snout on the converter has a chamfer that's bigger than 1/16". So the converter really wasn't actually touching the crankshaft at all.

My bronze bushing material (you didn't really think I was going to pay $50+ for a little bushing did you? ) will be here tomorrow. It will need a little "machining" on the OD to fit in the crank just right. Like around 0.025". Crank bore is 1.85", bushing material is 1.875". I have 4" of material to work with, so I have plenty of chances if I screw up.

4R70w install, day 5627. Haha.
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Man I love it when things go as planned. I picked up
this 4" chunk of bronze bushing material and made a converter pilot bushing today. The outside diameter was a little big, but I rigged up a way to mount it in the drill press and I used a strip of a belt sanding belt to cut it down to the exact diameter I wanted. Then I marked the thickness it needed to be and cut it with the portaband. I cleaned it up on the belt sander and hand sanded the outer edges and inner diameter until it fit like I wanted.  

Then it was just a matter of putting the transmission back in. It fits great now and I have peace of mind knowing that the snout of the converter is supported and centered like it should be.

One more.

I weighed the E4OD today. Lighter than I expected. I thought it would be 270-290ish. It's only about 40 pounds heavier than the 4R70w. Both were weighed with the converter.

Since I am going to put a Transgo AODE-3 manual valve body kit in this transmission, I want a better shifter. The cheapo one I bought is ok, but has no reverse lockout and just doesn't work nearly as smoothly as the B&M's I have. So I ordered a B&M ProStick for this car. Basically the same shifter that is in the 83GT and in Jake's 95GTS.

Yesterday, I vacuumed the interior and reinstalled the back seat. I also removed the Bauman trans controller and figured out what wires I need for neutral safety and reverse lights.

We are getting close to first fire up again!

I think the list is:
Trans cooler lines
Neutral switch
Fluids
Prelube
Fuel

To drive it needs:
Shifter installed
Megasquirt & Ignition igniter mounted
Driveshaft
Brakes bled
Diff fluid
Seats reinstalled
Grease everything

Shifter is installed and it is smooth as butter. Each click is so satisfying. I had to modify a C6 cable mount to fit this trans because the kit doesn't come with AOD/AODE/4R70W mounts.

This one feels so good that it makes the old B&M in 83GT feel kinda bindy and stiff. So, I did what any good gearhead would do. I started messing with it's cable routing and mounting.

Gosh, this thing could actually run this weekend.

Send it!!!