GV install in 2nd gen?

[critter]

Anyone do it? What did you have to do to make it fit? I'm putting one into my second generation (1974) Trans Am.

[67 caprice]

I'm installing one in a 67 Caprice with a Turbo 400. so far i have had to cut, and reinforce the trans cross member, and make more room in the trans tunnel " Big hammer". I do think that the exhaust cross over might have to be moved. You can call Gear Vendors, they will fax you directions on how you should modify your cross member.

[critter]

Thanks, yes I have their instructions. What I was wondering was what anyone who installed this in a second generation F-body ran into. For instance, when I helped install this in an A-body it was no big deal. We did the same BFH routine. On my car it appears the unibody cross brace is right where the GV needs to mount. You can't pound that down with a hammer. If it's an issue (and I haven't test fitted yet because I'm waiting on access to a lift) how did they get around it? I'm thinking it's going to take some cutting and welding to make this work.

[HILROD]

Hot Rod or one of the other mags put one in a '70s Camaro. The crossmember if I remember right was trimmed back almost to the floorpan and re-inforced. Try and search Gear-Vendors on there sites.

[critter]

Hilrod, found it but the photos leave a lot to be desired. Suckage.

[critter]

That I'm boldly going where no man has gone before. <jking>

I called GV today. They say to cut the front half of the support away, leaving the back rib. I wonder if there's a better way? Doesn't look like it on casual inspection.

If anyone has done this, photos would be appreciated.

[critter]

Gear Vendors wasn't much help. They sent me photos and instructions for installing in a Chevelle. There's a pretty big difference between and A and F body. Oh well.

I put the car on a lift today. I did quite a bit of measuring and thinking. it appears to me that I'd be better off cutting out a section of the transmission tunnel where the Gear Vendors is going to mount and fabricating that section in order to maintain the structural integrity of the floor pan.

The funny thing was that I went over to a 78 TA that was on the rotisserie at the shop. The floor pans on it were TOTALLY different than my 74. It appeared to me it would be much easier to install it in that car. It would still need some massaging but not major surgery.

That's something I was really trying to avoid since this is a Super Duty TA, albiet a heavily modified one. Oh well, it's my car and I'll never sell it so I might as well build it the way I want it, right?

[67 caprice]

Here are some pics of my mods

[critter]

I appreciate it and very nice car you have there.

Is the support you show welded into the floor pan?

There's so much difference in all these GM products that there's obviously not going to be a definitive "here's how you do it" guide. Your car looks very much like the install I did for a friends 68 GTO. That was pretty straightforward. I'm afraid my TA is going to be a bit more labor intensive.

[67 caprice]

No, just bolted in.

[critter]

OK, thanks again. Information is hard to come by on this. All help is appreciated.

[critter]

With the AC in the car I figured it was time to move on to the Gear Vendors. Well, after spending the weekend removing the exhaust, drive shaft and tail piece I'm proud to report that I will be selling a Gear Vendor unit.

I got as far as installing the adaptor that replaces the tail piece. That's when the problem became really evident. I knew this was an issue but didn't know how bad until I got this far. You see, my drive line has always favored the passenger side of the tunnel. It's enough that you see it when you're under the car. It was really evident with the additional 3-4 inches of the adaptor.

End result is that the Gear Vendor won't fit unless we cut the car up and section the floor pan. That's not an option for me, especially this late in the game.

It does appear that, if you were perfectly centered, you could make it fit an F-body. You would have to cut the center seat belt support brace and even then it would be very close.

So I'll either run the HRPT with 3.42 gears or I'll swap to the other rear end with the 2.41 gears.

Pics:

[critter]

Tubed, if you see this, I tried to respond to your PM but your PM box is full. Email me at [email protected]

[TUBED]

PM box is cleared up, looking forward to the reply.
Thanks,
Gerald