1970 GTO Version 2.0

[oestek]

Kevin,

I really want to thank you for putting together such a great segment. Thank you!



But next time please only use one camera. They say the camera ads about 10 pounds, you must have been using 5. I have my new years resolution!

Andrew

Thank you for building a killer car to shoot, Andrew! I'll join you on your resolution. Is that support thread still hot here?

[andrewb70]

Thank you for building a killer car to shoot, Andrew! I'll join you on your resolution. Is that support thread still hot here?

It is a sticky in the Outhouse.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...t=38298&page=7

Andrew

[cdoggy81]

I'm glad Kevin added that little comment at the end about the steam vent line. I then went back through the thread & looked at how you did it. I really liked were you put it vs. other locations I've seen so I think I will go that route. Thanks again

[oestek]

That was a good trick... heck, there's lots of 'em in that car.

[cdoggy81]

True! A very well documented & informative thread for sure!

[singer69]

Thank you for all the great info here! The info and help I have recieved so far on this forum is priceless. Can't wait till the weather warms up here so I can get started on mine! Thank you again, she is one wicked GTO. -Andy

[ProTouring442]

I suspect that your GW arms would not work either. What is it that bothers you about the adjustable control arms?

I took the car to the track this Saturday. The weather was awesome. Clear skies, dry, and high 60s. I only made 3 passes because my time was limited and there were a ton of people at the track. All passes were made without fooling around with tire pressure or shock settings. Drove it right off the street, into the staging lanes. My first pass netted the best MPH to date; 112.31 MPH. The second pass netted a my best ET to date:

60' 2.064
1/4 12.602
MPH 110.97

This is my last trip to the track for this year and I am very pleased.

Andrew

Andrew,

I LOVE your GTO! In fact, it is one of the reasons I am building my 442, though the 442 will be more of a street car as compared to your GTO.

As for the GW upper arms, why exactly did you need to change them? According to the ATS website, the tall spindles will workwith aftermarket arms:

"Will my aftermarket tubular control arms fit with the AFX spindle?
Yes. The F/X body version of the AFX spindle will fit with any factory or aftermarket replacement control arm. This includes Global West, DSE, Hotchkis, Speed Tech, and others."

In fact, they even recommend the GW B-body upper arms:

"For the A body version of the tall AFX spindle, the upper control arm will have to be replaced. We recommend SC&C or B body spindle swap arms from Global West, Hotchkis, and other similar manufacturers."

I'm not questioning you on this as, Lord knows, you are far more educated than I am on this sort of thing, I was just wondering as to the reasons you felt they needed changing.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[trapin]

It may take Andrew some time to answer you...he's on the other side of the planet for the next couple of weeks.

[Steve1968LS2]

Love your car Andrew, it's probably one of my favorite non-Camaros out there.

How did you do your head steam vent? I can't find it in the thread...

[7TSS]

Andrew,

I LOVE your GTO! In fact, it is one of the reasons I am building my 442, though the 442 will be more of a street car as compared to your GTO.

As for the GW upper arms, why exactly did you need to change them? According to the ATS website, the tall spindles will workwith aftermarket arms:

"Will my aftermarket tubular control arms fit with the AFX spindle?
Yes. The F/X body version of the AFX spindle will fit with any factory or aftermarket replacement control arm. This includes Global West, DSE, Hotchkis, Speed Tech, and others."

In fact, they even recommend the GW B-body upper arms:

"For the A body version of the tall AFX spindle, the upper control arm will have to be replaced. We recommend SC&C or B body spindle swap arms from Global West, Hotchkis, and other similar manufacturers."

I'm not questioning you on this as, Lord knows, you are far more educated than I am on this sort of thing, I was just wondering as to the reasons you felt they needed changing.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

I ran into the same situation when I replaced the B-body spindle with the ATS tall spindle. The GW negative roll arms for B-body spindles would give way too much negative camber since the ATS spindle has more negative camber designed into it. Even GW's website says it won't work with ATS spindles. They have a G-Plus upper arm that will work though.

[ProTouring442]

I ran into the same situation when I replaced the B-body spindle with the ATS tall spindle. The GW negative roll arms for B-body spindles would give way too much negative camber since the ATS spindle has more negative camber designed into it. Even GW's website says it won't work with ATS spindles. They have a G-Plus upper arm that will work though.

Well crud.... those damned arms are expensive! I wonder if it makes a difference that I have no radically lowered my car?

Ah well, I guess I'll figure it out when the time comes... once I find a new job!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[cdoggy81]

Steve,
It is in the early posts. He tapped into the water pump.

[andrewb70]

I really haven't had much to report up until now. Yesterday I was looking around on www.chevelles.com, a member posted that he just had his Doug Nash 4+1 converted to dog-ring engagement by Liberty. This got me thinking. The old Doug Nash is very similar to my Richmond 6 spd. I have never been very pleased with the way my transmission shifts. I have dealt with Liberty before on a dog-rign T56 transmission for my RX7, and I was very pleased with the results. So after talking it over with Paul, I decided to get my Richmond done. Gears 1-4 will get faceplated and 5th and 6th will remain synchronized. No need to have dog-rings on cruising gears. Total price will be about $800. I am pretty excited!

Andrew

[Kenova]

I'm guessing it was the syncros you weren't happy with and not the shifter/linkage. How well did it shift as compared to an unmodified T56?
I'm curious, what ratios are you running, and would you change them if you had the opportunity?
Considering the beating your's has taken, I'd say the torque rating is a little on the low side for these transmissions.
I'm thinking about getting one for my Nova. Your's has proved reliable, they have a huge selection of ratios, and I don't have to carve up my transmission tunnel. Would you care to offer any advice or comments?

Ken

[Steve1968LS2]

Damn Andrew.. a red PT GTO was just on Barrett-Jackson.. thought it was yours until I saw it wasn't an LS engine. lol

Hope to see it again when we're out there this year.

[andrewb70]

I'm guessing it was the syncros you weren't happy with and not the shifter/linkage. How well did it shift as compared to an unmodified T56?
I'm curious, what ratios are you running, and would you change them if you had the opportunity?
Considering the beating your's has taken, I'd say the torque rating is a little on the low side for these transmissions.
I'm thinking about getting one for my Nova. Your's has proved reliable, they have a huge selection of ratios, and I don't have to carve up my transmission tunnel. Would you care to offer any advice or comments?

Ken

Ken,

Sorry for the delay in my response. You are correct, it is not the shifter that I have complaints about, it is actually the design of the synchros. As I understand it, the Richmond transmissions use a fairly old, T10 style synchros. It doesn't shift nearly as nice as a T56. Mine has the 2.77 1st gear, and 1:1 5th, with a .62 6th. The gearing is super close and that makes it nice.

Andrew

[1971CHEVELLE]

looks awesome

Wheels look amazing on there

[Kenova]

As I understand it, the Richmond transmissions use a fairly old, T10 style synchros. It doesn't shift nearly as nice as a T56.

Andrew

For the money they want for them, one would think they would make an effort to update the syncros. I'm not too sure a faceplated tranny would suit me for the street. I'm gettin' old and slowin' down, lol, in which case the old syncros may be just fine for me.
I'm leaning towards the 2.77 1st gear also, but with the .84 6th with a 3.23 to 3.55 rear gear. The highest legal speed near me is 100kph (62mph), although you can usally get away with 120 kph on the bigger highways providing traffic is moving fast enough.

Ken

[andrewb70]

looks awesome
....
Wheels look amazing on there

Thanks you!

Ken,

If modifying the floor is a concern, the Richmond is your only option. I think the Tremec, both the T56 and the TKO are better shifting transmissions, and they are less expensive.

Andrew

[andrewb70]

Drove to the track on Tuesday evening. Didn't make any adjustments to the car at the track. Ran a 12.57@112 and a 12.52@112, then drove home.

Andrew