TH 700 Commodore 4sp auto in a beddy

[willo]

i can get access to a plasma. a mate can cut for me..

I unpacked it and had a look and I reckon it is a fair price for what it is.  Countersunk bolts and a lot of machining within machining.  I had a look at the cheaper one on ebay and it looks totally different to the one that Dellow does.  I'm not saying that the cheaper one won't fit it's just that I don't want problems when i am driving along and the Dellow kit includes everything to do the job including the brass spigot bush for the conversion.


Cheers

Neil

[Worby876]

How's the conversion coming along Neil?

I'm keen to explore an upgrade from the Aussie 4 speed.

I've got similar issues to you , 85 kph @ 3,000 rpm screaming her head off.

Running 4.1:1 diff.

I'm tossing up 5 sp celica manual conversion

Or 4 or 5 speed Auto.

Cheers

Ian


Ian

[willo]

How's the conversion coming along Neil?
I'm keen to explore an upgrade from the Aussie 4 speed.
I've got similar issues to you , 85 kph @ 3,000 rpm screaming her head off.
Running 4.1:1 diff.
I'm tossing up 5 sp celica manual conversion
Or 4 or 5 speed Auto.
Cheers
Ian

Hi Ian,
so far, have gathered a 2nd hand TH700 that I am planning to trial fit to see if it works OK. (The man said it worked fine-honest
I have gathered the dellow adaptor kit.
I know that I will need a front tailshaft section and get it cut down as the TH700 is longer that the Trimatic.
I know that I will need a new speedo cable.  I think Wrights clutch service in Lismore do these but i am yet to confirm this.
I know that I will need a speedo ratio adjustment box thingy to get the speedo reading correctly. Castlemaine Rod Shop.
I know that I will need a gear linkage crossunder shaft to get the gear linkage from teh right on the Trimatic to the left on the TH700.  Heading to Wreckers and searching for a falcon XA-XE BW35 gearbox with 3 on the tree lever that i can get the crossunder gear linkage set up off so i can fit it to the TH700.

Still a long way before fitting it but the path is becoming clearer as i gather the bits and bobs.

Ian, are you running a 4.1 diff?  Mate, mine is 5.2!!!!

I reckon that we should catch up and talk about our respective campers.  We are only 2 hours apart (make that 2.75 hours in a high revving Beddie

Neil

[Worby876]

Sounds  like your getting it all Sused out which is a good
Idea to have done all the prep first so hopefully no hidden
Unexpected roadblocks.

Yep the old girl has a 4.1 diff in her so she's good of the mark but
Runs out of breath at 85 kph  you know the the story.

I have a project we are working on in Alstonville getting a new radio
Service established on AM 1647 so I very well might take the beddy
For a run down  that way , if I do I will be sure to giive you a hoy.

In the mean time I'm still researching myself.

My biggest concern is avoiding the RTA as I'm sure they will find extra things
To fuss over if I have go get a certificate if I upgrade to a 5 speed manual or
Auto.

Cheers

Ian

[Worby876]

I've searched on this site and old Holden but haven't found a step by step
Paint by numbers article on how to convert from the M20 Aussie four speed
Manual box over to say a TH700 or a 6 speed auto out of a modern commodore.

Do I need a special modification to the radiator or a different radiator to cool the
Auto transmission oil ?

Has anyone done a conversion like that a beddyt?

Most articles in the various forums are from Auto to manual,
Very few it seems go the other way.

Cheers

Ian

[matty]

one thing no one has mentioned is that the floor will need to be cut around the back of the head as the th700 is much taller box which will mean your engine cover will need to be modified to suit.

 After doing the conversion I worked out the hard way that the original thin steel plate between the engine and box cant be used as the adaptor caused it to twist and hit the torque converter bolts.

[Worby876]

H,mmm you're right I haven't seen that little detail   

anything else we need to consider?
Like I'm considering upgrading from a 4 speed -Aussie box
Mainly cause I want overdrive when cruising on the hiway.
And want to drop the revs down to something more appropriate
And ...hopefully get say...( fingerscrossed ) 100kph out of her.

Whereas with a 5 speed Celica manual box W58 I get a 5th gear
Of around .7 which is roughly 30% overdrive.

So will the TH700 (the non electric version out of a VN ) or even a 350 or a T400
Give me the desired out come?

Any help appreciated as I deliberate which way to go.

Cheers

Ian

[matty]

Depending on how much you cut the floor out your the standard dipstick may or may not fit, I cut as minimal as possible so I used an aftermarket flexible tube (Lokar makes them). But then you need make a bracket for it to mount as normally you would attach to firewall in most cars.

There is a bit of playing around with the rear cross member and engine mount.

For the shifter I think the easiest option would be a cable type shifter something like a B and M or Hurst. But each to there own, I modified a standard shifter by adding a bracket and cable to it but never did get it spot on

You will need to cut some of the bell housing out on the TH 700 where the starter motor fits.

[Jason 253 CF]

Gee that's a bit of mucking around

[willo]

Depending on how much you cut the floor out your the standard dipstick may or may not fit, I cut as minimal as possible so I used an aftermarket flexible tube (Lokar makes them). But then you need make a bracket for it to mount as normally you would attach to firewall in most cars.

There is a bit of playing around with the rear cross member and engine mount.

For the shifter I think the easiest option would be a cable type shifter something like a B and M or Hurst. But each to there own, I modified a standard shifter by adding a bracket and cable to it but never did get it spot on

You will need to cut some of the bell housing out on the TH 700 where the starter motor fits.

Oh that's not good.  I was getting all excited about no cutting of the floor.  Thanks for the heads up.  I need to ponder some more.  Might be that a manual like Ian is talking about is a better way to go.  At least there will be no floor cutting but then again I would have all the fiddling around getting the manual gear linkages to poke through the floor in the right spot.  I figure that if i am forced to cut the floor i am going to put in a 5litre and box.  Make the whole job worthwhile.  I just wanted to change some bits that i thought would be easy bolt in conversions.  You'd think i'd know better after working on this thing since 1998.

Thanks again.  I will ponder my options