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Trying to stay in the Esprit!  
SNSLYR.455
New User | Posts: 4 | Joined: 04/08
Posted: 04/12/08
05:19 PM

Hi guys. I am a newbie to the hobby and I am getting a little frustrated. I'm not a quitter but I need a little direction. I have a 1980 Esprit that I just dropped a Pontiac 455 into and now I am trying to hook up a TH400 trans from a 1978 Pontiac into the car as well. I am having issues with the crossmember from a TH350 that wont fit, a driveshaft that I am told I have to replace because it is too long. Even though it looks like once I put the other yoke on it ( a TH400 yoke came with the trans) it will be fine and a B&M Megashifter with a cable and bracket on the end of it that is just hanging there laughing at me. I don't even want to mention that I just read an article here about a kickdown sloenoid that is in my future. At this pace I will never make the readers ride section.  HELP!  


 
barneyformula
Enthusiast | Posts: 447 | Joined: 01/07
Posted: 04/12/08
07:55 PM

Here's some help, first off... Yes the driveshaft will be too long and the yoke will need to be changed,(I just measured my th400 and a th350 I have laying in the shop and the 400 is about 1.5" longer.) If you try you will likely find that if you do get the driveshaft installed as is, the yoke will be bottomed out, causing binding and ruining u-joints. You can have the shaft shortened and rebalanced, don't let any back yarder tell you they can do this, it won't be straight and it will shake terribly. If you don't know where to have it done contact a local heavy truck repair shop or dealer, they have this kind of work done all the time and can point you in the right direction. Second the crossmember will work, you can move it back slightly and redrill the holes in the subframe. Third, the kickdown switch, you don't have to have one, but it is nice to not have to manually down shift when you want to pass. Otherwise the trans woeks fine and won't be damaged by not having it. If you want the switch, I'm told you just need to find a 80-81 Z28 Camaro with the cowl induction hood, look near the top of the gas pedal for a switch that contacts the pedal at full throttle, hook it to ignition power in the fuse panel and run the other side to the kickdown terminal on the trans. This is on my to-do list for my 79 Formula with a 75 350 and th400.  


Trying to help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

 
SNSLYR.455
New User | Posts: 4 | Joined: 04/08
Posted: 04/14/08
06:35 PM

BarneyFormula you are #1 in my book!!    


 
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