78 930 powertrain swap to 77 930 body?

Overpaid Slacker · 06-07-2003, 11:22 AM

I wrote off the 930 a few weeks back in a front-end with a tree. The mechanicals are OK and there'd been a lot done to the powerplant/drivetrain, so I've salvaged back everything for a song.

The first question is -- I've found a sweet 77 930 ROW (no sunroof) w/ a drivetrain of questionable history. How "swappable" is the 78 drivetrain/brakes/etc. into the 77 body? I'm assuming it won't be too tough, but I've got to visit the clubhouse for confirmation.

Second question -- if this 77 doesn't work out, does anyone have suggestions as to where to find either a 930 body (87 would of course be perfect if it had a 5-spd on board already) or a 73 RSR clone body to host the powertrain/brakes/etc. from my 78.

I'm in no rush -- I fractured my spine and will be in a halo for at least the next 9 weeks, so if you come across something weeks from now, please PM me.

Thanks in advance.

JP

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
I'm in no rush -- I fractured my spine and will be in a halo for at least the next 9 weeks

Yikes! Can't help you with your question, but thank goodness you're apparently okay - get well soon!

Don

dean · 06-07-2003, 07:55 PM

Wow, I am sorry to hear you got hurt. I think the problem that you might find it that the powertrain is longer in the 78 car. So you might have to do something about that. One way to find out is to measure the overall length of the powertrain.

Hope you heal fast

beepbeep · 06-08-2003, 02:23 AM

No dice.

You cannot install -78 powertrain in -77 930 beacuse -78 transmission is around one inch longer than early one. -78 has exploding rubber clutch which is much thicker than spring loaded -77 one so engine sits further back in later cars.

You can either cut your transmission bellhouse and shaft or purchase short-bellhouse 930 transmission (expensive).

78 >:

< -78:

dean · 06-08-2003, 04:38 AM

Hey Goran,
Thanks again for posting the drawing. Now I know why I had to move the motor back when I did my G50 conversion.

beepbeep · 06-08-2003, 08:18 AM

Yeah, i really had hard time to getting this info. I rang many "gurus" when deciding which tranny we should buy for project car and they all answered "late tranny doesn't fit in early car" but nobody could really explain why...

In the end, Roger from PHII (a real guru) explained this to me and I got some drawings so i could see it by myself.

I marked the difference in bellhouse design on these drawings:

Overpaid Slacker · 06-08-2003, 09:29 AM

Goran --
Thanks! You saved me a lot of time/hassle/ducats.

Best,

JP

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Yummm, 1977 Turbo motor has that very desireable engine case. So, if you buy the car, you can always sell off the drivetrain for $$$.

-Wayne

TimT · 06-08-2003, 01:24 PM

You can put almost any engine-trany combination into any tub. We just did a 3.8/g-50/50 into a '78 930 tub.

depends on how creative you get with motor mounts, clutch actuators etc..

dean · 06-08-2003, 02:42 PM

I know a person can do almost anything. It is good to know beforehand though. Not knowing that the G50 doesn't fit the SC without moving the motor, it took me a lot longer than expected to install the drivetrain. No biggie though

beepbeep · 06-08-2003, 03:04 PM

Yeah, at first i tought we have to get short tranny in our SC installation but i found out that it's actually only belhousing that is longer. Our new engine being so short, there is still space to spare despite using long tranny.