Yellow73BB

I'm putting a 700R4 trans in my 1973, and have noticed that the transmissin pan is where the exhaust used to go.
For my cross member, I cut out the section between the two holes that he exhaust goes through, and built a steel piece to bridge the gap and hold up the back of the 700R4. The original holes for the exhaust are still there, but they are too close to the center and the pipes will hit the trans pan.

I'm sure someone has solved this predicament. Any words of wisdom?

PatsLs1vette

i had to make my own pipes to fit past the 700r4,now that i have sidepipes i dont have to worry about it anymore.

Gage

Hey Yellow 73, I'm going to do the same upgrade to my 72, do you have to change the yoke out, or just cut the driveshaft down 2 1/2 inches

mrvette

Yup, in either case you are looking for a THM350 corvette only yoke, but keep in mind the driveshaft seldom needs work, so if the universals are new, you CAN use another 350 yoke and be fine, just that you can't unbolt the caps and drop the shaft, without taking out the rear differential.....PIA, but can be dealt with on install IF the engine is out...you really need the 350 vette only yoke....

on the exhaust thing, yes the pan is a PIA< but I guess I"m lucky in having a well talented exhaust man down the street, who bent up 2.5 inch pipes and went over/under/around/through//round and round and came out HERE....type system....works like a charm even with Xover pipe.....

I find most exhause shope are really stupid in bending pipes, it's either Walker for forget it.....dumb illegitimates....

GENE

EDDIEJ82

Did the same as pat, sidepipes are the way to go

carl a

http://www.geocities.com/carlclub2/-- i have the same set up,,, a 73 with a 700r-4 and had to put more bend in the chambered exhaust pipe to get it around the trans and it still made it thru the holes in the frame,, look at some pictures on my restoration web site to see what i mean----(page#3)carl---


[Modified by carl a, 12:39 PM 5/24/2004]


[Modified by carl a, 12:46 PM 5/24/2004]


[Modified by carl a, 12:48 PM 5/24/2004]

Yellow73BB

Thanks for all the help. This is as I expected I guess, I was just hoping for something easy :)

Gage, As stated by others, you do need the yoke form a Corvette T350. You have to have the ability to disconnect the U-joint at the back of hte transmnission. Otherwise, you can't get it in. I had to go buy one since I didn't have a yoke for a T-350.

You will need to shorten your drive shaft. Just push the yoke in all the way, and measure from the flat mounting surface (center of U-joint) to the mounting surface at the back. Have them make your driveshaft that dimension minus about .75" or so.

79VetteMike

You could order an aftermarket tubular crossmember from http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com

Yellow73BB

My car started out life as a stick shift, so the Bowtie one won't fit readily. I built a crossmember, just need to get the next few details done (exhaust, trans cooler, speedo cable, vehicle speed sensor, efi programming for torque converter lockup, etc.).

Red73

I was going to suggest the BowTie crossmember. You would be able to utilize any exhaust configuration with it.

Yellow73BB

Hmmm, maybe I should make one like that.

Does having a different cross member reduce the stiffness of the car?