1989 GTU - 355 SBC - T5 - Non-Bubba Build

[bikedad]

Hey had a question for ya. Did you have to clearance the fire wall at all behind the distributor? Unfortunately someone clearanced mine pretty good and it has an aftermarket mini distributor. I just pulled the engine and can't remember if it actually needed it to be.

Thanks

Matt

I have a billet MSD "Dizzy" (I know some hate calling it that. LOL) With my Granny's mount and being in the first hole the lip had to be trimmed flush right where the distributor is.

[FRISCO383]

X2

[Newgen]

Thanks guys

Sorry for cluddering up your build thread. Car looks excellent.

[texfc]

A few weeks back, while I was tuning the carb and timing, trying to get rid of an off idle stumble, the overdrive gear on my T5 let go on a low rpm pull.  Pulled the transmission out and opened up the tail housing to see that the snap ring holding the 5th driven gear in place had popped back allowing the gear to slide back on the output shaft.  From what I’ve heard and read, this is a common problem on the GM T5, especially when it is used behind a higher torque engine.


I had saved the original GM snap ring and decided to use it for the repair thinking that the rebuild kit snap ring may be inferior.  Since pulling the transmission is such a pain, I wanted to insure that this snap ring did not pop off again.  I purchased an aluminum 30mm shaft collar (McMaster-Carr 9520T16) and used a lathe to cut a step in the end the same diameter and depth as the snap ring.


I bolted the collar over the snap ring to lock it in place and keep it from expanding and popping off.  It clears everything and the aluminum grips tight to the splined shaft without damaging it.  I coated everything in Loctite red to be sure.


While I had the transmission out I decided to improve the clutch slave mounting.  Here is the old setup, with the slave attached to the ear on the side of the T5.  This caused the slave to pull the fork at an angle.


I fabed a bracket from ¼ inch plate similar to what others have done.


The new bracket holds the slave at a straighter angle to the clutch fork.  I did have to re-contour the foot well some to make room.  The clutch pedal feels better now with less “over center” and lower effort overall.  Took the car out for a drive last night and everything worked well, so I’m happy now.

[N2v8fcs]

Looks good!
I had to "massage" my floor there, and back around my speedo cable  .

We need more SBC FCs !

[mud]

I like it! One 355 SBC fc owner to another. I really wish I had a t5, but a saginaw 4 speed was readily available, so I'm using that instead.

[bikedad]

If or when my stock FC clutch slave fails I'll consider this configuration. My current setup works (for the past 5 years) but I like your setup much more.

[texfc]

Finally got the cowl hood finished and on the car, took over a year.  Here is what I did:

First I took an undamaged aluminum NA hood and cut a big hole in the middle of it for the air cleaner.





Then I made a sheet metal ring to raise and tilt the air cleaner to follow the angle of the hood.





Then I used a DA to remove all 3 layers of base / clear from the hood to take it down to bare metal.





I got a fiberglass cowl hood scoop from ebay and trimmed about 4 inches off the back of it.  I bonded it to the hood using the Evercoat panel adhesive because you don't need a special gun to apply it, a regular caulk gun works.  I used clecos to hold it in place while the adhesive set up.  They were good that they pull it together without crushing it like a pop rivet would.





I applied 2 layers of fiberglass cloth, followed by short strand filler, regular body filler, then high build primer to taper the edge into the hood.





On the underside, I glued down the cut edges of the bracing with seam filler, the scuffed, epoxy primed and painted.



I'm still not happy with how the paint came out but I'll have to wait till I get my "paint booth" set up better.  It's good enough for now to drive, I still have to paint the rest of the car anyway.

[digitalsolo]

That looks really good, nice work!

[screamin88]

Fuck yeah! That looks killer!

[Ericdsm]

This turned out killer! Good job.

[N2v8fcs]

nice work!

[trickygotmein]

Your fc is beautiful, glad you put a scoop on the hood. Great job !   

[bikedad]

You guys and your white cars. You think you're so special. "Ohh! Look at me! I have a beautiful white FC! Ohh!

Wish my car was white. 

Hood looks great by the way. 

[texfc]

I wish my car had a 383.....