Under the index for under a grand!

[Joe Toller]

I have been eagerly awaiting the trans and engine info...thanks for this thread Billy.

[Billy Nees]

I'm getting the mid-winter doldrums out here in the "West End". Can't wait to head out to Fla. for the points meet next week.
I boxed the stock rear control arms yesterday. They came out pretty good, really stiffened them up. I'm going to start working on putting the engine together later.

[John Leichtamer Jr]

We will be waiting for you in Fl. ................

Hammer

[cicero819]

Billy, how is your project coming on? I wanted to ask what is in the brown four door Nees Nova? Claude

[Billy Nees]

Well, the engine is on hold till I get back from Fla.. It seems that I may have had an attack of CRS and can't remember which cams went where! At any rate, I'll be sending an old cam core out to be re-ground when I get back(dime rocket tip of the week!).
So, let's talk torque converters today. First, a little bit of personal commentary, beyond the motor, there is more to be gained(IMHO) in the correct torque converter than anything else in the car(assuming the car is right). Now I already know that this car is going to want a tight 8" converter but it isn't in my budget(maybe later).
Back in the 70s the hot lick for going fast cheap was to go and get a "Vega" or "Pinto" converter. They were very inefficient and fragile but they were fairly fast and easy to find. Not so in the 21st century so I actually had a converter made, cheap. I already know that my combo makes very good torque for a small motor as I ran my GP with the race motor and a stock converter for a couple of weeks before getting a good one. My car actually ran a tenth under with the stock one but it's got a bit more motor in it. Through a friend in the transmission business, I contacted a (stock) converter rebuilder and asked him what my options were. He looked up my stock converter and found it to have a 1600(that's right) RPM stall and figured that by mixing and matching some stock parts and assembling it with the widest tolorances he could get me about 2800-3000 RPM. Price? $80, for that I'll give it a try.
Now I want to be perfectly clear here, my car picked up a half of a second by putting the correct race converter in the car so the money spent is well worth it but this is being done on a strict budget and if it doesn't work, shame on me.
I'll be back in a week!

[Larry Hill]

Hurry up Billy we are starting to run out of popcorn. Good luck and go fast.

[art leong]

Billy we used to do a cheap converter for the turbo dodges. Talk to me about it this weekend. I'll be rolling in on Friday morning.

[jmantle]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Well, the engine is on hold till I get back from Fla.. It seems that I may have had an attack of CRS and can't remember which cams went where! At any rate, I'll be sending an old cam core out to be re-ground when I get back(dime rocket tip of the week!).
So, let's talk torque converters today. First, a little bit of personal commentary, beyond the motor, there is more to be gained(IMHO) in the correct torque converter than anything else in the car(assuming the car is right). Now I already know that this car is going to want a tight 8" converter but it isn't in my budget(maybe later).
Back in the 70s the hot lick for going fast cheap was to go and get a "Vega" or "Pinto" converter. They were very inefficient and fragile but they were fairly fast and easy to find. Not so in the 21st century so I actually had a converter made, cheap. I already know that my combo makes very good torque for a small motor as I ran my GP with the race motor and a stock converter for a couple of weeks before getting a good one. My car actually ran a tenth under with the stock one but it's got a bit more motor in it. Through a friend in the transmission business, I contacted a (stock) converter rebuilder and asked him what my options were. He looked up my stock converter and found it to have a 1600(that's right) RPM stall and figured that by mixing and matching some stock parts and assembling it with the widest tolorances he could get me about 2800-3000 RPM. Price? $80, for that I'll give it a try.
Now I want to be perfectly clear here, my car picked up a half of a second by putting the correct race converter in the car so the money spent is well worth it but this is being done on a strict budget and if it doesn't work, shame on me.
I'll be back in a week!

Billy, cheap convertor for a 200, get one from a 76 Chevette. They came with a 200 and use an 8" convertor. You will need to do a little adapting on the front end but nothing serious.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

[Billy Nees]

Thanks Jim, I think that you'll find that the 76 Chevette was the first car to actually have a 200 turbo in it. Hopefully, I'll be getting back to the motor this coming week.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by jmantle

Billy, cheap convertor for a 200, get one from a 76 Chevette. They came with a 200 and use an 8" convertor. You will need to do a little adapting on the front end but nothing serious.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

Good idea, Jim.
Those converters were basically the Opel design and size...They had funky stators in them .but you could always upgrade it later.
You would need to make a pilot adapter with a 1.702 O.D. and whatever ID that thing has on it now. You should be able to weld that on without opening the converter.
Then make some tabs to adapt to the small GM pattern flex plate, and weld them on too.
Just make sure the overall height is the same as a V 8 converter...This just might work...for now.