by SDAKOTAN » Fri Apr 27, 2018 1:26 pm
Thank you so much for the replies! Sorry, this will get long winded, but maybe it will help you understand the scope of the project and my mindset. My level of mechanics in the past have included engine and/or transmission removal/install but I have never "built" a vehicle that needed custom modifications. However; I am blessed that my father-in-law has his own shop and he is an excellent mechanic and welder/fabricator so he will be working on this project along with my teenage son and I. We are getting parts together to start working on a 1973 Vega Hatchback; however the car is still sitting at the back of our storage so I don't have access to it at this time. It has not been previously modified in anyway - a true time capsule. It has the 4 cylinder with a 3 speed Saginaw in it. 46,000 one owner miles. We had it started by squirting gas in the carb (with gas tank removed). The interior is in great shape. I have already purchased a complete running Silverado 4x4 with the 5.3 and a 200R4 to swap in but we have decided this would cost too much to get it fitted under the hood and we realized we do not want a 300 HP engine in this car (more after a cam upgrade). There is too much extra that would need to be done to run the 5.3 so no V8 in this one. We want a fun, spirited car to drive that won't send you in circles or twist up the car the first time we floor it. I have also purchased a nice running 2000 S10 2wd 4.3 automatic with a 3.42 posi rear. We will be transferring the 4.3 (with EFI, modified wiring, and PCM), s10 rear, and s10 spindles, into the Vega. I am trying to avoid beating on the tunnel to fit the 4L60E (plus need a mechanical speedo - hence purchasing the 200R4). However; my son decided he really wants to keep it a manual. This will be his car anyway when it is done; so manual it is. Besides, it has been many years since I have driven a manual - it will be a blast! So now I need the last big piece to this project - a manual tranny - and since we plan to drive it long distances; overdrive is a must. As you can see, I have spend a bit on donor vehicles already so I would like to buy the right manual tranny/s the first time. I have been studying everything about building a Vega for the past year. I know we will be fabricating motor mounts, tranny mount, 4 link brackets on the S10 rear, modifying the front spindles for S10 ball joints, EFI gas system, plus more. The only item I haven't been able to nail down is the best manual transmission. To recap, we will have a 200-220 HP 4.3, unknown manual w/OD, and 3.42 posi rear. I prefer to avoid cutting on the tunnel so we can leave the interior looking original. It appears some flavor of T5 is the best choice. But what tail shaft/shifter can be used to put the shifter as close as possible in the original hole? Or are there other 5 speeds out there besides the T5 that would work?
73 Vega Hatchback - 4.3 v6 Vortec T5 project