Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

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Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby 77irishwagon » Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:41 am

Well the motor is in now, but what a headache. For something I expected to fit ... seemed to be a real pain. I put a 350 in my 77 vega wagon. I'm not sure if the frame is different since its a ac/ps car , but nothing seemed to line up. I had to shim up up the mounts on the frame so that the aftermarket milodon pan that came with the kit would clear the stock steering. The drivers side had to be shimed an additional inch to level the motor. The rubber pads that came with the kit do not even fit correctly in the frame pockets like the instructions show. I'm not impressed. Has anyone else had similar issues?

With that being said, I'm sellling the super comp headers that came with the kit and putting something a little more install-friendly on it (sanderson cc13). If your interested in the headers PM me.

Chris
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby hammerdown7 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:41 pm

Wonder if your car spent some time without the front cross members, sometimes the rails spread and that would make your engine lower in the chassis.

Dick
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby 77irishwagon » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:43 pm

I dont think thats the case. The motor mount that bolts in using the idler arm holes didnt seem right. The triangular piece thats supposed to rest on the frame was sitting about 1/4 inch above the frame. So that piece wasnt even right :bang: :bang: :bang:

Anyone else use this kit?
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby Rickracer » Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:02 pm

I'm not familiar with that kit, got any pics of the parts or installation? :?: 8)
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ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby 76Vega » Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:31 pm

If your talking about the transdapt kit that bolts to the front of the block and water pump?
91018991_L.jpg


If so i would not use that kit as i have had a bad experience with it back in the day on my 73 Vega, i had very similar problems that you are having, plus when i finally had it all installed i went to track for grudge night, I pulled extremely hard off the line and it snapped off the 2 lower left bolts off the block and the left water pump bolt breaking my water pump aswell, I the switch to the Don Hardy kit and it installed perfectly, the only thing with that kit is it sits the motor front further and the header collectors point out to the sides.
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby ColinOpseth » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:19 am

I have the TransDapt kit in my Vega with a 93 LT1. I think it's the bomb diggity. Mind you, I'm running double-stacked mount pads and Sanderson CC13HO headers.
'72 Vega with '93 Camaro LT1/M29 T56/12 bolt 3.31. 16" IROCs all around. Sanderson headers into duals with an H-pipe and Flowmasters. It's loud but at least it's faster than your grandma's Buick. pwned.
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby 77irishwagon » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:12 am

Where did you get the extra pads to stack? Right now im using a stack of washers to make up the difference (1/2 inch)
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby Rickracer » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:37 am

Those mounts look like the Hooker mount kit, and I never did like them. I used a Hardy mount kit on my first Vega, then later went to a motor plate, and I've used a motor plate on every version since, 327, 427, and now 355, all with Hooker headers. You couldn't PAY me to run a Sanderson header... :? 8)
Rickracer
ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby ColinOpseth » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:50 am

I got the extra pads from another kit that I own. My intention is to find a poly mount at some point and modify my existing mounts to use that instead. I'm already running a poly trans mount on my T56.

Rick,
I've been pretty happy with my Sandersons. They don't leak and they look pretty good. Why they haven't modified the routing of the tube around the steering shaft is beyond me. It's stupid close for no reason at all. :bang:
'72 Vega with '93 Camaro LT1/M29 T56/12 bolt 3.31. 16" IROCs all around. Sanderson headers into duals with an H-pipe and Flowmasters. It's loud but at least it's faster than your grandma's Buick. pwned.
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby Rickracer » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:42 pm

ColinOpseth wrote:... My intention is to find a poly mount at some point and modify my existing mounts to use that instead.... Why they haven't modified the routing of the tube around the steering shaft is beyond me. It's stupid close for no reason at all. :bang:

That's precisely why I don't like them, I know a few guys that have had MAJOR problems with them on V8 S10 applications, and been told "Sorry, they should fit just fine, we can't/won't help you..."
Energy Suspension makes some universal poly mounts specifically for fabricating mounts with roll cage tubing, I posted a link the Overkill parts thread.... :wink: 8) :th:
Rickracer
ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby chevy art » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:43 pm

hey 77 the rubber mounts are just plain old blocks of 3/4 inch thick rubber with a 1/2 inch holes drilled in the middle. sounds like someone installled the 2 frame mounts all wrong. you should be albe to get those 2 pieces separate from trans-dapt and start all over. i posted a few lengthly posts a few years ago telling all about these mounts and i also had my center link dropped about 1 1/2 inches. if you want to know where to see pics and the posts, just me and i will tell you where to look on this forum for all the info, which i think will be very helpful to you. dont sell your headers till you read the posts art
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby chevy art » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:51 pm

hey 77. PS after you straighten out the mounts and headers, the next nightmare is radiator clearance and fans, but the effort is worth it so you can drive one of these nice cars art
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby 77irishwagon » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:13 am

Thanks Guys, Got the Sandersons on last night , they fit perfectly. I just need to trim the ear off the transmission on the passenger side where the exhaust exits. My other question for those who run the transdapt mounts.--- how do you have your alternator set up? what brackets? Do you have any pics?>


Chris

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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby 77irishwagon » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:47 am

chevy art wrote:hey 77. PS after you straighten out the mounts and headers, the next nightmare is radiator clearance and fans, but the effort is worth it so you can drive one of these nice cars art


Just got a jegs radiator, I can see what you mean , doesnt fit. I took the mounts off the old one and dropped it in to find that it hits the powersteering gearbox. Not sure what im going to do at this point. I might take it to the radiator shop and see if they can add a second row to the old radiator.

Chris
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Re: Trans Dapt v8 kit--yikes

Postby 70styleVega » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:13 pm

I saw this thread and just had to comment. Years ago I bought a Transdapt V8 Vega kit and it fit perfect. I sold that vehicle and most associated parts when I got divorced. Years later I bought the current I kit have have.... probably made in China. The fit was terrible. I had to actually cut it apart and reweld the water pump mounted tubes as they were way off. My advice.... buy the Hooker front mount kit, not the Transdapt one. It has not been nicknamed "Transcrap" for nothing.
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