Okay, first off I admit to being totally clueless when it comes to transmission swaps for the 1975 Chevy Vega Hatchback.
I am going to ask some questions here that maybe have been asked before, but I need to ask these questions before I spent a boat load of money to find out I bought the wrong parts...I don't want to go there, I can't afford to do this wrong.
I need help from somebody that has actually done this before, and the correct part numbers would be extremely helpful.
What I have:
I have a 1975 Chevy Vega Hatchback, it has the original 4 speed Saginaw transmission, and transmission cross member. It also has the stock driveline and stock rear end. These currently work ok, I just want better cruising speed on the highway with lower RPM's.
My 1975 Chevy Vega Hatchback had no engine when I bought it, but it had Buick V6 motor mounts and a BOP bell housing that has a cable operated clutch set up to the stock clutch pedal assembly. I am fairly certain that the stock tranny and tranny mounts were never altered or moved. I did not install the motor mounts they were already there for the Buick V6. I bought a running 1979 Buick Even Fire Buick V6 from a wrecking yard, I tore it completely apart and took it to a machinist to have the block completely gone through with new crank, new connecting rods, new pistons, new camshaft, bearings, rings. Heads were completely redone too. New flywheel for the Even fire since I didn't have one originally. The block was balanced internally, and also balanced by the flywheel. Instead of the typical 105 to 110 HP...I had it built to put out 275HP. Using an Edelbrock Performer manifold with ABF400 carb.
This motor was built in the late eighties, and the car was a daily driver for 7 to 8 years. I still have low miles on motor, still runs great so I am going to keep it, and run it until it dies then either swap it for a V8 or find another V6 for it. It gets around 26 to 28 MPG with the current setup, which was why I built a V6 Vega instead of a V8 Vega. This is not going to be a race car, but a daily driver type of car.
I want to swap out the Saginaw 4 speed for a T5 Transmission (World Class if recommended...and NOT a T50 tranny) behind my cable operated BOP Bellhousing if I can do that.
I need to know if a Camaro T5 bolt pattern tranny will bolt up to my BOP bell housing for an 1979 EVEN FIRE Buick V6 (This is Not a 3800 Buick V6) and if this is the best solution or not.
If the Camaro T5 tail shaft is too long for the shifter hole can the Ford T5 tail shaft be installed on the GM Transmission housing to put the shifter in the stock shifter hole, or closer to the stock shifter hole?
Will an S10 tail shaft be a better length to match my stock shifter hole?
What are my best options for a T5 tranny, so that I can get a T5 in there and have the T5 shifter line up the best with my stock 4 speed shifter hole?
If I swap to a Ford T5 Tranny, is there a specific adapter I can use to mount the tranny to my BOP tranny pattern (Same as Saginaw tranny pattern)?
I really need some good advice on this from somebody that knows what they are talking about, and has done this swap before if possible.
I do not have a Chevy Bell Housing, it is a BOP bell housing that mates to my stock Saginaw 4 speed.
Will you need a serial number from my BOP bell housing to answer any of these questions?
And if I am successful in getting the correct tranny / clutch / pressure plate too I assume...can I use a hydraulic setup instead of the cable for the clutch?
Probably also ought to mention that I know a shorter drive shaft may have to be made, a different yoke from the tranny output shaft, and a different tranny mount.
Part numbers would be awesome if you have specifics about what worked.
Thanks for any help you can provide me to save me time and money.
If you want to shoot me an email and or send me pictures and information I can be reach here if you want to do that:
Mike Steinert - VEGA2008 -
michael.steinert60@gmail.com, or
steinerts@mindspring.com, or
michael.steinert@libertymutual.com