mperformance

Hey Peejay I just bought some cable and needed tensioner in order to copy you invention.

Just need some tips. I used a cord as a mock up to trace the cable route from the block to the shock tower but one of the A/C lines is kind of touching the cord.

I need to know more or less what was your approach.

I'm trying to save my new tranny from premature 3rd gear destruction.


thanks man...

peejay

What year and model do you have?

I did mine on an '80 where the A/C compressor was mounted low on the engine. My only point of interference was the cable running close to the terminals on my MSD coils, and obviously that's only because of where I decided to mount them.

Hmm... 3rd gear is dying... I'll assume it's an '83-85 tranny? A/C lines in the way... can I also assume that your car has power steering? Looking at the '85 (A/C and P/S) I note a similar problem with the A/C being in the way, because the A/C compressor is mounted up high right next to the distributor.

mperformance

yeap it's an 85...power steering pump is out though (who needs that crap anyways....)

Only problem is the A/C comp. that I'm keeping...I'm going to see if I get a shorter belt and somehow move the compressor a bit lower that should clear some space for the cable.

I just switched trannies I got a 79 one that was perfect, and the stock 85 busted the shifting fork which I'm going to weld some day to have it as a replacement. So I'm doing this mod in order to prevent more misshifts.

peejay

Well, unless you can move the compressor out of the way, it looks like you'll have to engineer a new solution. I haven't got 'round to it, mainly because I have bigger things to worry about, so that is going to the back burner.

One nice thing about the brace, was that I'd have to say that 25% of the benefit was in making the shifter move around less. Another 25% was that after a shift, the drivetrain would bounce around a whole lot less (I am not kind to the car when I race Rule 1 is breakage is acceptable in the name of better times.) and therefore doesn't shock the drivetrain when it bounces around - less likely to break the tires loose and less apt to hammer the U-joints out of the driveshaft (been there done that, see Rule 1) and other bad things. Another 10% is that it's much nicer modulating the clutch in city traffic, as there is much less drivetrain windup. The last 40% is that adjusting the car's attitude with the throttle when cornering is MUCH nicer.


BTW - You might really like that '79 tranny if you keep the stock shifter. Yeah they have some slop to them but that slop allows you to go straight-shot from 2nd to 3rd once you get the feel for it. You don't have to maneuver the lever through the gate at ALL because the slop does it for you. (Plus, and this is personal opinion, the shifter placement feels much more natural)

mperformance

damn exactly....the 79 tranny is awesome, I go from 2nd to 3rd quickly. I got this one off a parts car I had and didn't know it was better.

I'll work on your idea tomorrow..

Thanks man!!! really appreciate your help.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

how about posting a pix. i need ideas.

mperformance

I'll try tomorrow wacky...if time allows

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

thanks.

mperformance

here you go

mperformance

more



notice my oldschool wheels...

mperformance

Here is a closeup of the weird design I figured this afternoon. It uses two tensioners each rated at over 100lbs and a protected steel cable rated at 340lbs. I used a triangulated setup in order to distribute the load on both bolts. I can adjust the tension with the tensioners and I can still keep my A/C compresor. The benefit of this system as opposed to the watts linkage is that the tension is regulated and there is some flex by the cable.

I have yet to test drive it but I sat inside the car and there is a lot less movement at the shifter when reving the engine.