Mac Toe's vega

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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Smiley » Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:29 pm

this is Avewhtboy's Vega

17x8.5 front wheel with 235/45/17 tires and rear is 18x 9.5 with 275/35/18 tires.

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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Smiley » Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:39 pm

avewhtboy wrote:So I bit the bullet and spent $300 on some Blazer drop spindles. Lowered the front 2 inches and the rear 2 inches( Removed spring spacers).

Altitude in the front much better, but my rear tires are too wide so I had to air up the rear shocks for now. I have new rims coming then will get some smaller rear tires.

These are 17x8.5 215/35/17 front with 2" spacer
18x9.5 275/35/18 rear with 3" spacer

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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby cosvega76 » Sat Dec 15, 2018 8:36 am

This is my Vega with 215/40-17s on 17"x7" in front and 215/45-17s on the rear on 17"x8" wheels; suspension is lowered about an inch from stock:

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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Mac Toe » Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:05 pm

Has anyone used a S10 T5 transmission instead of Camaro T5?
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Smiley » Tue Jan 01, 2019 12:31 am

Are you going to do enough highway driving to recoop the added cost of a 5 or 6 speed trans ?
what gear ratio are you running ?
what motor or how much power are you running ?
what type of driving are you looking to do ?
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby cosvega76 » Tue Jan 01, 2019 11:55 am

Mac Toe wrote:Has anyone used a S10 T5 transmission instead of Camaro T5?


I believe the shifter position is further forward than the Vega location on the S-10 trans, plus, if you use a trans from a 2.8L it has a really low first gear. Folks In the Cosworth club have used the Mustang tail housing on a Camaro trans and it lines up fairly well, but you can't use the whole Mustang trans because of the differences in the input shaft and trans-to-bellhousing pattern.


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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Mac Toe » Tue Jan 01, 2019 9:00 pm

Smiley wrote:Are you going to do enough highway driving to recoop the added cost of a 5 or 6 speed trans ?
what gear ratio are you running ?
what motor or how much power are you running ?
what type of driving are you looking to do ?


I will be doing a good amount of freeway driving. I have 3.73s running a 383 stroker in front of a th400. Would like to be able to get on the freeway from time to time. Trying to save as much money as possible but I don't think I'll be able to get anything other than a TKO 600.
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Mac Toe » Tue Jan 01, 2019 9:55 pm

Is there a particular transmission kit that will insure that the shifter location is correct? Is there a need for an offset shifter?
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Mac Toe » Tue Jan 01, 2019 11:32 pm

Has anyone ever heard of a T5 handling more than 450 lbs of torque? If I add the rebuild kit for it? Or do I have to spend major cash on a tremec
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby cosvega76 » Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:09 am

I think by the time you get a T5 strong enough you could have bought the TKO600. You'll have to discuss with the vendor about shifter position, but in another V8 Vega I had with a Muncie 4-speed, I used a Hurst shifter from a '69 Camaro with a console and it brought it up in the center of the hole in the tunnel.


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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby TimMcCabe » Wed Jan 02, 2019 2:11 pm

Chevy never used the T5 behind a 350 due to its low torque handling.
Even in a light car like a Vega, I think your 383 would grenade a T5 in short order.
T56 or TKO would be the safest bet..

Cheers,
Tim
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Contact me for all of your Tachometer needs
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Smiley » Wed Jan 02, 2019 11:11 pm

Using an aluminum or 16 LB L88 type flywheel with a 10.5" clutch will decrease stress on the trans.
Street tires other than drag radials that fit in a Vega's small wheelwells will not get a whole lot of traction.
71-73 Vega's are light which also reduces the load on the trans.

The McLeod 5 speed was made to replace 4 speeds without major tunnel mods.

The shifter stick angle on the 71-72 Vega/ Opel transmissions is less than optimal, short straight shifter just in front of the e-brake handle is better.
The rear locations on the newer 5 speed internal rail shifters may require a new hole in the tunnel but give you better shifting than the forward location of the 71/72 manual trans shifter hole.

Are you running Hop-Stops or slapper bars ? poly bushings ?
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Mac Toe » Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:20 pm

Smiley wrote:Using an aluminum or 16 LB L88 type flywheel with a 10.5" clutch will decrease stress on the trans.
Street tires other than drag radials that fit in a Vega's small wheelwells will not get a whole lot of traction.
71-73 Vega's are light which also reduces the load on the trans.

The McLeod 5 speed was made to replace 4 speeds without major tunnel mods.

The shifter stick angle on the 71-72 Vega/ Opel transmissions is less than optimal, short straight shifter just in front of the e-brake handle is better.
The rear locations on the newer 5 speed internal rail shifters may require a new hole in the tunnel but give you better shifting than the forward location of the 71/72 manual trans shifter hole.

Are you running Hop-Stops or slapper bars ? poly bushings ?


I have some sub connectors welded to the frame but no slapper bars... I wonder if that would be overkill? I am still getting wheel hop if I really get on it.

I'm contemplating on going with a SS 700r4... Seems like the inexpensive way to go.
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Smiley » Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:20 am

Hop-Stops are a little better than slapper bars for wheel hop.
Adjustable upper rear control arms to set the pinion angle.
I found first gear too low on the 700R4.
A wide ratio Muncie or T10 with a 3.08 ring and pinion works well with a 350-383 small tire Vega.
You can get an M22 built in wide and extra wide ratio now.
There is also a Muncie gearset with a .85 overdrive.
If you are happy with your th400 you could just add an overdrive unit behind it.
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Re: Mac Toe's vega

Postby Mac Toe » Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:51 pm

Smiley wrote:Hop-Stops are a little better than slapper bars for wheel hop.
Adjustable upper rear control arms to set the pinion angle.
I found first gear too low on the 700R4.
A wide ratio Muncie or T10 with a 3.08 ring and pinion works well with a 350-383 small tire Vega.
You can get an M22 built in wide and extra wide ratio now.
There is also a Muncie gearset with a .85 overdrive.
If you are happy with your th400 you could just add an overdrive unit behind it.

Is there a particular part for the hop stops? Would the A body traction bars work? Not seeing any hbody bars on the market...
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