Driving on the street to street truck

[70barracuda]

getting closer. It's actually scary how similar the transmissions are. The TKX weighs 95lbs dry. Measured for the the throw out bearing and got it all mocked up. Probably gonna recheck everything as this was a $400 throw out bearing and I ain't messing around. Following instructions to the letter. 

[Pete M]

that is a very important sticker!  

[89 MJ]

Don’t forget—there is no oil in the transmission. 
 

Why did you decided to pull the AX-15 for the Tremec? Smoother shifts? Better gearing?

[70barracuda]

17 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

Don’t forget—there is no oil in the transmission. 
 

Why did you decided to pull the AX-15 for the Tremec? Smoother shifts? Better gearing?

Ultimately I want to make more power and really romp on it. The ax15 is limited at 300 and that's being generous. The new TKX is rated at 600ftlbs so plenty for what I plan to make. And yeah both of those 2 things as well. Tkx can shift up to 7500rpm and also has a lower overdrive

[70barracuda]

Progress has been pretty slow. I tried to gather everything I needed before hand but as it usually goes I'm waiting on parts. So I got the trans in and mounted. Took about 4 hours. The plastic clutch line up tool had alot of slop and I think they attributed to the hard install. I redid the clutch twice. Eventually got it in and spent an entire day making the new trans mount to ultimately decide I don't trust my welding and purchase a $350 adjustable crossmember and $100 mount. So that should be here hopefully this week. 

 

In the meantime I tried to get the hydraulics bled and clutch working. Well I hooked it up to the factory master which should have been good but alas would not disengage the clutch. So I purchased a new wildwood master and spent a couple hours getting that installed. Ended up taking the clutch pedal connector off with heat and threading it onto the master as the factory pushrod wouldn't work. Then had to drive all over town for a stupid little adapter from 7/16 to 3/8. And finally after all that and getting it bled the clutch still wouldn't disengage. While I was under looking in the bell housing making sure the hydraulic throw out bearing was working, I had my grandpa push the clutch pedal and felt a couple drops on my neck. Bleeder leaking. Called up tilton and apparently they had a bad run of the remote bleeder adapter and screw and its a known issue they leak. Wonderful. So now they are sending me a new one. I am pretty defeated with this damn trans. The whole engine swap was not this hard lol. 

 

(Yes my welding sucks)

[70barracuda]

I feel much better about this crossmember over my hack job of one. Only thing left is to get a block spacer instead of those puck style ones. They'd probably be okay but I'd feel better with a solid block 

[Pete M]

that crossmember is art! 

[scaleless]

[70barracuda]

Well she's running and driving! I've never been so nervous to drive it before lol Ive tripled checked everything but still that feeling I forgot something is there. Oh well. Time to break it all in for 500 miles. 

 

Original Speedo line fit right in with an adapter and was the perfect length as well. I also flipped the trans crossmember so I was able to get rid of all the spacers on the actual mount. Engine and trans sit around 3 degrees tilt back so that's good. Driveline seems like it should be fine after all angles were measured. And I finally got my reverse lights working. Also had to get a larger boot for the offset shifter adapter. Pedal feel and shifting is WAY different than before so I have the feeling ill be learning this truck all over again. 

[jdog]

4 hours ago, 70barracuda said:

Well she's running and driving! I've never been so nervous to drive it before lol Ive tripled checked everything but still that feeling I forgot something is there. Oh well. Time to break it all in for 500 miles. 

 

Original Speedo line fit right in with an adapter and was the perfect length as well. I also flipped the trans crossmember so I was able to get rid of all the spacers on the actual mount. Engine and trans sit around 3 degrees tilt back so that's good. Driveline seems like it should be fine after all angles were measured. And I finally got my reverse lights working. Also had to get a larger boot for the offset shifter adapter. Pedal feel and shifting is WAY different than before so I have the feeling ill be learning this truck all over again. 

Did you put oil in it?

[70barracuda]

1 hour ago, jdog said:

Did you put oil in it?

Lol yes I did. Checked that 3 times as well

[jdog]

6 minutes ago, 70barracuda said:

Lol yes I did. Checked that 3 times as well

Well that's good, hoping you seen your notes

[70barracuda]

Well I took it out for the real maiden voyage. Highway and all.  Shifts like butter all the way to fifth. Maybe some slight notchiness but they said that'll go away after break in. Either way its miles better than the ax15. Clutch feels great and pedal isnt super heavy. I actually stalled it twice today because of how vastly different it is lol. Rpms at 65 are 1800, so that means I can definitely run 3.90 rear gears...

 

[70barracuda]

Falling back in love with this truck with the new trans. Shifts so good. Got a slightly longer shifter stick so I don't have to lean into 3rd now and a new tremec ball because why not

[70barracuda]

Finally upgraded the rear end to discs. Did the typical ZJ upgrade. Also got new 1541H axles and did the bearings while I was at it. Passenger side fought me for over an hour. Driver popped right out. My new gears and limited slip should be here soon, so that's next. 

[Limeyjeeper]

Nice setup!!

[70barracuda]

So I know this tech is really old and caltracs are a much better set up, but these were $50 on summit so I figured why the hell not. And boy do they help. So much less bounce on take offs and even between shifts. Feels more planted. Now for some much bigger tires in the back end. So much for sleeper...

[Empty_Pockets]

I love this, always wanted to d a 2 wheel drive Comanche with an ls swap.

[neohic]

4 hours ago, 70barracuda said:

So much for sleeper...

YELLOW!!! 

[70barracuda]

3 hours ago, neohic said:

YELLOW!!! 

Lol yeahhhh I kinda like it

[70barracuda]

Yeah that's fits the wheel well a tad better...

[89 MJ]

Beefy! I dig it. 

[19comanche86]

So awesome. I love this thread bro. New tires look sick


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JMO413]

That looks GOOD! I like the beef.

[70barracuda]

Only a week and a half until Roadkill Nights in Detroit....no big deal...