Picked up another 3.42......THIS time I want to INSTALL it

[wascapsfan]

So I have purchased a couple of 3 rib 3.42 rears.
I ended up selling the other ones because someone blew a rear each time and was in need...or maybe I just was too lazy to get it installed before that happened each time.
This time I picked up a 52k 3 rib 3.42 and now I want to install it. It is from a 2003 but it is not the 3.42SP. I don't race so I don't think that it is that necessary to have the Shot Peened gears (The added expense is too much for me right now anyway). It came with a couple of pieces that I imagine are already on my 52k C5 but I would like to know what they are. It appears that one of them is a mount (3rd picture at the top looks like a wheel and 4th picture at the bottom looks like a mount).
I am trying to prepare this for the daunting task (the lowering of the transmission is scaring the poop out of me as I don't want to lower it too much and have the engine hit the firewall) of installing this beast. This is a jackstand job as I don't have a lift. The 3.42 came out of a manual and my car is an automatic so I need to remove the seal plate from my 2.73 and install it on the 3.42. Before it goes in, can I get some input on what I should do to it prior to installing it (i.e. seals, gaskets, fill material, etc...)

[wascapsfan]

I'm SO ALOOOOONE!!!!!!

[DarthAWM]

Originally Posted by wascapsfan

Why does that look like a stator to a jet pump?

[C5 Dude]

Looks to me to be the mount that sits in the rear sub frame and a torque brace but I'm not positive. I plan to do my clutch in a couple weeks and have been studying up myself.

Read these links and you will see alot of what you will find when you get into this. Don't let it all scare you as its all very doable for anybody who has the time and paitence.

http://www.smokinvette.com/corvette/...a-c5-corvette/

http://tech.corvettecentral.com/2011...-installation/

http://www.iammoon.com/c5clutch/c5_clutch.htm

If you read these and do some studying under the car before you start you should be fine.

Also, take note when they say that its a great time to replace the fluids when its all out. No pump needed then.

Hope this helps some.

[wascapsfan]

Originally Posted by C5 Dude

Looks to me to be the mount that sits in the rear sub frame and a torque brace but I'm not positive. I plan to do my clutch in a couple weeks and have been studying up myself.

Read these links and you will see alot of what you will find when you get into this. Don't let it all scare you as its all very doable for anybody who has the time and paitence.

http://www.smokinvette.com/corvette/...a-c5-corvette/

http://tech.corvettecentral.com/2011...-installation/

http://www.iammoon.com/c5clutch/c5_clutch.htm

If you read these and do some studying under the car before you start you should be fine.

Also, take note when they say that its a great time to replace the fluids when its all out. No pump needed then.

Hope this helps some.

Thanks Dude..... I have an Automatic and I've read conflicting stories of removing the A4 tranny at the same time vs. lowering the whole assembly just a little less than the maximum allowed (so I don't hit the firewall), and just removing the rear end. It seems like a fairly hard job on jackstands but may really be worth it.
I've also heard that it's the perfect time to change the torque converter and have been told that the one from a chevy astro van would be a good compromise since I really don't ever race, except when I pull up next to a young kid in his Mustang. This was Mike Mercury's finding. He seems to be a hell of a nice guy and EXTREMELY knowledgeable.
Could be interesting

[C5 Dude]

Originally Posted by wascapsfan

I've also heard that it's the perfect time to change the torque converter and have been told that the one from a chevy astro van would be a good compromise since I really don't ever race, except when I pull up next to a young kid in his Mustang. This was Mike Mercury's finding. He seems to be a hell of a nice guy and EXTREMELY knowledgeable.
Could be interesting

Sorry...thaught you were using a manual but should be close any way.

But as far as the converter, I know that with different gears you will want to change the stall range so that you can take full advantage of them. That said, dont ask me what range you will need, but if you do a little searching and questioning of the shops you will find the right one. Also as for using the van converter, thats something you will most definately want to confirm before you put it in as its not that simple a job to just pop it back out if it turns out to be a dog. Remember, your torque converter is the link between your crank and the trans, if it isn't doing right, you could have real problems with sluggish performance.

So be sure on that one.

Best of luck.