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This is it, the very beginning of the project. Here I am lifting the
body off the subframe on my 89 SHO parts car. I decided that this method
would be easier than pulling the drivetrain out the top. The removal
only took about 1 evening to complete. |
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A pic of the entire drivetrain still attached to the subframe and suspension. |
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A pic of the damage to the 15k mile 3.0l I bought for $500.(broken cam gear and upper timing cover.) I bought this engine after buying the parts car, I just couldn't turn this deal down! I fixed the damage for less than $100 so this was the deal of a lifetime. The wrecker said this engine would normally sell for $2500. |
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Here's the 2 SHO engines together. They're both 1989's so they're identical. |
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Here is a side by side of the Topaz's MTX3 and the SHO's MTX4.Notice the extra webbing the MTX4(right) has between the rear of the case and the output section. Even with this extra webbing the case can still crack. The MTX4 also has 2 extra bolt holes in the case for the SHO trans mount. Other than this the 2 are identical. My stock topaz's mounts bolted right up! |
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The first obsticle I encountered was that the SHO drivetrain was too long to fit between the frame rails of my Topaz. I took some cues from Lance R's SHO Probe to overcome this problem. This is the notch I cut in the drivers side frame to clear the trans. The trans sits flush with the inner fender so it shouldn't cause clearance problems with the tires. A 1/4" steel plate will be bolted/welded around the notch for strength. I will also be adding a brace from the inner lower control arm mount to the sway bar bracket to prevent frame flex. |
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This is the 1/4" plate I bolted around the notch for strength. Other
frame reinforcements will be done in this area. |
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This is a view from the drivers side wheel well with the tranny installed. The face of the tranny sits flush with the fender so there wont be any interferance with the tire. |