Project Phoenix - VR Grange tribute/replica

[someguy360]

Minor update, trans pan gasket lasted all of 3 months before cracking and dumping puddles everywhere (note to self, transgold gaskets are junk)

Took the pan off and found there was more glitter in the pan than a cheap stripper on tight ass tuesdays. As the trans still shifts and runs fine, I'm just going to keep running it until it lets go for now.

The plan is to buy another 4HBD (which is proving harder than I thought to find) and slowly piece together a rebuild kit and send it away for a proper build (Looking at a 2500RPM B&M stall converter too if anyone has any experiences with them).

Rather than taking the car off the road while I put money and parts aside for a rebuild I think I'll start piecing together a hot swap for now and build that up ready for when this one does die.

On the plus side it does explain half of my rattles when the trans is in gear at idle.

Gotta finish the post with a little engine porn:

 

[afstruct]

Dam= gearbox, great = engine bay

 

[gtrboyy]

Cheapie convertors are ok if you don't mind slippage...

Was tempted to go cheapie too for my ute untill saw prices.For that kind of money may as well get something decent with higher stall & lockup from one of the Melbourne mobs.Looking at 2800-3200 with lockup for my ute with baby cam,gears,exhaust etc

Accelerator convertors & think it was either TCI or TCE were recommended to me.

Had 4500rpm stally that was awsome behind f280 355,drove nice with little slip,cousin had cheapie 2500rpm convertor that was junk

 

[EYY]

2500rpm converter is a little small imo and not worth the expense - id go 2800-3500 or so, especially if you’re likely to want a larger cam in future. Got a 2800 for mine.

You don’t need the exact model number for the trans. Any VR/VS V8 trans is fine apart from vs s3 if you want to keep your existing trans lines.

Just a matter of adding a transgo shift kit which you’d do anyway and it’ll work perfectly without any issue of lockup (makes them all lock up immediately so eliminates pwm as it’s a known cause of weakness).

 

[someguy360]

Thanks for the advice gents, EYY, good to know, that opens up a lot more options, I always thought I was locked into the VR trans due to the different pinout.

Day 5 home with the flu so I had to go and tinker to stop me from going insane.

Tested out the new Mig by fitting a new twin 3" exhaust tip to replace the misaligned oval.

 

[Deuce]

Thanks for the advice gents, EYY, good to know, that opens up a lot more options, I always thought I was locked into the VR trans due to the different pinout.

Yeah, i would also think you need '94 trans for 12 pin plug.
Maybe EYY intends you to build a strong box in a matching case and swap over your elec valvebody and 12pin plug?
With pin 13 did they add another solenoid for lock up, or just progressively apply it with the extra pin out?

 

[losh1971]

With pin 13 did they add another solenoid for lock up, or just progressively apply it with the extra pin out?

Don't both the early 94 and late 94 on trans' have the same solenoids but used in a slightly different way somehow?

 

[Immortality]

The later trans with the extra pin for the PWM solenoid for a smooth converter lock up. The early had just a simple on/off apply which although noticeable to the vehicle occupants is actually much better for the trans long term.

 

[someguy360]

My factory bonnet insulator had fallen apart years ago so I removed it, however I found that the bonnet was getting very hot without it and I was worried about it hurting the paint over time.

New ones we're around $200 from rare spares but I'd been recommended by a few mates in the paint/body game that these universal ones from Car Builders were the better choice at around $90 as they were twice as thick and the foam/adhesive lasts a lot longer than the factory fabric, they also cut down a lot more noise.

Best $90 I ever spend, just need to trim it all up.

 

[Immortality]

That looks a lot better than the factory item.

I'm of two minds about mine as I'm about to cut a big hole in the bonnet....