DiMora
More Is Better
Brown Santa Claus is on his way...
Long story...where to start?
You guys know I like to do all my own work.
With that said, I have (two times in the past) paid someone to to do work on my car simply because I did not have the time (due to work) or did now want to lie on my back and have my neck hurt all week (I'm in my early forties now)...
So the first time I had work done, it was suspension work. I did not want to mess with springs, and I wanted my front control-arm re-location kit and rear lower control arm relocation brackets (drop brackets) welded in (and did not yet own a welder). So...I paid to have it done "professionally". Well - they got everything in, but the suspension settings were all screwed up, the panhard bar was installed backwards, nothing was torqued to spec - in short, they did a hack job - and I got my car back with 17 additional miles on it (all the mechanics at the shop "test" drove it when it was done).
The second time was when I had my (current) McLeod RST installed. I simply did not have the time nor motivation to lie on my back with the transmission dangling over my head.
So...I had another local (different) speed-shop do it for me. I know the mechanic and respect him a lot. He *probably* did a good job, but I have had lots of trouble with the clutch. McLeod blames the installer, I blame using as RST with a stock flywheel (overlap / mismatch between OEM flywheel and inner clutch disc can cause binding).
Where the issue is with the guy I like is this: the estimate was $600. When they finished, they charged me $900 due to difficulty getting the tranny in and out with the Steeda front control arm relocation kit installed.
Anyway, I have Skwerls T56 MagnumXL ready to install. So...I called the shop I like to get some estimates yesterday, because - again - I'm not feeling motivated to lie on my back. Figuring I'd be pro-active and save some labor money in exchange for some cool new parts, I figured I would "invest" in a new BMR K-member, which will eliminate that front control arm re-location kit clearance issue (and save me ~$300 in labor at the same time) as well as lighten the front of my car. Double winner.
Of course I called Kelly Aiken at BMR yesterday and we spoke at length about whether to go with stock engine mount height or 1/2" lower (I went 1/2" lower per his recommendation) and added their "Z" brace as well as radiator support (swaybar compatible - I like handling!). I had to split the order between American Muscle and BMR (AM was out of rad supports). By the way, the rad support is an all-new design thanks to Gerald (AutoXRacer) breaking his, LOL.
Then I got the estimate from my local speedshop and the mechanic I like: $2,481.04 if I have them install the K-Member
$1931.08 if I did not put in a new K-member and let them fight with the Steeda front control arm LCA kit.
Uhhhhhhhhh...
I don't know what planet those guys are on if they think it takes a gazillion hours and over two grand worth of labor to remove and re-install a clutch and bolt-in a K-Member. The tranny swap itself should be no additional labor since it comes out anyway. They don't even have a remote shifter to mess with on the new T56.
Anyway, that means that I will be doing the install myself.
The good news is that my next-door neighbor works at a body shop and he is going to try to get me a rack to use next weekend to do the install.
If I was going to drop $2481 I would buy a lift for my own garage! They are on Craigslist all the time in the $2500-$3000 range.
So...stand-by for more boxes from Brown Santa Claus and I'll keep you updated with a full install thread.
Long story...where to start?
You guys know I like to do all my own work.
With that said, I have (two times in the past) paid someone to to do work on my car simply because I did not have the time (due to work) or did now want to lie on my back and have my neck hurt all week (I'm in my early forties now)...
So the first time I had work done, it was suspension work. I did not want to mess with springs, and I wanted my front control-arm re-location kit and rear lower control arm relocation brackets (drop brackets) welded in (and did not yet own a welder). So...I paid to have it done "professionally". Well - they got everything in, but the suspension settings were all screwed up, the panhard bar was installed backwards, nothing was torqued to spec - in short, they did a hack job - and I got my car back with 17 additional miles on it (all the mechanics at the shop "test" drove it when it was done).
The second time was when I had my (current) McLeod RST installed. I simply did not have the time nor motivation to lie on my back with the transmission dangling over my head.
So...I had another local (different) speed-shop do it for me. I know the mechanic and respect him a lot. He *probably* did a good job, but I have had lots of trouble with the clutch. McLeod blames the installer, I blame using as RST with a stock flywheel (overlap / mismatch between OEM flywheel and inner clutch disc can cause binding).
Where the issue is with the guy I like is this: the estimate was $600. When they finished, they charged me $900 due to difficulty getting the tranny in and out with the Steeda front control arm relocation kit installed.
Anyway, I have Skwerls T56 MagnumXL ready to install. So...I called the shop I like to get some estimates yesterday, because - again - I'm not feeling motivated to lie on my back. Figuring I'd be pro-active and save some labor money in exchange for some cool new parts, I figured I would "invest" in a new BMR K-member, which will eliminate that front control arm re-location kit clearance issue (and save me ~$300 in labor at the same time) as well as lighten the front of my car. Double winner.
Of course I called Kelly Aiken at BMR yesterday and we spoke at length about whether to go with stock engine mount height or 1/2" lower (I went 1/2" lower per his recommendation) and added their "Z" brace as well as radiator support (swaybar compatible - I like handling!). I had to split the order between American Muscle and BMR (AM was out of rad supports). By the way, the rad support is an all-new design thanks to Gerald (AutoXRacer) breaking his, LOL.
Then I got the estimate from my local speedshop and the mechanic I like: $2,481.04 if I have them install the K-Member
$1931.08 if I did not put in a new K-member and let them fight with the Steeda front control arm LCA kit.
Uhhhhhhhhh...
I don't know what planet those guys are on if they think it takes a gazillion hours and over two grand worth of labor to remove and re-install a clutch and bolt-in a K-Member. The tranny swap itself should be no additional labor since it comes out anyway. They don't even have a remote shifter to mess with on the new T56.
Anyway, that means that I will be doing the install myself.
The good news is that my next-door neighbor works at a body shop and he is going to try to get me a rack to use next weekend to do the install.
If I was going to drop $2481 I would buy a lift for my own garage! They are on Craigslist all the time in the $2500-$3000 range.
So...stand-by for more boxes from Brown Santa Claus and I'll keep you updated with a full install thread.
