I've been offered the above box with adapter plate to put into my Calais. What else do I need to do? Did a search but didn't come across much of great help. I'm guessing I'll need a different mount and will need to do something about the tailshaft. How will it go with standard torque converter and factory diff ratio (3.08)? Cheers.

VN V8 Front half of the shaft, VL V8 rear half. As for mount CRS makes one or i think the trimatic one may fit...not sure. The factory diff ratio on the VN-VT 5.0L autos is 3.08 nothing to worry there. But you will need to fit a kick down cable, (you must use a VN/VP 5L box, VR/VS is electronic) and put a VN Cluster OR..spend $900 and get the speedo digital to mecanical converter from CRS. All in all.. i suggest NOT to go with just a box conversion on a carb 304. Just save your pennies and drop in a complete VN driveline when your budget allows. Lubche's 2c

Thanks mate. The box is from a family friend, so not costing anything which makes it worth fitting. Pretty sure it's a VN box, have to track down a kickdown cable. The cluster is the only thing I need to sort out by the look of it, the rest is covered. I'll ask Alex about his VS cluster conversion, stuff paying that much for the CRS kit. Edit: Looks like I may have to scrap the idea already. Been doing some research and it appears the ECU is used to control the lockup clutch in the torque converter for overdrive. Bummer, guess I'll have to save up and do an EFI conversion Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I reckon there is a way you can do it without spending big bux on a speedo sender conversion or torque converter wiring, keep digging it sounds interesting.

The overdive thing has got me at the moment. Without an ECU it won't go into overdrive so may as well keep the trimatic.

I would ring a few electricians who have done conversions who can do custom wiring jobs.

you will need a ecu to run the tranny. in my opinon i would leave it with the trimatic, and put just gears in the diff if u wanted that extra take off power. not worth the $$$ to put a th700 in a carby motor as said eairlier better to convert it with the whole injected 5litre running gear. if u do put it in you will have to bash the tunnel a bit to fit it in otherwise it will touch, the standard converter is fine to run. and diff ratio is fine. and the tranny mount is different to the trimatic.

Thanks for the replies guys. Box cost me nothing so would have been worth it to fit if it wasn't for the overdrive issue. Oh well. May have a way yet, but will mean a switch in the car that I have to operate manually. Here's a pic of the box, rang holden to try to find out exactly where it's from, could only find one number stamped on it: 8663550. Holden guy said no match and part number should be about 8 digits long starting with a 9, couldn't find any such thing on the casing anywhere. I'm guessing the black cable is to do with kickdown as well. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

i cant really tell from the angle of that photo. but it looks like a V6 unit. if so...no dice.

HAs been confirmed it is a V6 box, so that ends that idea. Lucky I didn't pay for it, the guy can have it back. I'd rather a 5 speed conversion anyway, finding one is the thing.

i was considering a 5speed conversion, let me know how you go if your decide to do it.. im also gettin over my trimatic.. need more gears, i'v got 3.45 gears though 3200rpm at 100kph is annoying

Will be a while before I do it, if I do. All comes down to the $$$$.

Quote: Originally Posted by LUXJET i was considering a 5speed conversion, let me know how you go if your decide to do it.. im also gettin over my trimatic.. need more gears, i'v got 3.45 gears though 3200rpm at 100kph is annoying for the money your going to pay for a worn out old WEAK t5 to bolt up to your VL. A W58 Supra 5speed TURBO box is your best bet. I did the calculations for my car with the walky rims and 225/50-16 tyres. with 3.7 gears i can get 100kph with 2200rpm so with 3.45s just under 2000 is doable. W58's can be had cheap and CRS makes a direct bolt up kit. Worth looking into. Iv'e researched alot of avenues on transmissions. Manual valves, shift kitted autos, gear vendors, factory 5 speeds, even a t56...(4,500 for the kit with a box). And found the supra to be best bet for your dollar. I just want a bigger car than the VL thats why im selling mine. Otherwise a stroker with a 5speed sounds very tempting.

Yeah the supra box is what I have been thinking about. Also depepnds on the car's future with me as to what I spend. I'd love to get a VS Senator but no hope right now with the way my finances are, same with doing any big work on the VL. I'll just start saving where I can and see where things lead. Shame the auto isn't what we thought it was, it was free so would have been worth the effprt to fit.