21 replies to this topic

[76lxhatch]

Yes they are a TH180 or a 3L30, much cheaper to buy rebuild kits etc from overseas.

Watch out though because yanks had lots of different versions, some with lock up converters, and the Aussie ones (esp V8) mostly had more clutches and pistons to suit.

[76lxhatch]

Umm, it can be done but I can't remember whether the input shaft setup is different for the V8 converter or not, same length so I'm thinking it must be the same. Aside from that the V8 one will have more clutches and different shift control springs but that won't be a major issue.

If you wanted to stick with 6 cylinder specs you can build one good trans out of the two, just remove a couple of clutches from the V8 one and put the piston and input shaft from the six cylinder version in it (plus the shift control springs in the valve body).

[76lxhatch]

^^^ Huh? All Trimatics/TH180s/3L30s are the same basic trans

Didn't realise that the Trimatic was available behind the Nissan motor but I guess that would make sense if the Jap box is not up to the turbo (or maybe it has been changed). Should change over nonetheless

[FastEHHolden]

the auto behind the RB30 was a jatco 4 speed.

[claysummers]

Old thread I know but hey.

Picked up a six cylinder trimatic today for $30 and wondering what it might be out of. The ID plate has the painted letters polished off but it has a calibration and maybe a serial number stamped on it. It has a black plastic converter cover, electric kickdown and passenger side shift shaft. I just got it to dummy up in my EK van along with a 149 bare block for $10 as they were ridiculously cheap.

I notice there is provision in the case for driver side shift which is what suits the setup I am using, EK hydramatic column shift and wondering if the brains trust can advise if it is straightforward to change sides for the shifter shaft.

I do have a HQ trimatic service manual as well as Google but as I am very lazy I thought I would ask here first.
Cheers
Clay

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[yel327]

Left shift Trimatic can come from console shift HT or HG but these aren’t electric kick down so it must be from a UC, VB-VK or some WB. The Trimatic base (TH180) was a left shift box and was modified for RH shift by GMH using an internal crossover setup. So to modify it you’ll need another box for the mechanism and also an auto trans shop to do it for you. Best bet is to find another RH shift box, any column shift HT to WB or any HQ-HZ or LH-LX plus even some UC and rebuild it using good bits from both. They aren’t hard to find, as a 6cyl box are still basically scrap alloy. Even look in Coronas with Starfire or in Gemini and see what side the selector is on.

[yel327]

Here is a good one from a HQ in Sydney, $80:

https://www.gumtree....nder/1255969372

Another in QLD with some 186 shaped scrap metal with it for $120:

https://www.gumtree....ator/1255686338

Another in QLD for $100:

https://www.gumtree....rbox/1255215721

[claysummers]

Thanks Byron. I already have a few of these trans. Meant to say it has the early bell housing with bottom cut off. VC VK have the later full bell housing so are ruled out.

I thought the plastic converter cover, assuming original, might be a giveaway and I am speculating WB or VB.

I have the shifter set up already using a modified EK Hydramatic column shift with powerglide quadrant indicator lens and HZ shift gate. Not a collapsible column but acceptable for 202 in SA at least.

It will do as a dummy for the van build and may be of use for parts to rebuild one of the others.

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[yel327]

Not all the later ones have a full bellhousing. I used one from a VK 3.3 EFI in my WB 1-tonner in the early 90's, it was a low kM car that had an under-dash fire. It was a half type bellhousing and was the original box for the car. I have seen a mix of both in Commodore, mainly 4cyl and 2.85 that have had the full bellhousing. I also bought a VK EFI engine around 1992 to put in my LX, and it had the half type bellhousing as well before I separated it (used a manual box).

[claysummers]

Thanks Byron. Learnt something.

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[UCSLE]

the vk trimatic i had was a half type bellhousing with a hole in the top of the bellhousing for the est pickup .

 

if i remember right the case will need drilling for the crossover shaft to convert 

[claysummers]

Cheers troy you've nailed it wondered what the funny hole was. Should be good calibration for a warm blue motor.

I had an injected VK berlina. Maybe because they are stronger, it had the full bell housing. Was a good thing in a way. The bells and whistles were crap and radiator and exhaust leaky. The stereo died. The timing gear went between port Augusta and iron knob. But it got us up and down the oodnadatta track and merienie loop road to Uluru and hermansburg and back. I used to sit and give it throttle on the brake and smoke the rears a bit and it never complained once the bugs were fixed.

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[claysummers]

Probably wouldn't bother if I have to convert sides as I have two others

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[yel327]

The engine it was fitted to in a VK is basically identical to a blue motor, just has the EST rather than a normal HEI dizzy. Only the VK carby engine had EST, the EFI engine had a normal blue type dizzy. The EFI Trimatics I've had were the normal bellhousing with traditional cover however the VK service manual supplement reckons the EST has the open converter bellhousing and the EFI has the closed one. The calibration is different for the EFI engine. I think it had a different converter too. The VK service manual supplement lists all teh differences between them.

 

LP is the carby VK Trimatic. LR is the EFI engine.