Initial inspection of A500

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This is how I decided to make room under the car and insure the car’s weight is in suspension without a lift. I took reference dimensions before and after. I put painters tape and drew a target on the tape. I placed the tape on the fenders behind the front wheels and on the quarters in front of the rear wheels. The car is now on the rear 6 ton wide base car stands and the front are on wood boxes. The doors don’t bind and the Hong pin sag is no different than before.....so I’m moving forward.

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No worse that it was before.

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Hotchkis Subframe connectors are in. Here are pictures of what comes in the box and how it looks during a trial fitting. I like how they fully boxed the ends of the tubes. After grinding the areas to weld and 2 coats of weldable primer for the overlapped metal I will be ready for some close quarters mig welding.

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There is 1 inch left to right adjustment before welding
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Factory Hotchkis welds
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I have complete the install of the hotchkis subframe connectors. MIG welding on old sheet metal in awkward close quarters was difficult. MIG welding is OK but if you can TIG or hire it done I feel it would be better. As a side note....I had a kid on fire watch watching or smelling for anything hot in the car while I welded. No issues and I didn’t need to pull the interior. Down the road I will tie the seat mounts to the subframe connectors to make the stiffer and safer.
 
I rebuilt the motor and I’m working on getting it started over the 4th of July holiday. I’m in the process of running a new 3/8” fuel line for the return style regulator. My new carb finally shipped from Eddelbrock. After the fuel lines I neee to install the Air/fuel ratio wide band O2 sensor. I think I have 2-3 for days of work left on engine prep.

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I am having issues with the transmission rebuild kit for the A500 from transgo. The instructions said to drill the body and install the plug to allow the accumulator to drain back into the pan. When I drilled the accumulator body where indicated with the supplied drill bit it did not intersect the internal passage to facilitate the drain. I called transgo tech support and they have asked me to take the A500 back apart and using compressed air to see if my version is internal vented to other places or if the piston pops out and I have a defective accumulator. This was a set back that I was not anticipating. I need to disassemble the tranny to find out.

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Once I get past these small setbacks I am looking forward to test fitting both the A500 and A518 and measuring the drive line angles to quantify the popular held believe that the A518 requires tunnel modifications to fit. My initial guess is there will be more up and down adjustment to shim the final driveline angle because of the narrower housing on the A500. Time will tell.
 
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MObarracuda said:
I rebuilt the motor and I’m working on getting it stated over the 4th of July holiday. I’m in the process of running a new 3/8” fuel line for the return style regulator. My new carb finally shipped from Eddelbrock. After the fuel lines I neee to install the Air/fuel ration wide band O2 sensor. I think I have 2-3 for days of work left on engine prep.

View attachment 1715357760

I am having issues with the transmission rebuild kit for the A500 from transgo. The instructions said to drill the body and install the plug to allow the accumulator to drain back into the pan. When I drilled the accumulator body where indicated with the supplied drill bit it did not intersect the internal passage to facilitate the drain. I called transgo tech support and they have asked me to take the A500 back apart and using compressed air to see if my version is internal vented to other places or if the piston pops out and I have a defective accumulator. This was a set back that I was not anticipating. I need to disassemble the tranny to find out.

View attachment 1715357751

Once I get past these small setbacks I am looking forward to test fitting both the A500 and A518 and measuring the drive line angles to quantify the popular held believe that the A518 requires tunnel modifications to fit. My initial guess is there will be more up and down adjustment to shim the final driveline angle because of the narrower housing on the A500. Time will tell.
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Awesome work! Stinks to hear about the shift kit setback, bit better now than after it's in the car. Looking forward to the install.
 
Jadaharabi said:
340 stroker
I would do a shift kit,
a billet low/reverse piston with hd retainer,
hd strut link,
adjust both bands,
new filter,
reusable pan gasket,
front rear and shifter shaft seal,
jmho.
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I'm about to do this stuff too . And probably replace the clutches and steels in the front drums. Just wondering where's the best place to buy stuff like the red eagle clutches, and billet pistons?
 
Everybody wants to sell four thick direct replacement fibers for the direct clutch but I always get the .061 forwards (smooth not grooved) so I can fit one more in there; since the red eagles can take a lot more heat. Grooved plates have 20% less surface. Five smooths in place of four grooved is like putting six in place of four.
 
CudaFactHackJob said:
Everybody wants to sell four thick direct replacement fibers for the direct clutch but I always get the .061 forwards (smooth not grooved) so I can fit one more in there; since the red eagles can take a lot more heat. Grooved plates have 20% less surface. Five smooths in place of four grooved is like putting six in place of four.
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I was just about to order some Alto red eagles for my A500. But I want to make sure I understand your post.
You're using the .061 forward clutches in the direct drum in order to fit five in there?
I was about to order from transmission parts USA, they show the Alto direct clutches as being .086, and it says 5 required. So I'm a bit confused. Do I need to get the .061's in order to fit 5 in the direct drum? And do I need to get an extra steel too?
 
You can put six in that one if it came with five; using the .061 red eagles. The oems are thicker and grooved because they can't take the heat. Yes another steel. They sell five thick ones for non-thinkers.
 
CudaFactHackJob said:
You can put six in that one if it came with five; using the .061 red eagles. The oems are thicker and grooved because they can't take the heat. Yes another steel. They sell five thick ones for non-thinkers.
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Just ran out to the garage and checked, looks like 4 and 4 in the direct and forward drums now. Thanks for the info. I'll just order all .061's for both drums, and an extra steel.
 
CudaFactHackJob said:
Nine. SMOOTH. No grooves.
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Just got the red eagles and kolene steels installed in both drums.
Got 5 smooth and 5 steels into the direct drum. Clearance measured under the high part of the wavy snap ring I got .075

On the forward drum, with the new frictions and steels, I measured .036 under the flat snap ring.

Do those numbers sound acceptable? I believe they are both within spec, But, I got the specs off a youtube video....lol
 
CudaFactHackJob said:
Exactly. Published information can't be relied upon. I post what I know from my own experiences. Case in point, your parts catalog only shows the 1.6 band from 88-04 A500, but right above that is a post showing the 1.4 up thru 91. I don't rely on either one.
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So my question would be, is it ok to install the wider band regardless of what it came with?
My tranny is from an '89 Dakota, I just measured the band (with a tape measure, cause thats what I have), and it's 1-3/8" which I guess would be what you guys are calling 1.4"
Ok, to replace it with the 1.6"?
 
MObarracuda said:
Nope....had a set back and have pushed the project out to fall winter status.
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I get it. We'll I'm routing for you. Looking forward to seeing how it all fits together. Mines going into the paint booth Friday, done by Sunday. So I'll be busy reassembling here soon.
 
plumkrazee70 said:
I get it. We'll I'm routing for you. Looking forward to seeing how it all fits together. Mines going into the paint booth Friday, done by Sunday. So I'll be busy reassembling here soon.
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That has to be exciting. I had some timing issues to sort out. Way too much advance. I purchased FBO’s advance limiting plate and springs and they have worked out Nicely.

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might have to put some changes on hold for a while. My last compny eliminated my position. Hoping to find something soon.
 
MObarracuda said:
That has to be exciting. I had some timing issues to sort out. Way too much advance. I purchased FBO’s advance limiting plate and springs and they have worked out Nicely.

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might have to put some changes on hold for a while. My last compny eliminated my position. Hoping to find something soon.
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Yes, I'm gonna excited and nervous. I'm painting it myself, spent the last few years on body work.

Sorry to hear about your position. Hopefully you find something new soon.
 
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