L.A. Roadster Show - pics and swap meet killing...

[jocko]

Good evening gents - wanted to share the L.A. Roadster show (i.e. the non-roadsters in the parking lot show) with you. The swap meet was killer. There was a 92 WC T5 with S10 tailshaft, mechanical speedo connection, backup pigtail, and shifter just screaming my name at the last booth I passed. I made it home with a bag of goodies (see 1st pic - the T5 I mentioned, hubcaps, a cherry mid-60's pontiac Vac Gauge that I've been looking for for some time for the left bay my dash across from the tach, even a 60-63 dash that I couldn't psss up for $15...). I also made it home with a heinous sunburn, and two ATM receipts and zero $, but that's ok - it was way fun and after 8 weeks on crutches, felt like I was just let out of jail. I simply could not pass up the absolutely perfect 66 hub caps - got all four for $35. I almost fell over.

Couple comments on the pics -
- The red flatbed was absolutely stunning. 4 month resto, no bolt left unturned. It was simply incredible and for sale.

- The lowered white longbed was cool - the gent claimed it was his work truck, but he also noted it had full vette suspension, vette motor, and a blower (which he showed me). Pretty cool.

- The blue/white short fleet was perfect (and I'm partial to those anyway...)
- The orange burb was spotless also
- I could go on, but I'll just shut up and let you all check out the pics.
- The faded green 72 was neat - owner claimed it was a "one of none"... A Blazer/Pickup - said he bought it new from the dealer that way - check out the detail pic of the upper rear cab - it had a normal inner bed, but Blazer-like body and it sure looked factory to me - but I've never seen anything like it. It was absolutely NOT just a Blazer with the top off of it.
Enjoy.
Jocko
(pls note, it'll take several posts to get em all in).

[jocko]

a few more.

[jocko]

and a few more.

[jocko]

and a and a few more (I have to change the text to post again! Learn something new every day...)

[jocko]

ok, just a few more.

[jocko]

some more.

[jocko]

ok, just a few more then I'll leave you alone!

[jocko]

And LAST but not least, the weird, cool, strange Blazer/Pickup thingy - "one of none"... Judge for yourself.

[Chevyman680063]

Very nice! Thanks for all the new wallpaper.

[oem4me]

Thanks for that look Jocko. I couldn't make it, and I've been wondering what I missed. I can see that I missed a deal on some hubcaps for sure. Wow! And that blazer truck Chevy unibody thing ..whhaat the.... Now that's interesting!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice score on those caps... That green blazer thing looks like the real deal..

[jocko]

yeah, the blazer/truck thingy seemed to have a small rotating crowd and a lot of head-scratchin going on. One of those things you look at and say - hmm. No way to fake the perfect faded patina and the lines were absolutely perfect, so it MUST be factory. Or maybe not. I'll never know.

[lolife99]

Thanks for posting.
I like the blazer/pickup!

[wc63]

cool show thanks for the picks. whats the big deal with that wc transmission?

[VA72C10]

thanks for the pics and great SCORE!

[jocko]

Originally Posted by wc63

cool show thanks for the picks. whats the big deal with that wc transmission?

to make a long story short - I've had a hard time finding one with that particular combo - so it's a big deal to me anyway - just right for the truck swap anyway. I've been trying to deal with Keisler for one of their RS400's and they've kinda just fallen off the planet. Received a comment from a very reputable socal builder at the show that has run into the same problem with them - lack of contact/replies, etc so they continue to build their rods with Tremecs (they were wanting to try the RS4/5/600's).

Anyhoo - I made a few calls a week or so ago to the guy in a recent Custom Classic Trucks magazine article about S10 tailshaft swaps onto a WC T5, and he was charging almost as much for a tailshaft as a whole trans. So, after going back and forth, was kinda in a quandry. Found the one today and it's what I've been looking for all along. I guess it's not that unusual, it's not, but it sure was hard for me to find for some reason.

Or - IF you're just asking what is the big deal about a "WC" (i may have misunderstood your question) - it's just a slightly stronger version of the T5 - mostly came in Camaros and Mustangs, etc. This guy claimed it was out of an S10 truck (i.e. not a tailshaft and housing swap onto a WC) but I haven't checked the numbers on it yet (and didn't have them handy at the time). Bottom line was I asked myself "Self, would you buy this even if it's not a WC" and I said yes, so I grabbed it. Guy lives near me and he's got a driveshaft for me also if I need it.

Anyone know if a '92 S10 T5 could have been a WC?? I read somewhere that all S10 T5s were Non-WC... But was just someone posting, don't know if it's a fact - I hope not!

Or - IF you're asking what's the big deal about that combo - the S10 tail means it clears our bench seats well, works with mech speedo like ours, and the pigtail will make it easy to hook to the backup lamp harness.

I will need to buy an Ay-Dapter plate - Hamilton makes a nice one - to compensate for the bell hole difference and input shaft length diff. I'm not a "washer between the trans and bell" kinda guy.
Met a lot of nice folks today and a member or two from this site!

If I had any money left - ok, a LOT of money left, I was reall close to making an offer on a '51 3100. Not a spot of rust and was really a nice truck. But, probably a good thing I didn't - I move around too much.

[wc63]

thanks for the info and sorry to highjack. i researched it right after i posted the question. if i understood correctly the wc's were in the camaros and mustangs and the nwc's were in the v6's and four cylinders, i may be wrong. but i also read it doesnt really matter unless your putting the under alot of stress. but more importantly is it a 5 speed manual? and is it a straight bolt up to original bell housing and clutch? that almost sounds too good to be true. these 3 gears and 4:11 are killing me

[jocko]

It is a 5 spd manual o/d trans. Only issues with direct bolt up are:
1. input shaft is longer in the T5 (about 9/16") (this is a correction from my earlier post - it's not 3/8")
2. Bell Housing Hole where the trans sticks in is bigger on our bells than the one that the T5 bolted to.
Edit - one more thing - you will need to drill out the 4 trans mounting holes to 1/2" - a slight mod.

Your clutch spline count will have to match the T5 you get - i.e. either 14 or 26 spline. S10s were 14 spline. I believe the astro van clutch is 11" and is an option.

Both of which can be solved with an adapter (the soundest way to do it) (here's a link to the Hamilton plate: http://hamiltonintakes.com/products/...5-swap-adapter) or by shaving the tip of the input shaft approx 3/8" to solve the i/p shaft issue and spacing the trans to bell mating surface with washers between the two (I am NOT a fan of this approach - to me, it lacks structural integrity - just because it hasn't "broken" yet for someone doesn't mean it won't). But who knows...

What you mention about only camaro/mustangs having the WC was kinda my understanding also - but like I said, it wasn't a showstopper for me even if the guy was wrong - I'd have paid what I paid and grabbed it anyway. For my 283, it's more than enough. Hopefully

3 on the tree and 4.11:1 is NOT a highway friendly combo.

One more issue - that is easy to solve - some T5s had a very deep 1st gear, as in 4.something:1 ratio. I've got a 3.73, and if I find it unbearable, I'll swap in a 3.08 or 3.34, etc with the money I saved by not buying a Tremec or Keisler box. The o/d ratio isn't quite as much o/d as I'd like (I forget the exact number, but it's not an o/d number like the .6X's in a Tremec). Again, a problem solved by the rear gears if I find it an issue. Either way - even if I just bolt it up, it's a huge improvement over what I've got and I didn't spend much money to do it. So, jocko happy.

[jocko]

this has probably been posted before - but since it came up - here's a great T5 ref site. http://www.inliners.org/ select tech tips and then T5 trans page

[wc63]

i assume in my case i would also need to switch to the high hump in order for everything to clear? nice option either way. thanks again for the info.

[LT1 Burb]

35 for those caps, damn, call the cops, you stole em!!!!

[LT1 Burb]

ps, wouldn't the 72 have black plates if it was original.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

35 for those caps, damn, call the cops, you stole em!!!!

Yep. Kind of a funny story - he had them on a stack of tires and wheels and a price tag of $230. It was obvious they were new and never installed - so since the new ones at the usual truck vendors run in the mid-$200's, I just assumed he'd marked them down $20-30 or so. I asked him if that was his final price and he said no. We got to talking and turns out he actually wanted $230 for the 4 caps, all 4 wheels (original 60's steelies) and 4 tires! Well, not needing the wheels and tires, I asked him if he'd separate and sell the caps only. He said sure! $35... Like a COMPLETE MORON, I said "apiece??" Then he said, "NO, for all of them". I could tell that he could tell we both just said something stupid.... He realized he could've gotten a lot more for them and I almost ruined my bargain by saying "apiece?"

He was a great guy and I gladly forked over the $35....

[jocko]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

ps, wouldn't the 72 have black plates if it was original.

Only if he originally bought it in CA. Good point, but it's possible he lived somewhere other than CA in '72. Or he could have been completely full of crap!

[jocko]

Originally Posted by wc63

i assume in my case i would also need to switch to the high hump in order for everything to clear? nice option either way. thanks again for the info.

i've asked that question also and been told no, not necessary to go hi hump. But I guess I'll find out soon... (i sure hope not )