z32 trans adapter plate

[tkmhkm]

Well now that the weather is warming back up I figured its time to get started on finishing this project up and over the winter I dfx'd the block and transmission and just ran my first plate over the weekend and bolted it up to both the block and transmission to check the runnout to make sure its within factory specs. The plate is 1/4" HRS to insure flatness and then laser cut to within tolerances. The transmission bolts on with 5 (3/8-24) grade 8 bolts and the plate uses 6 (M10-1.5MM-30mm) bolts with threaded inserts into the vh45de block.
Both the transmission and the blocks dowel pins are used to locate and hold the tolerance. I wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on this plate, and currently I’m working on making one that is using either 1/2" alum or 12mm thick cast alum plate with CB's to use the factory (m14-1.5mm fine thread bolt style) and machine the bell housing. And if any one is in question of the specs, I can tell you that I have been a mechanical engineer for 8 years now and I have ran all the stress tests I can run on the plate and the bolts and can not find a single issue where it could fail and will post the results and the math for anyone to check. Now for some pics.

[LEMHEAD16]

Pretty awesome that you have the talent and capabilities to do this. How are you planning on accounting for the added thickness of the plate? Flywheel spacer or bell housing machining?

Do one for a t56 or popular auto transmission like a C4 or powerglide. Mazworx and excessive already have one for the Z32 transmission.

[tkmhkm]

I orig. had purchased a t5 from a mustang and had made the adapter plate, the problem was the clutch. The t5 that I had was a 5 spline input shaft and getting a clutch plate-flywheel combo that would work was gonna to cost more then just the z32.

[txQ45]

All you need is a built auto now...

[elwesso]

The only thing I don't like about plates were the bolts thread into the plate is the plate has to be thick so you have to use a spacer and thus longer flywheel bolts, or you have to machine the bellhousing down.

Did you put in provisions for the lower transmission braces on the engine side of the plate?

[tkmhkm]

Well yes it would be nice to have a lot more material for the threads but when looking at the applied force and where the stress is on the bolts. Lets look at several adapters for a comparison. The Maz. adaptor works by using 6 bolts to the transmission and 5 bolts to the motor. The bolts in there plate are getting 1/2" of thickness so on a 3/8-24 bolt that is around 6 threads. A 3/8 bolt has a low side of 13,900 Lbs per in tensile strength that is pulling streight on the bolt. And with out boring you guys with math Il skipp that part and move on to the fact that the transmission & motor bolts see very little inline force (the tensile strength #) what it sees the most of the the rotational force from the motor torque to the input sahft of the transmission which translates into the body of both the motor and tanny. So what we have to look at is the shear shreangth of the bolts. (Again no boring math)..In all a 1/4 plate with 9 bolts is a similar strength to 1/2" plate with 6 bolts. Now to cover the machining of the bellhousing and the thickness. The thickness and spacer comes to play when you are wanthing to get the throw distance of the throwout bearing and cluth to within factory specs. If you use a 1/4" plate with no machining then in theory you will need to move the pivot fork 1/4" more to fully ingauge the pressure plate, the max. adapter solves this with the machining of the bellhousing and the usage of the stock flexplate spacer behind the flywheel. I have yet to check the throw distance of the fork on this palate and see if machining will be required. If I discover that machining is required then I will make the changes to make my plate 1/2" and similar to the max one the only difference is that my machine shop can spit out these plates at around 200 a pop. And trust me if the funds were there I would be doing this swap for a Vk and mating up a 6 speed and fabing the plate. maybe down the road or if someone starts the vk-6 speed or auto I'll work with that person to fab an adapter plate.

[klh6686]

A maz style adapter for $200 would make me a very happy man!

[elwesso]

I have my assorted for 275 with everything you need and no machining required

[klh6686]

Thanks but I would rather machine a bellhousing than run a spacer between a crank and flywheel.

[Carl H]

nothing wrong with a spacer...my jag had a 4" long spacer to push the torque converter out to reach the trans.

[IggyEGuana]

pics arent workin for me

im very interested in the idea of having an adaptor for a transmission other than z32. we need more options. Especially cheaper, easier to find, smaller, lighter, but still tough enough for the VH kind of options

[lowballs]

ever get this thing done and built?