Got an organ donor wrecked '85 GT

66 BLAKE 96 · Oct 11, 2004

It smacked a tree pretty hard on the passenger front corner, but the only damage to the engine (That has 2,000 miles on it!) was that the battery was shoved into the smog pump and broke the bracket that holds it and the alternator. It's got a good working T-5 and a new Edelbrock carb and RPM intake manifold. Even better, the 85 fits into the window of 5.0 carb'd cars with a mechanical fuel pump so I don't have to go with an electric one.
Now all I need is:

• New brass dist gear to adapt my old dizzy to the roller cam
• I want to keep the latemodel water pump. It should be reverse rotation, so I wonder if I need to change the radiator?
• to figure out how to deal with the dipstick/oil pan situation
• headers
• T-5 conversion crossmember
• Clutch cable conversion
• New drive shaft with the correct dimensions
• Probably rig the floor-mount E-brake handle

Am I missing anything?

Ronstang · Oct 11, 2004

Blake,

Get the FRPP gear I gave you the part number for. It is not brass but steel. You do not want a brass gear on the street as they only last for 500-1000 miles from my experience.

Your radiator is fine if the outlets allow you to hook up hoses. If not and the radiator is fairly new a good radiator shop can relocate the outlets for you but if the radiator is old then a new one would be the best bet.

You plug the hole in the side of the block with anything you can find. I make tapered plugs on the lathe and drive them in with a drift but people use wood ones with good results too. You simply have to drill a hole for the dipstick in the timing cover you have as the boss is present on an 85 model.

1320stang · Oct 11, 2004

1. Are the '85 motors roller? I thought they started in '87, but what do I know, school me.

2. I'd get a new aluminum radiator with the outlets in the right locations. I know some guys that are not far from you that get excellent deals on aluminum radiators, They're in Frisco, Texas Thunder Performance. I'd be interested in your old radiator as my lower neck on mine fell off.

3. I thought there was a boss on the timing cover that you could drill out to put a early dipstick into.

4. Shorties? Why wouldn't the headers you have work?f

5. Darkhorse, or fab your own.

6. You got me.

7. I wasn't aware that your driveshart wouldn't work, might have to use the yoke off the '85.

8. E-brake, I'll be doing this one. I drilled the spot welds that the handle uses and I plan on welding it into my tranny tunnel.

I can't think of anything else, but in the last 4 days I've put in 48 hours, so I'm a little foggy.

Ronstang · Oct 11, 2004

1985 was the first year for the roller engine and the last year for the carbed engine also.
It also has some nice valve covers.

66 BLAKE 96 · Oct 11, 2004

Ronstang said:
Blake,

Get the FRPP gear I gave you the part number for. It is not brass but steel. You do not want a brass gear on the street as they only last for 500-1000 miles from my experience.

Your radiator is fine if the outlets allow you to hook up hoses. If not and the radiator is fairly new a good radiator shop can relocate the outlets for you but if the radiator is old then a new one would be the best bet.

You plug the hole in the side of the block with anything you can find. I make tapered plugs on the lathe and drive them in with a drift but people use wood ones with good results too. You simply have to drill a hole for the dipstick in the timing cover you have as the boss is present on an 85 model.

Ah, very nice. I didn't realize that the part # you gave me was for the steel gear. Thanks!

Radiator is only a year or two old, so it's worth having it changed.

Glad to know that the '85 timing cover is as flexible for this change as the EFI foxes.

Thanks again!

66 BLAKE 96 · Oct 11, 2004

1320stang said:
1. Are the '85 motors roller? I thought they started in '87, but what do I know, school me.

2. I'd get a new aluminum radiator with the outlets in the right locations. I know some guys that are not far from you that get excellent deals on aluminum radiators, They're in Frisco, Texas Thunder Performance. I'd be interested in your old radiator as my lower neck on mine fell off.

3. I thought there was a boss on the timing cover that you could drill out to put a early dipstick into.

4. Shorties? Why wouldn't the headers you have work?f

5. Darkhorse, or fab your own.

6. You got me.

7. I wasn't aware that your driveshart wouldn't work, might have to use the yoke off the '85.

8. E-brake, I'll be doing this one. I drilled the spot welds that the handle uses and I plan on welding it into my tranny tunnel.

I can't think of anything else, but in the last 4 days I've put in 48 hours, so I'm a little foggy.

1. Yup as Ron said, first year for the roller.

2. Appreciate the info on the Radiator, but mine's almost new, so I'll just have a local shop swap the outlet to the other side.

3. Sounds like that boss is there. Score another one for "easy solutions for the good guys".

4. Both engines are currently being strangled by stock manifolds. I think I'll pick up some cheapie flowtech headers (and pray I don't have clutch cable clearance issues).

5. Yeah, I just need to see what kind of deal I can get for myself.

7. Sounds like the one in the car now just might work (might have to shorten it a bit)

8. This'll probably be the biggest bit of fabrication right there. I might have to reinforce the tunnel as I don't think the metal is very thick in that area.

SandSprite · Oct 11, 2004

Why aren't you going to run the 85 distributor? It is supposed to have a good advance curve from the factory and is already set up for that cam. Just wire in a duraspark box, HEI module, or MSD box and you're good to go. If you already have a nice aftermarket dizzy, then I understand. If you want to sell the 85 dizzy (and you're 100% sure its got a steel gear), let me know.

66 BLAKE 96 · Oct 12, 2004

SandSprite said:
Why aren't you going to run the 85 distributor? It is supposed to have a good advance curve from the factory and is already set up for that cam. Just wire in a duraspark box, HEI module, or MSD box and you're good to go. If you already have a nice aftermarket dizzy, then I understand. If you want to sell the 85 dizzy (and you're 100% sure its got a steel gear), let me know.

2 reasons:

1. I would have to wire in a duraspark box, HEI module, or MSD box.

2. Already sold it.

Got an organ donor wrecked '85 GT

66 BLAKE 96

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Ronstang

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1320stang

Ronstang

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66 BLAKE 96

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66 BLAKE 96

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SandSprite

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66 BLAKE 96

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