Until I have the new project car in hand I'll keep the wraps on it but I've started gathering parts and pieces. I went browsing our local Pick n Pull and found a Colorado PU with a 5 speed - fairly rare as they were only fitted to 4 cylinder (Atlas series in my price range) 2WD base model trucks. So I did a "what the heck" piece of decision-making and went back with tools and implements of destruction and grabbed it. The few with manuals were equipped with the Aisin AR5 which is basically the same unit found in the Solstice and Sky. I knew this was meant to be when I found a Solstice bellhousing on Ebay for a semi-reasonable price - it arrived today. For those not in the know, the Solstice bell allows bolting up an Ecotec to the AR5 in a rear wheel drive configuration, so an easy 175 HP with potential for a turbo. So pics........
From the front. Installed is the Atlas bellhousing, in front is the Solstice unit. Note that they're significantly different including the starter mount - the Atlas starter bolts to the block while the Ecotec bolts to the bellhousing. I learned this AFTER fighting to get the starter off at PnP only to find out that it can just hang there. Oh well, next time......
And from the side. It clicks thru all the gears easily but of course it would have been nice to know why the truck was junked - the body looks decent. Wondering if I should chop out the trans tunnel.
I have some scrubbing up to do but this feels like I'm getting started.
From the front. Installed is the Atlas bellhousing, in front is the Solstice unit. Note that they're significantly different including the starter mount - the Atlas starter bolts to the block while the Ecotec bolts to the bellhousing. I learned this AFTER fighting to get the starter off at PnP only to find out that it can just hang there. Oh well, next time......
And from the side. It clicks thru all the gears easily but of course it would have been nice to know why the truck was junked - the body looks decent. Wondering if I should chop out the trans tunnel.
I have some scrubbing up to do but this feels like I'm getting started.
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