ZF, Something just doesn't add up

[limey]

Ok, most of us by now know that the LT5 pressure plate is taller than the L98 - LT1 - LT4 series cars & that people are now starting to use the standard clutch for the ZR-1 by installing shorter bolts. Since this seems to work still quite well with the ZR-1 ZF trans, i have to ask the question WTF did GM specify a longer input shaft on the ZF for?

After all, if you can put the smaller pressure plate on and everything works, why not just use the standard ZF? Has anyone actually tried to bolt up a standard ZF on the ZR-1 bellhousing and use the stock L98 Pressure plate?

I'm VERY curious to know if this will work, if so, it opens up a whole ne market, obviously, if it doesn't work, couldn't the bellhousing have been made shorter to accomodate the regular ZF?

I knew these seem such obvious questions and that GM must have thought about it, but the way they do things (GM), i have to wonder.

[-=Jeff=-]

well the Standard Zf with the LT5 bell housing will not work as the tip of the input shaft will not fit into the pilot bearing.. you would need a custom bellhousing that is shorter I would think

[Pete]

If you use the short input shaft ZF trans with ZR-1 bell housing the input shaft won't reach the crank pilot.
If you use ZR-1 trans longer input shaft with regular C4 bell housing the input shaft will hit the freeze plug in the crank.

And if you use the short input shaft trans with short bell housing the
C-beam will be too short and the shifter will be at wrong location.


Pete