10/26/2026
🔥 1982 CHEVY C10 BUILD — PART 4 OF 7 🔥
ONE CHANGE OF GEARS… AND A WHOLE LOT MORE WORK! 😎🔧
If you’ve been following along with our transformation of Danny and Ashley’s 1982 Chevy C10, you’ll remember that we had just over 60 days to get this classic square-body ready for Cruisin’ the Coast!
And as if a suspension lift, brake upgrades, new wheels and tires, fresh paint, air conditioning, and interior upgrades weren’t enough…
WE DECIDED TO THROW A TRANSMISSION CONVERSION INTO THE MIX! 😂
Originally, converting the truck from a manual to an automatic transmission was on Danny and Ashley’s wish list, but they understood our tight deadline and weren’t going to push their luck.
However, when the opportunity presented itself, we decided to make it happen!
THE PLAN? 🔧
Replace the existing manual transmission with a heavy-duty GM 4L80E automatic behind the truck’s 383 stroker small-block Chevy.
Simple enough, right?
Well… anyone who’s tackled a project like this knows that changing ONE major component often means changing a whole lot of OTHER components!
FIRST CHALLENGE — WILL IT EVEN FIT? 🤔
The truck already had an aftermarket transmission tunnel, and we weren’t confident it would provide enough clearance for the larger 4L80E.
So before getting too far ahead of ourselves, we test-fitted the transmission.
GOOD NEWS! It cleared! 🙌
BAD NEWS? The existing tunnel wasn’t going to work with our new carpet kit!
That meant ordering a replacement transmission tunnel from Auto Metal Direct.
And while we waited, there was plenty more homework to do!
MAKING THE 383 STROKER AND 4L80E PLAY NICE! ⚙️
First, we needed the correct flexplate to mate our small-block Chevy 383 stroker to the new transmission.
Next came selecting a torque converter properly matched to the engine’s power characteristics and the transmission’s gearing.
But getting the transmission bolted to the engine was only the beginning!
THE CROSSMEMBER CHALLENGE! 🔧
The 4L80E is considerably longer than the transmission it was replacing.
That meant a new transmission mount and crossmember.
And NO… the new crossmember wasn’t simply going to bolt into the old mounting holes!
We had to carefully measure and determine its new location, drill the necessary mounting holes, and make sure everything was properly positioned.
All while maintaining clearance for the driveshaft AND the truck’s dual-exhaust system!
Sometimes the most important work is the stuff nobody ever sees once the vehicle is finished!
AND SPEAKING OF THE DRIVESHAFT… 😳
Remember that four-inch suspension lift from Part 3?
That had already changed our driveshaft requirements.
But now we were installing a longer transmission, which changed the measurements AGAIN!
So much for ordering something off the shelf!
A custom driveshaft was in order, complete with a 32-spline slip yoke and new universal joints.
Then there was another important detail…
THE 4L80E HAS A BRAIN! 🧠⚡
Unlike the manual transmission we removed, the electronically controlled 4L80E needs a way to manage its shifting and operation.
Our solution?
A Holley Terminator X Max engine management system, allowing us to integrate electronic transmission control into the build.
ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE!
NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THE INTERIOR! 😎
With the clutch pedal and manual shifter being retired, we needed to decide what would take their place.
We wanted something that looked right in a classic square-body, worked with the original bench seat, and still had a little old-school personality.
Our choice was a Lokar floor-mounted automatic shifter with an S-shaped lever!
The curved design would provide the necessary bench seat clearance while maintaining the appearance and feel of a traditional manual floor shifter.
But before we could install it, we needed that new transmission tunnel!
AND FINALLY… A LITTLE GOOD LUCK! 🍀
The replacement tunnel from Auto Metal Direct arrived, and surprisingly, it fit better than we anticipated!
These tunnels sometimes require a little massaging around the rear section where the floor meets the bench seat area.
Fortunately, ours cooperated!
But that didn’t mean we were finished.
We still had to determine the exact placement of our new shifter, carefully measure and cut the opening for the shifter and linkage, and drill the mounting holes for the new tunnel.
Everything needed to be properly aligned, straight, and securely mounted.
After all, there’s nothing quite like cutting into a brand-new piece of sheet metal and hoping you measured correctly! 😂
MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE!
THE BIGGER PICTURE! 🔥
What started as a simple request to replace a manual transmission with an automatic turned into:
A new flexplate, torque converter, transmission mount, crossmember, custom driveshaft, electronic transmission controls, replacement transmission tunnel, and a custom-positioned floor shifter!
And that’s before considering all the measuring, fitting, drilling, cutting, and problem-solving involved!
THIS is what custom automotive work is all about!
At INCORRIGIBLE MOTORSPORTS, it’s not always about what you can see when the vehicle is finished.
Sometimes the most important work is everything underneath and behind the scenes that makes the finished product look and function like it belongs there!
And through all of this…
THE CLOCK WAS STILL TICKING TOWARD CRUISIN’ THE COAST! ⏰
We’re getting closer, but there’s still plenty of work ahead!
🔥 STAY TUNED FOR PART 5 OF OUR 1982 CHEVY C10 BUILD! 🔥
