Hi All,
My newest project is a 1987 Buick Grand National with an CA emissions-legal GMPP Connect & Cruise E-Rod LSA kit stuffed into it:
I bought the car in July for the straight body & frame and it suffered a tranny blowout on the drive home (after a 1 hour test drive and 2 hours on the highway - I really don't think this guy had any idea it was going to blow).
Once I started looking at the ridiculous prices for the original, reasonably low-tech Buick tranny and motor parts, I started checking out alternatives.
I was going to stuff an LS3 in there then put a turbo on to keep the original theme going, but they're cracking down on the smog testing pretty hard and I really wanted the beefier 4L85E tranny to handle the power once I started to mod, so I decided to spring for the LSA.
I found Gandrud Chevrolet in WI and they are running a special through the end of the year - double the GM rebate of $750 back, and Pete threw in free shipping to my door. Total for the engine and tranny and all electronics/cats/pump/emissions stuff with the rebates was $16,300. Like $3300 better than I could do in CA.
So I just ordered all the drive accessories to place the PS and alternator up higher on the driver's side to clear my steering box, and the ZL1 lid as the plumbing will be cleaner for my application. I'm using the Hooker LS swap cast iron headers to start as I can carefully grind off the Hooker logo then blast them with steel shot, ceramic coat them and they will look factory, plus the angle of the exhaust clears the G-Body front suspension pickup points perfectly.
Lots of work ahead but it should be a cool project and once I start putting on some of the greats mods you guys are doing it should be a solid performer in a classic shell.
.
Big Delivery Yesterday!
.
The big crate on a pallet was a bitch to get off the truck, down the COBBLESTONE driveway (little wheels don't like to roll on it
) and next to the garage. Here's its future home, the tranny in the black tub and all the motor bits in the monster crate:
After a lot of prybar action:
Details start to emerge:
Here's the real surprise - the GM Parts Manager swore that this would come with a flexplate and that they had stopped shipping with a flywheel/clutch combo:
I'll probably sell the clutch and flywheel as I could use the money for other bits.
I ran out of time to get it up on the engine stand because I need to make sure I remove the clutch & flywheel correctly, so it's just hanging by one side until tomorrow:
Still waiting on all the front GM Accsy Drive stuff, the Mast oilpan, assorted other bits.
Here's the 14", six-piston front (on the right) and rear brakes that will eventually go on the car, after I decide on and order my 18" wheels:
First order of business - take off the heads and get them CNC-ported while the motor is out of the car. WCCH is going to breathe on these and install a Brian Tooley dual spring kit at the same time.
Second - get it in and get it smogged, to get the state off my back. Then the mods can continue.
Fun times ahead.
Got Shoehorn?
Jim
My newest project is a 1987 Buick Grand National with an CA emissions-legal GMPP Connect & Cruise E-Rod LSA kit stuffed into it:
I bought the car in July for the straight body & frame and it suffered a tranny blowout on the drive home (after a 1 hour test drive and 2 hours on the highway - I really don't think this guy had any idea it was going to blow).
Once I started looking at the ridiculous prices for the original, reasonably low-tech Buick tranny and motor parts, I started checking out alternatives.
I was going to stuff an LS3 in there then put a turbo on to keep the original theme going, but they're cracking down on the smog testing pretty hard and I really wanted the beefier 4L85E tranny to handle the power once I started to mod, so I decided to spring for the LSA.
I found Gandrud Chevrolet in WI and they are running a special through the end of the year - double the GM rebate of $750 back, and Pete threw in free shipping to my door. Total for the engine and tranny and all electronics/cats/pump/emissions stuff with the rebates was $16,300. Like $3300 better than I could do in CA.
So I just ordered all the drive accessories to place the PS and alternator up higher on the driver's side to clear my steering box, and the ZL1 lid as the plumbing will be cleaner for my application. I'm using the Hooker LS swap cast iron headers to start as I can carefully grind off the Hooker logo then blast them with steel shot, ceramic coat them and they will look factory, plus the angle of the exhaust clears the G-Body front suspension pickup points perfectly.
Lots of work ahead but it should be a cool project and once I start putting on some of the greats mods you guys are doing it should be a solid performer in a classic shell.
.
Big Delivery Yesterday!
.
The big crate on a pallet was a bitch to get off the truck, down the COBBLESTONE driveway (little wheels don't like to roll on it
) and next to the garage. Here's its future home, the tranny in the black tub and all the motor bits in the monster crate:
After a lot of prybar action:
Details start to emerge:
Here's the real surprise - the GM Parts Manager swore that this would come with a flexplate and that they had stopped shipping with a flywheel/clutch combo:
I'll probably sell the clutch and flywheel as I could use the money for other bits.
I ran out of time to get it up on the engine stand because I need to make sure I remove the clutch & flywheel correctly, so it's just hanging by one side until tomorrow:
Still waiting on all the front GM Accsy Drive stuff, the Mast oilpan, assorted other bits.
Here's the 14", six-piston front (on the right) and rear brakes that will eventually go on the car, after I decide on and order my 18" wheels:
First order of business - take off the heads and get them CNC-ported while the motor is out of the car. WCCH is going to breathe on these and install a Brian Tooley dual spring kit at the same time.
Second - get it in and get it smogged, to get the state off my back. Then the mods can continue.
Fun times ahead.
Got Shoehorn?
Jim
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