I have to fab a header for the drivers side so that's what I am working on now. I am starting with a TA shorty header, cut it up and have lots of other headers to use as bends. I will post some pics as it comes along.
Again, haven't posted for awhile but have done a bit of work. First pics are of the trans crossmember installed under the car.
Fabbing the header for the left side side went pretty smooth, I cut up a TA shorty and then used lots of other header pipes I had to weld up the rest. Tedious, but went well. I just tacked them then had my buddy tig weld them up.
I am now running brake lines and fuel lines, finished the lines on the rear end. I have some time off for Christmas break, one huge benefit of being a teacher, and hope to finish the brakes, install the fuel tank and fuel lines. If I get to it I hope to finish the motor and maybe even install it with the real trans and t-case. Thanks Brent
I worked last week on the brake lines, finished the headers, and finished putting the motor together. Trying to figure out how to run the brake lines took as much time as doing it.
I got the headers welded up, painted, and wrapped. For those of you that have done it, you know that putting the wrap on and making it look decent is a real chore.
I finished putting the engine together as well. It was mostly complete other than the parts I was using for mock up. I installed the timing cover, oil pan, and intake manifold. Check out the deep pan with the kick out, internally it's baffled to try and control the oil surge. Most importantly I painted it, so here's an engine.
I actually installed the engine, trans, transfer case, and drivlines. I plan on putting it on the ground and rolling it around, first time in 2 time years. I'll probably make some engine sounds and sit in it while it rolls around. The engine is a mild 455 with forged pistons, 9.6 comp ratio, mild cam with 221 duration @ 0.050, stage one valves and mild porting. Trans is a th400 with a switch pitch converter, normal HD upgrades, and an adapter to mount it up to the BW transfercase. Drivelines are obviously custom with double cardan cv joints to help with vibration since the angles are messed up with all the relocation of the engine and trans.
It has 3.42s with helical gear limited slips front and rear. I would have rather gone a little taller, 3.08 is the highest ratio they make for the front diff. However, there is a carrier break between the 3.08 and the 3.42 and they only make the lsd for the 3.42 and lower. So 3.42 it is.
I did some more work, we actually put the wheels on and set it on the ground. First time in 2 years that it's sat on tires, I was supper stoked. First pics are of the windshield wiper motor detailed and installed. We had to use the non hidden wiper setup for engine clearance, the motor is higher and a totally different shape than the hidden wiper setup. Next are a couple of close ups of the suspension, axles, brakes, and steering at ride height.
Here are some pics of it on the ground, nice and low. I realize there is at least 800lbs more "car" to add to it, bumpers, front clip, radiator, hood, full interior, etc., but that's the beauty of coil overs all around. I have the gas tank ready to go in and I need to finish running the fuel lines. Next I need to repair the core support and I can mount the front clip. My core support is rusted pretty bad an the right side, I wonder if anyone else has that problem with Buick A body's, lol. I would really like a fiberglass hood to drop a few pounds off the front, but I have a nice factory GS hood. Maybe I will just pull the trigger and spend the money anyway.