1980 Pontiac LeMans Station Wagon - G-T-faux (stuck with it, and can't shake it... like a bad case of herpes)

[axisg]

your MCSS seems to be donating quite a bit to this build. If its the black one I recall it was a pretty stout machine.

 

[motorheadmike]

your MCSS seems to be donating quite a bit to this build. If its the black one I recall it was a pretty stout machine.

Yeah, that is the one. The unofficial name of the wagon project is "Rodimus Prime".
Video reference for those who are not children of the 80s:

.

The MCSS is going to get reborn with a new vision - which is why I have a donor MC sitting here waiting.

Still have a few more parts to rob off of it.

 

[motorheadmike]

And I am back! Spent the last 6 months overhauling and Procharging our TBSS.

A few quick updates I bought a different cam made by Cam Motion with a bit more lift and duration; and I drove the donor Camaro into the garage for tear down for the wagon's powertrain. Should be starting on that tomorrow.

 

[motorheadmike]

And away we go! I was doing fine until the damn power steering pulley decided to not budge.

 

[motorheadmike]

This is where we are now with the tear down; engine and trans are sitting on the engine mounts ready to be plucked. The really good news is that the engine is based on an LS6 block (better bank to bank breathing blah blah blah) - which might explain why the Camaro was abnormally quick - but more importantly it means that the LS6 valley cover I bought will fit like a glove.

 

[motorheadmike]

A few process pics. Thank God it was 7*C out today and I didn't freeze my nuts off doing this. Learned that the transmission was rebuilt/replaced in 2005, and that is the original engine to the car.

 

[motorheadmike]

Ordered this b*tch...

We all know that I am pretty anti-billet. But, a plastic power steering pump pulley spinning at a zillion RPM just doesn't work for me. Plus, I butchered the stock one getting it off; and it was ugly before I got to it - it was chipped and old.

Plus, I think I wanted an excuse to buy the pulley.

Just dropped another bucket load at Summit - key purchase: ARP head studs. I got them, with 12pt nuts, for $310 and the Summit sales rep had a sh*t-fit when I found that price on Amazon from ARP-proper. Felt better doing these than the $100 China studs; and the length of the OEM bolts just scream failure point.

 

[motorheadmike]

Thank you!
2016 Hot Rod Drag Week

THIS IS YOUR PROOF OF REGISTRATION

Thank you for registering for the 2016 Hot Rod Drag Week.

WHOO HOOO!

 

[liquidh8]

Nice to see some progress!

 

[motorheadmike]

I love wiring. Spent most of the day rechecking my old notes on what circuits are what. The BCM is the worst.