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

[motorheadmike]

Changed all the o-rings and finished up the wiring for the AC system today. Obviously without a charge it shouldn't work, and it doesn't. However using HP Tuners I can command the compressor on (belt is off) and can hear the clutch engage. The scan tool is saying all the right things too.

I'll order up an Amazon special AC service kit to vacuum out the system - and then hit up Crappy Tire for some cans of 134a and some PAG oil.

 

[motorheadmike]

Goals. Life is nothing without them. I guess it is probably obvious by now that I am starting to clean up and refine things with this car that were left undone 2 years ago. The intent is, as the car was designed, to road trip the hell out of it with the family. There was an idea of doing Drag Week later this year, but that idea was stillborn for a number of reasons. So here we are...

1. Cruise control - Yup, still sorting that one out - but it beats a stiff ankle;
2. AC - Because a car full of sweltering hot complainers is no way to travel;
3. Remote start - I almost forgot this was even in the car, makes for a neat party trick;
4. Mirrors - the single mirror on the DS is a neat little novelty, but it makes parking the car a royal PITA... might just get those power mirrors on;
5. Front suspension - Once that order comes in we can dial in loads of negative camber and get some taller bump stops in place;
6. Stickers - Need to replace a few missing pieces that have come off in the move to hyperspace;
7. Rear bumper fillers - Just sitting in a box isn't helping anyone.
8. Tint - The rear window is still naked.

 

[motorheadmike]

So on a whim this morning, loaded up on eggs, bacon, and coffee I went into the garage - grabbed the remote start fobs and pressed the button and the car started. Pressed it again and the car stopped running.

Well that was easy - and a bit embarrassing given that I hadn't even tried it once in 2 years.

 

[Texas82GP]

What are you doing for cruise? We used a 4th gen F body digital cruise unit on Sean's 78 Z28. If you are going that direction, let me know if I can help. You're running DBC throttle body, correct?

 

[motorheadmike]

What are you doing for cruise? We used a 4th gen F body digital cruise unit on Sean's 78 Z28. If you are going that direction, let me know if I can help. You're running DBC throttle body, correct?

Same setup as you guys... I just need some time to troubleshoot it. There may be an issue with the turn signal/cruise stalk. I'll keep you posted.

---

Here is a nifty article from 2002 on Poncho drag wagons: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/0212hpp-pontiac-history/

And a '79 Lemans wagon packing a 455: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hppp-0907-pontiac-pavement-pounders-shootout-norwalk-part-1/

And... and an '80 with a 428: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hppp-1001-1968-pontiac-gto-1980-pontiac/

 

[motorheadmike]

Sooo... a funny thing happens when you can remote start your car and don't have the column lock-out hooked up: you can just drop the car in gear and motor.

Not good. Especially with children around who like buttons and fast cars and doing risky ill advised and poorly thought out things.

I grabbed an old shifter cable and a few cable ends, a shift linkage arms, some aluminum, and whipped up a solution... that is an exaggeration. It took many hours to get this right. But, it works!

There is a small bracket of the back of the head and a modified shifter bracket on the bell housing. Cable goes up, cable goes down.

That should help keep the car from rocketing down the driveway out of control.

 

[motorheadmike]

It took Summit less than 2 days to get this to my house in Ontario, Canada with regular international shipping.

UMI Performance couldn't get Summit 4 bolts over the course 3 weeks in the contiguous 48 States. Between the two companies no one could find the bolts with the tracking information. That is plain pathetic. And to make matters worse I will not likely have time to install these for another month due to life. Lovely.

Still happy to have the parts.

 

[TURNA]

Did UMI respond at all?

 

[melloelky]

Did UMI respond at all?

 

[motorheadmike]

Did UMI respond at all?