1981 Pontiac Grand LeMans Safari Wagon

[PBGBodyFan]

Got the rest of the front end done, Eibach’s from my SS, lightly used Bilsteins, stock LCA’s with Global West Del A Lum bushings also off my SS, stock UCA’s off a FB group that were powder coated, Moog bj’s and new bushings and cross shafts. Probably way more into them than I paid or would pay to put into stock arms. Also new Moog tie rods, center link and idler and adjusting sleeves from some aftermarket company. Had them when I was working on my SS front end a couple years ago but nev

Drove it only a little, rides nice and firm, pretty much what I expected. Needs an alignment but driveable. The nearly 20 year old Eibach’s dropped it almost 1” over the stock springs, very pleased about that, wasn’t sure what to expect being a V6 with stock springs.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Dash had a few cracks and little fading, nothing terrible especially being from CA, but thanks to 85ss/85gn I had a perfect brown one from another 81’, in my possession before I even had the wagon in hand.

Swap is complete, a few things taken care of in one fell swoop. Changed out the harness behind the dash that runs side to side for door jamb sensors, etc, put in one also from 85ss/85gn out of a power window/lock Bonneville. Ran power tailgate wiring and mounted the switch, swapped out the gauges for a silver set, mounted side speakers and installed a Retrosound radio. Mostly done, some small things to go but it’s a success.

Tried copying how the factory mounts side speakers in the Pontiacs that have it, mine nor this donor dash did, there is enough meat to add screws under the holes/grilles. I had to remove one screw on the driver side once the dash was mostly installed as it interfered with the gauges, duh. But no rattles or vibrations, knock on wood. Digging the silver gauges and will see if they grow on me, if not will change back to black. Tach appears accurate, my black one was way high and bouncy.

Still needs an alignment but next up will be continuing the conversion to power locks/windows, need to get some dye made up for replacement panels soon but can proceed without it also. Replacing the rear panels with ones for speakers also maybe even the same time.

Plan to push in the Retrosound a little more to help get the bezel more flush on the bottom edge, clean off the dash a little, but got it in without cracking it!

 

[jiho]

Here is a challenge if your interested

1980 trans am 301 turbo

I have for sale a very rare 301 turbo engine. I bought the car in 1999 with 71,000 miles on it and used the engine for a month after painting it ridiculous colors and putting a comp cam and timing...

minneapolis.craigslist.org

Funny how everybody so quick to suggest those FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR ....

 

[oldmansmonte]

Funny how everybody so quick to suggest those FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR ....

I'm in that club that loves to believe I'd own and drive an '81 chevy turbo car but the resounding idea is I won't. I mean maybe if I was like my buddy around the corner who has 2 multi-car garages on his property and has 14 all GM cars from 1959-1996 I'd have one as a part of a collection.

Maybe a cool comprise would be a different turbo motor and mock up the red turbo intake with the graphics like the 80/81's had?

 

[85ss/85gn]

Looking good

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Time to update the thread. I since changed out the quick ratio box from the 86' Monte, worked fine, but wanted the "XH" box which helps to avoid some or all rubbing, at least it did that in my Monte's with 245's. Happened to stumble across an IROC with factory 16" wheels in a salvage yard this late spring that had the box sealed up yet. Cleaned up and swapped in, helps the rubbing issue although there is still a very slight amount, much better and keeps the same ratio and I like the heavier feel, maybe since I'm used to it.

Also converted to power locks and power vents. Kept the front doors manual for now, have the wiring all run and taped up inside the doors and have the motors/mechanisms in case I want to do it later on, I don't mind the hand crank and find the locks and vents more useful and the power vents are kind of cool, I'm easily amused. I ended up buying NOS vent motors/cables, I accumulated about 3 sets of power wagon vents, only one used motor worked and it was barely moving. Sold the extras to another guy in WI who is converting his Malibu wagon to power vents. Had to clean the lock switches/connections to get them all to work, the solenoids were all fine just some light corrosion on the connections.

And last night I removed the stock solid bench and started placing buckets and the console in, I have new inner seat and console mounts just need to be marked and welded in, then I'll cut my carpet for the console and hopefully be able to use the cut part and re-use on the console bottom for matching material. This set of buckets/console I bought while in Cincinnati last summer from a 81' Grand Prix a yard had. Before I was heading that way I saw it online and thought it was my beige/brown combination, but it's a green/green. These aren't the long term seats, have something else up my sleeve that hopefully is ready later in summer or by fall. Hoping to get to replacing the dry rotted interior with clean pieces I'm accumulating and dyed before the year is over as well.

Also removed the factory dark blue seat belts for a set of the beige from another 81' LeMans sedan, think color matching belts were an option back then, another 81' wagon I came across with my interior had the dark blue belts. For the inner bucket guides I bought a set of sandstone ones, a pretty close but not perfect match.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Have been busy working on the interior some more, will post pics of it all once completed hopefully within a month. But thought I'd get a few pics of the seats up, got the covers on and front seats complete. Happy with how they went on, first time replacing covers myself. Ordered from https://www.hawksmotorsports.com/ and they took 8-9 weeks, a company called ACME in California makes it for them. Fit/quality seems very good. I went back and forth, they have plenty of colors but a few styles of sandstone/beige and between vinyl and velour. Went with the velour seating portion and vinyl backs/sides. All velour feels too f-body to me, all vinyl I didn't really want either. Have extra material to have the rear seats done, that's next on my list.

Started with these, pretty clean and cushions in nice shape. Someone swapped them into a Cutlass before the owner wanted original style seats. I got them from 85ss/85gn. The covers are available if anyone is interested, I'm sure they are better than some out there with this blue, out of a Grand Prix originally.

Wanted the f-body vertical pattern and I added PMD emblems I found when pulling a super rough set of PMD's out of a local yard (with new inlays). Cut out the emblems and sold the seats on eBay to someone in Europe. The bottom frames were rotted from sitting in the yard/exposed to elements for so many years, it was bad. The buyer was very happy with them though.

I'm glad to have such nice ones to use as cores, only damage/wear is the lower driver outer bolster had two cables broke coming through the foam a little. I rigged them together and covered with some foam off my stock bench but they aren't really noticeable or can you feel it, these seats are comfy yet pretty firm.

I'm glad I didn't add the seatbelt guides on the headrest, I was going to once they were in the wagon but realized on the wagon/4 doors they seem pointless with the belt so far forward. Do factory bucket 4 doors/wagons have them? I'm curious, can see it going either way. If I wanted I suppose I could get non reclining hinges from a Cavalier or something but will keep these intact as is.

 

[81cutlass]

Those look awesome! I slightly wish I would have bought that other set you had for my 2+2 and had them reupholstered like that but I'm glad you sold them. Probably to some KITT replica guy I am assuming.

You are making me want to get my console and buckets in my wagon now!

As to my knowledge factory 4 dr bucket G bodies did not get seat belt guides. I have only seen one 4dr buckets car and this grand am with buckets did not have them.

And no photos of the cool lemans safari memorabilia I sent you posted with the car yet? What's up with that 😛

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Those look awesome! I slightly wish I would have bought that other set you had for my 2+2 and had them reupholstered like that but I'm glad you sold them. Probably to some KITT replica guy I am assuming.

You are making me want to get my console and buckets in my wagon now!

As to my knowledge factory 4 dr bucket G bodies did not get seat belt guides. I have only seen one 4dr buckets car and this grand am with buckets did not have them.
View attachment 155925

And no photos of the cool lemans safari memorabilia I sent you posted with the car yet? What's up with that 😛

Thanks, I had a good mental picture but seeing the finished product is pretty satisfying. That brown set of PMD's also went to Europe, I'd guess a KITT guy as well. I keep my eye out for them though, never know, if I acquired 3 sets within 1.5 years you never know. If I find any others I'll let you know.

Thanks for pretty much confirming the sedan bucket cars don't have those guides, makes sense. Really glad I didn't poke holes before realizing that.

I did hang up the sign above the LeMans parking spot 😀 .

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Alright, the interior is finally complete. Took about 5 weeks to get my rear seats and the bucket seat backs done, a little less than he quoted me at too. Very pleased, a couple plastics I’ll keep my eyes open for to get better ones but the interior is night and day from when I bought it.

I ended up swapping to brown seat belts too, think it flows well, the beige would of been good too but the lap belts were very rough.