1981 Pontiac Grand LeMans Safari Wagon

[PBGBodyFan]

245/17’s in front, 275/40 in rear. 1/4” spacers on the rear, has about 1/4-3/8” clearance to the frame on each side. I was expecting to need more spacer but last year in a FB group a Grand Am owner mounted these in gold to his, I picked his brain and had some confidence it would work out. I put longer studs on the 8.5” that’s going in soon just in case, I might get 1/2” spacers when that time comes anyway.

Was tempted to run 275’s in front but they already rubbed on full lock with 235/60/15’s, I didn’t want to make that worse. Hits the rear of the wheelwells on full turns, so nothing major but still a little annoying.

Thanks for the compliments, definitely makes the patina stand out more now, before it blended perfectly with both the Rally II’s and 15” snowflakes, those rims are all clean but have their own wear and patina to match somewhat.

And collecting wheels is hard not to do, so many good looking ones out there. I had a tough time letting go of the old 16x8 ZQ8’s I used to run on my LS, the 15” snowflakes went fast. I’m keeping the Rally II’s and have a set of Rally IV’s I want to refinish and put on rwl tires, someday.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

245/17’s in front, 275/40 in rear. 1/4” spacers on the rear, has about 1/4-3/8” clearance to the frame on each side. I was expecting to need more spacer but last year in a FB group a Grand Am owner mounted these in gold to his, I picked his brain and had some confidence it would work out. I put longer studs on the 8.5” that’s going in soon just in case, I might get 1/2” spacers when that time comes anyway.

Was tempted to run 275’s in front but they already rubbed on full lock with 235/60/15’s, I didn’t want to make that worse. Hits the rear of the wheelwells on full turns, so nothing major but still a little annoying.

Thanks for the compliments, definitely makes the patina stand out more now, before it blended perfectly with both the Rally II’s and 15” snowflakes, those rims are all clean but have their own wear and patina to match somewhat.

And collecting wheels is hard not to do, so many good looking ones out there. I had a tough time letting go of the old 16x8 ZQ8’s I used to run on my LS, the 15” snowflakes went fast. I’m keeping the Rally II’s and have a set of Rally IV’s I want to refinish and put on rwl tires, someday.

excellent. so 17x8 on front and 17x9 on the rear?

 

[PBGBodyFan]

excellent. so 17x8 on front and 17x9 on the rear?

17x9 all around...they only make these in that size. 5 1/4” BS. 245 is I think the skinniest tire that safely works on a 9”.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

17x9 all around...they only make these in that size. 5 1/4” BS. 245 is I think the skinniest tire that safely works on a 9”.

great info paul. i didn't know 17x9s would fit on the front without bolt on spacers.
i was hoping to see this at c.l. chase this spring, but with a 3.73 rear, i doubt it will ever make the freeway. lol
i'll have to wait for the 200-4r trans upgrade.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

great info paul. i didn't know 17x9s would fit on the front without bolt on spacers.
i was hoping to see this at c.l. chase this spring, but with a 3.73 rear, i doubt it will ever make the freeway. lol
i'll have to wait for the 200-4r trans upgrade.

Plan is to run the stock setup for maybe another month then I should get the rear swap done. If anything else curious to how the 3.8 and 3 speed work with 3.73’s. 350/2004r swap sometime shortly after. Then should be a nice cruiser, better than the current setup and more pep.

Would like to make it back to CL Chase again this year, regardless of Carl’s b.s.

 

[Texas82GP]

Killer project.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

So I accumulated a few NOS rolls of woodgrain, only one complete the others are partials/cut. Wanted enough to do the tailgate, success. One long roll covers the top 2/3, then I had to cut/splice in pieces for the bottom. Worked out well except near the license plate pocket you can tell when closer. Now it looks too new compared to the rest of the woodgrain but I think way better than the totally faded off tailgate woodgrain. And I found a NOS Pontiac emblem to replace the faded original.

I was happy it stuck, I sanded down the tailgate after removing the trim, put on two coats of 3M tape primer(?) so it gave a very slightly tacky surface and hoped for the best. Woodgrain wasn’t all that sticky but good enough. A few small air bubbles/bumps too but I wasn’t hoping for perfection.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Finally found a home for the 8.5” I picked up about 4 years ago. On and off worked on cleaning it up since getting it (including snapping the cross pin bolt, fun) and after planning on putting it in the wagon last summer I freshened it up, internals looked good to me so just axle bearings, replaced one axle with a better used original one I had, longer studs, and a good wire wheeling. The last couple weeks started the swap, picked up a driveshaft from a 2005 Trailblazer 2wd, snug fit but works. Test run this morning and no loud noises, fell off or leaked so it passes the test. Need to bleed the brakes, the speed bleeders I like to use and bought don’t fit, the new wheel cylinders apparently take a slightly different thread or pitch than stock.

New Ridetech arms in the rear too, sits slightly lower for some reason now as well. I also put on 1/2” spacers on each side after noticing the passenger side rubbed the inner wheelwell very slightly with the 5mm spacers I had been using.

Behaves well with the 3.73’s, can get out of it’s own way a bit better now, I wouldn’t want to take it on the freeway (ok, interstate) but feels good up to 50 or so.

 

[81cutlass]

2wd trailblazer driveshaft, that's one I haven't heard of. Aluminum too?

Your wagon gives me sellers remorse for selling mine lol ..

 

[PBGBodyFan]

2wd trailblazer driveshaft, that's one I haven't heard of. Aluminum too?

Your wagon gives me sellers remorse for selling mine lol ..

Yep, a few places I’ve read where guys used it when going to a 8.5”. I measured it to be I think 3/4” shorter not the full inch. Bolts right in, 4” diameter and aluminum, yep. motorheadmike mentioned it on the forum too, I think the parts interchangeability or junkyard parts search thread.

Depending on the exhaust it could be tight, for now it’s zero problem on the wagon.

You shouldn’t of sold it 😄