78 Grand Prix project

[G-Body_Vet]

It looks great with those wheels and I luv that color.. 🙂

Me too! When the time for paint comes, it's staying the original color. I wasn't sure how I felt about the black accents on the wheels, but now that they're on the car they compliment the black interior too. And btw, the dog in your sig looks like like my dog!

That's looking great!

Thanks!

Congrats on the new spot!
I wish my wagon wasn't 40 miles from home...

Not sure how you feel about your bumpers but that thing is just begging for you to drill out the shocks and shove them in!

Once I replace the bumper fillers it won't be so bad....but that is an eye sore looking like that!

Looking classy!! hurry up and finish it! :wink:

Yeah it's taking forever but it will be running very soon!

Loving the rims but man those rears need bigger meats!!! This build is my favorite here. I can honestly say I have followed this one pretty close.

We'll see how it acts for now. I wanted same size tires to be able to rotate them, but who knows....I may step up the rears if need be.

Looks great Steve! You know you've really made it when you have a fridge in the garage just for beer!

The previous owners left that there and that's exactly what I was thinking when I saw it! :lol:

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Finally have my original 455 back after a 3 1/2 year hiatus! I guess im going to leave it bagged until I decide what I want to do with it since I already have a runner in the car.

Specs:
Bore/stroke 4.185/4.21 463 ci
Custom forged Pistons from DSS Racing , XR series with x groove skirts.
File fit Napier rings, top ring gap .025-.026, second ring .029-.030
RPM International lightweight 4340 I beam rods
ARP studded mains
Piston to deck clearance .0005-0006
Main bearing clearance .0025-.0028
Rod bearing clearance .0020-.0022
Piston wall clearance .0037-.0038
Piston pin clearance .0011-.0012
Piston pin to rod bushing clearance .0011-.0012
Crank end play .006-.007
Casting flash removed from lifter valley
Oil gallery plugs replaced with threaded plugs, .030 squirter holes drilled for cam gears & distributor
Balanced rotating assy, neoprene rear main
Align honed, final block honing with torque plate.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Wow that's beautiful!

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Wow that's beautiful!

I'm glad you like! The short block is probably built for more than anything I'll ever throw at it. Had I just kept things simple my car would have been drivable long ago.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

Any idea of what heads the new engine will have? Im not up on Pontiacs so I have no idea how factory castings fared.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Any idea of what heads the new engine will have? Im not up on Pontiacs so I have no idea how factory castings fared.

When I get around to this one Im definetly going with aluminum heads, whether it's Edelborck d-ports or KRE's. I already have 2 other stock 455's so this one will get the goodies when the time comes. I want to do a full roller valve train too. I've been kicking around the idea of fuel injection eventually as well.

For the time being I just want to get the GP running and work out whatever bugs come up. The kicker with these cars is when do you stop throwing money at them? I think I'd be hard pressed to sell my car for what I have in the engine alone when it's done.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Damn it's been awhile since I've updated this thread.

I modified my steering column to work with the jeep shaft, installed intrepid fans and actually started the car for about 30 seconds. No coolant yet or else I would have let it run longer.

I'm about to put my heater box back in and finish my B&M Quicksilver shifter.

 

[bbarbulo]

man, those fans look great!! nice job

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Here's a vid of it running. I fired it up a couple months ago before I took the column back out. I didn't let it go long because I don't have coolant in it yet.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Been awhile huh? I've been doing a little here and there since work keeps me tied up.

Backed it out of the driveway today and found out that the $300 8.5" posi works!