BUILD THREAD 81 Buick/Olds Turbo Wagon 02/15/2024 More Parts!

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

Sure does. I have to snap a few pics of the mirrors, I'll post them also. I will source a switch from a caprice or something. I am undecided. I'll go back the the junk yard in 2 weeks or so and look around and see what I can find that would look good.

 

[Longroof79]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

Jim,
I'm thinking maybe a switch from a FWD GM car...Olds Ciera, Grand Am, GP, etc. I'm sure the junkyard will have a variety of switches that can be used.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

That is the truth Jack. I will look around. I have looked at the MCSS forums, and a few guys have used something from the caprices. The switch fits in the factory hole. That is of little concern to me though since my door panels are fiberglass, lol.

Side note, spoke to VFN this morning, and I ordered the w-30 hood for the car. Come January I will be trial fitting it! Man I am excited, I can't wait, lol. They are leaving the air cleaner part closed for me, so I can just go ahead and add a hole where ever I need/want. Since it is a turbo car, I have no need for the air cleaner hole.

 

[Longroof79]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

So the hood is on order...WOW!! That's good news. I think it's going to look sharp...but we all know that.. :wink:
Also ordering it with the air cleaner hole closed is a good idea. You can open it up to your liking...or not at all.

Were you able to find any bumper fillers, or are you going to mod the bumpers?

I'm starting to work on my replacement dash today. Cleaning it down to get prepped...then a few coats of SEM burgundy.
I'm thinking of installing it before having the windshield put in. Less chance of cracking it. I also took all the duct work from the GP I removed the dash out of.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

So the hood is on order...WOW!! That's good news. I think it's going to look sharp...but we all know that.. :wink:
Also ordering it with the air cleaner hole closed is a good idea. You can open it up to your liking...or not at all.

That is what mondo1 was saying. After I get it set in there, if I can use it actually for Ram Air, great. I may just be using it to blow air across the front of the engine and turbo, and the hot air should get extracted from the fenders.

Were you able to find any bumper fillers, or are you going to mod the bumpers?

At this point, I am going to see if the blaster will blast the chrome off the bumpers when I get the frame done. The rear I will modify the rear like yours, but with a hole like SRDart, for the trailer hitch. The front will get tucked and shorted also, but I still need to either make or buy a filler for between the bumper and header. The 240 for each bumper in glass, then freight, then more glass to shorten, etc. It seems easier to modify the steel ones. They are just heavier.

I'm starting to work on my replacement dash today. Cleaning it down to get prepped...then a few coats of SEM burgundy.
I'm thinking of installing it before having the windshield put in. Less chance of cracking it. I also took all the duct work from the GP I removed the dash out of.

That would be the way to do it I think. I have done it both ways, with the windshield in and out. I used all the factory GP duct work, put new foam where it called for foam, and sealed all the joints up with foam and tape I got from my brother (HVAC guy). The ductwork I had before leaked so bad, you got anything out of the dash vents. 😢

 

[the ghoul]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

Love it when new parts are on the way! Cant wait to see the hood fitted up.
I think the best ram-air kit I have ever seen was the Fast toys ram air for 4th gen cameros are firebirds. Basically what it was is some sheet metal air ducting that hung down a bit lower than the bumper between it and the AC core. It directed that air from below the car up into the bottom of the filter box. It was almost impossible to get any water into the filter box because there was such a large vertical section to it.. I always wondered if a simmular setup but hanging down just below the drivers front wheel would be a good way to go with these cars...

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

There were some ram air "kits" available for the grand national. But, I will be driving this rain or shine, so, I'll have the intake routed in such a way to keep the water out. The hood is more for me liking the syle, being different, and allowing the cool air in the engine bay, since the last hood had the paint baked off from the turbo.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

Ops checked my power mirrors today, they work!😀

 

[Doober]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

Still looking for a mirror switch? I've noticed some Fords have a selector/rocker all-in-one... I've been looking for something to replace the very-difficult-to-find switch for the Fiero:

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up New Pics! Update 11/25/13

Doober! I haven't talked to you in a while! 😀

Thanks for that pic. That is the style I was looking into to. Some GM's had it, and I see some fords also. I'll have to hit the yard again in a few weekends and see what I can dig up.