A Fabricobbler's Guide to the Turbo Buick Galaxy- Cutlass Rehash

[81cutlass]

Back home, ran down south for a few days of vacation to thaw out

Last of them parts I know I need showed up in order to drop the engine in.

$140 vs $8 motor mount.

 

[Texas82GP]

Back home, ran down south for a few days of vacation to thaw out

Last of them parts I know I need showed up in order to drop the engine in.

$140 vs $8 motor mount.
View attachment 197143

Looks like money well spent.

 

[81cutlass]

Knocked another long term 'around to it' project off the list

I did the LS coil conversion in '19 when I first got the engine running due to 3 ignition modules dying/being dead and 2 coils ohming out as bad.

Cheapest way forward that wasn't a high likelihood of blowing up another old NOS coil or module was to do the LS conversion. I just roughly put them in place on stock brackets slightly cut down and never got them mounted.

So I got the tabs welded on, welded the extra holes shut and cut off the extra tabs. I'm pretty happy. They aren't as good looking as billet but they came free on the coils and took maybe 2 hrs to modify so no complaints. Just need to shoot some paint.

I also got the knock sensor changed and the new motor mounts on. Probably going to pull the EGR off and fab up a block off plate.

Engine is ready to go in.

 

[motorheadmike]

Knocked another long term 'around to it' project off the list

I did the LS coil conversion in '19 when I first got the engine running due to 3 ignition modules dying/being dead and 2 coils ohming out as bad.

Cheapest way forward that wasn't a high likelihood of blowing up another old NOS coil or module was to do the LS conversion. I just roughly put them in place on stock brackets slightly cut down and never got them mounted.

So I got the tabs welded on, welded the extra holes shut and cut off the extra tabs. I'm pretty happy. They aren't as good looking as billet but they came free on the coils and took maybe 2 hrs to modify so no complaints. Just need to shoot some paint.

I also got the knock sensor changed and the new motor mounts on. Probably going to pull the EGR off and fab up a block off plate.

Engine is ready to go in.
View attachment 197236View attachment 197237View attachment 197238

Nice! I do not miss chasing Turbo Buick electrical gremlins and subbing in antique used parts in hopes of finding a "good one". Kept a bucket of spares in the spare tire well of my old Buick.

 

[liquidh8]

Like the brackets, I went right into my valve covers. Work of Cation though, I was real close to the A/C box so my Passenger side coils are much closer, and forward, than the drivers side. But I suppose you were already running these so you know your location is good.

 

[81cutlass]

Dropped the engine in tonight along with a last few dodads.

I've always had oil leaking out of the drivers valve cover to oil fill tube. I was just missing the little sealing washer and gasket that was $8 off highway stars so that's one thing down. Knew I was missing a part but never knew what I was missing, where to look or what to do but got lucky and realized it was that easy.

Also built a govt. approved EGR upgrade kit. Had some 1/4" aluminum plate sitting around that I traced the gasket and cut on my bandsaw.

Engine is in. Just need to start installing bolts, clamps, wiring and hoses now.

We might not loose the shop, there's hope to get it running by Sunday!

Fabricobbling engaged!

 

[81cutlass]

Con- I don't think I'll have the car ready for the show Sunday

Pro-i don't think it will matter, there's an 85% chance of rain all day so I'm sure the show will be cancelled or really small turnout.

It turns out I'm missing a long enough throttle cable. Both this cutlass and the wagon were factory 3.8 Buick cars and I seem to remember the wagon worked fine with what the car had but I forgot I swapped the longer 5.0 SBC throttle cable out of the 2+2. I need to go to the salvage yard or just order a new one.

Plus I got a ton of stuff left. The wiring is 75% done and plumbing is 50% done.

Got the correct version fusebox harness plug spliced in, set the coils, connected the power steering hoses and reservoir, got some heater and rad hoses.

But still a lot left. These turbo Buicks have a lot of hoses and wiring!

Pulled all the old fan wiring and controller, the torque converter lock up wiring, the boost timing retard box harness, temp gauge, ECT, ECT. Lots of under the dash and under the hood zip tie cutting and fishing wires out.

Coils are mounted

Still need to put a lot of front body screws in and the bell housing and torque converter bolts in, install the turbo and cooler, finish fuel lines, probably 3-4 evenings or a good solid weekend.

 

[64nailhead]

Throttle cable - use some coated bicycle brake cable- super cheap and reliable. I paid $5.95 for my last one !

 

[81cutlass]

Was all ready to put the fender back on but realized I forgot to relocate the IAT from the intake tube pre turbo to in the intake manifold post cooler. Correcting the sins of GM engineers past.

Had to disassemble half the intake, drill and tap a 3/8 npt hole, disassemble part of the wiring harness and reroute the pigtail to reach the intake manifold location. Also hung the turbo since it's really easy with the fender off.

I just need to put the downpipe in (probably weld in an O2 bung) and route the fuel feed line and the fender goes back on and I can scoot the car over into it's normal spot and get to work under it finishing the exhaust and trans bolts.

 

[motorheadmike]

Was all ready to put the fender back on but realized I forgot to relocate the IAT from the intake tube pre turbo to in the intake manifold post cooler. Correcting the sins of GM engineers past.

Had to disassemble half the intake, drill and tap a 3/8 npt hole, disassemble part of the wiring harness and reroute the pigtail to reach the intake manifold location. Also hung the turbo since it's really easy with the fender off.

I just need to put the downpipe in (probably weld in an O2 bung) and route the fuel feed line and the fender goes back on and I can scoot the car over into it's normal spot and get to work under it finishing the exhaust and trans bolts.


View attachment 197546View attachment 197547

Where's the turbo from Chy-nah?!