I'M BACK and with a new horse in the stable

[DRIVEN]

Should be okay. You might consider a 3.90 or 3.73 if you don't already have gears though. They'd get you closer to a 10:1 compound first. I'd hate for it to feel like a tractor in first. I guess final tire size would affect that too. Either way, 3 pedals in any wagon wins.

 

[84sscutty]

Should be okay. You might consider a 3.90 or 3.73 if you don't already have gears though. They'd get you closer to a 10:1 compound first. I'd hate for it to feel like a tractor in first. I guess final tire size would affect that too. Either way, 3 pedals in any wagon wins.

The only way I could do a 3.90 gear is if I have a 8.5, never seen them offered for a 7.5/7.625 but I could be wrong on that.I had actually thought about those two gears before now but watched a vid with a 3rd gen Camaro with a 290 hp crate engine, t56, and 4.10's. It was nice but powerbands are different. My peak tq is at 4800 rpm and peak hp is at 5500 rpm. As far as wheels/tires. I was going to run a 20 but I think I'm gonna go sleeper look with some 17 or 18 rallies painted body color with beauty rings and dog dish centers. The three pedals are gonna be fun. Thanks for the advice/insight on the gears.

 

[84sscutty]

UPDATE: I have completed most of the odds and ends that needed to be done. I have put new low beams in, replaced some bulbs, fixed a shorted ground on the passenger side park lights, fixed the horn, cigarette lighter, hooked up the cd player and replaced a few fuses. All that was pretty much done last week. Today I pulled my cluster, replaced some bulbs, secured the headlight switch(needs new bracket), and cleaned it up a little. I'm happy with what I've done so far. All I have left to be driving everyday til the engine swap(late spring/early summer) is reshim/unshim the starter and fix an exhaust leak. I may do the starter tomorrow after work.

 

[84sscutty]

Well today I pulled the manifolds and replaced the header gaskets with manifold gaskets, that's right header gaskets under manifolds. Tomorrow after work I have to get a new donut gasket and I'll bolt the exhaust back up to the manifolds and my leak and tacky gasket job will be checked off the list. I also took the 3 shims out of the starter and then put one back in, it's alot better than it was but I still dont like it. Not sure if something is up with the starter or flywheel or just needs more adjustment but all in all, it's much better than it was. These are the last 2 things on my to do list before I start driving it pretty much daily, at least for a few months until it warms up and I finish gathering parts for my 327/t56 swap.

 

[84sscutty]

Small update, I removed the moon discs from my wagon. It had 14 inch s-10 wheels underneath. I cleaned them with Purple Power, Dawn, and a brush. After cleaning them i put on the center caps and beauty rings. I think it looks so much better now. Wish they were 15's though, but I can live with them for now.

 

[Longroof79]

You're right, it does look better without the moon discs. The S-10 wheels look pretty good. I have come across the 15" version of them in the junkyard on occasion. I've seen them on S-10 pickups and Blazers.
Keep us updated on your progress.

 

[84sscutty]

Thanks Jack, I actually have a set of 15 inch aluminum Sonoma wheels and a set of 15 inch aluminum s10 wheels but dont really wanna buy tires for them so theses will have to do for now.

 

[84sscutty]

Man, I've really been lolly gagging here haven't I. Since my last post I think all I've done is change the plugs, changed the oil, and piece together a better sounding exhaust. I used the existing 2 inch pipe and removed the glasspacks and replaced them with some used mellow tones(flowmaster copys) that I got for free and got some used Chevelle tips to finish it up. All this is only temporary but I couldn't stand those glasspacks any longer. It sounds so much better now. I think I do need to make some adjustments on the carb though, it doesn't start how I want it to. Other than that, that's all I have for now. I will try to get a new/updated video up this weekend to see what you guys think about it.

 

[84sscutty]

Here's the video I took today. Forgot to mention that I swapped F41 sway bars and jounce bars on from my old Cutlass Salon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1hblkmDjE4

 

[84sscutty]

Small update guys, went to scrap yard the other day and there was an '81 Grand Le Mans sitting there untouched. It was a 4 door that had a v6 but had a title. I didn't have the cash to buy the whole thing but I got a few pieces off of it. It wouldn't have taken much, wish I would have had the cash on me. I would have just fixed it to drive or flip it. Here's a few pics. I got the dash all pieces needed for the swap, a pillars, b pillars, and radiator x braces for my car. The dash has a bad spot on the drivers side but i am gonna try to fix it with a vinyl repair dash kit.