Aj's 2013 CompG build progress thread

[AjL227]

This is the 3rd time the engine/transaxle has been pulled.
1st time, I pulled the trigger on installing a cam/head studs way too early @ 58k miles back in Jan 2011.
2nd time, the stock transaxle started slipping around 80k miles in Sept 2012. I put in a temporary junkyard unit.
3rd time, I shattered the input shaft of the junkyard unit in April 2013, only 6.9k miles later.

I regret not making the trip earlier, but I had dropped off my slipping factory unit to Dave @ TEP on February 18th.
We brought four 4T65's, two of which were to be built and two for core/parts.
I bought a 7/8" chain with 2.93 ratio gears & a 4340 chromoly input shaft off of a friend, the same day prior to the road trip.

Here is the most recent picture of the car, a little over a week before I popped the input shaft.
Ironically I had just put the summer wheel setup back on, go figure.

On Sunday April 7th, the input shaft went bye bye into the converter during a 1-2 shift.

By early morning on April 10th, I had the engine/trans removed.

Inferno front lip that has been waiting to go on since January.

On May 19th, Dave finished up both transmissions and we hit the road.

We brought him an LS4 4T65 out of an burn victim Impala.
We also brought him the temporary unit. Note the input shaft.

Alas, after a long pain staking wait. Here it is. My Triple Edge Performance hunk of sand blasted aluminum. Pretty.

We picked up a new OEM front bumper cover from an old timer out in Indiana. Believe it or not, he had the remnants of a Subaru BRAT in his shop.

Here is a shot of our payload that day loading up outside TEP, what we've come so far for.

As of now, I've finally attained some free time to work on getting it together as I have this entire week off and everyone else's car is done.
Bright and early later on this morning, I'll be hitting the garage for some wrench time. I'm so excited, I can't sleep.

Click to read more...

 

[slowchevy]

looking good!

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

good

 

[boostedguy05]

FYI the inferno lip is a bitch to install. try to fit the back corners in the wheel well flush first. the tape didnt hold well either and eventually had to just bolt / screw it into the bumper.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

zipties

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

...bailing wire, duck tape and bubble gum

 

[AjL227]

Aside from taking my time, going slow and suffering from OCD. I think you'll agree with me that the cradle is clean enough.
Trans was going in a half hour ago, but then I realized I needed more length on the crane when I had it overhead, so I set it back down.
It'll go in later this morning. I don't need to make a tired mistake here.

 

[AjL227]

"Do you even lift?"
It took me about 30 minutes to drop it in, nice and carefully lining it up slowly.
I need a camaro/firebird V6 horizontal bolt alternator bracket for my 140 amp alternator going on.
Gathering the last of parts, before I drop the engine in.

 

[BrianG]

So jelly of aluminum cradle. Stuff is looking good!

 

[willizm]

3800....

 

[Zack]

Much respect to anyone that works on or mods FWD vehicles.
Id go nuts.

 

[Yaj Yak]

Much respect to anyone that works on or mods FWD vehicles.
Id go nuts.

Wbodys are easy... I'd he willing to bet I could do plugs quicker on my turbo gtp than your turbo mm

 

[1quick]

for sure, v8 trailblazer is getting traded before it needs plugs again fuck that thing, oh you need to regap the plugs on the gtp give me 5 minutes

 

[AjL227]

So you may be wondering why this isn't done yet.
A week ago, I changed the water pump on my cousin's '07 L32 GP GT.
While bleeding the coolant, the upper rad hose burst suddenly and burned; luckily just my hands, in 7 different locations.
They all eventually became blisters with the exception of one small section which just burnt the skin off immediately.
I should have gone to the emergency room, but I'm a stubborn mother****er.
I couldn't get to sleep that night without my hands in a bucket of ice water, which had to be flushed every half hour since the ice melted FAST.

When I woke up, I could move around freely but I was essentially crippled as far as my own work.
Life still goes on though, I finished fixing my cousin's car that following day.
Much needed rest over the weekend.
I did another water pump on a 2001 GT Monday.
Tuesday, I threw on 42.5# injectors, 3.2" pulley, and tuned my friend's 2004 intercooled 1.9 rocker'd CompG Tuesday.
Yay for having access inside any 2004 Grand Prix PCM.

Today, it seems like the worst is all over. My hands feel back to themselves, even though they still look atrocious.
I went down to the garage this morning and masked off the engine for re-painting the blower.
It looks real nice and glossy, a few more coats of clear and we'll be done.
I installed the reman'd torque converter. Blue torque converter = race car?
I also touched up the entire wiring harness with electrical tape and loom in the areas needed.
My RockAuto order shipped Tuesday morning, most importantly containing the 2000 Firebird V6 horizontal bolt alternator bracket/tensioner.
I have an ACDelco 140amp alternator upgrade already with the connector, from the junkyard. I just need to solder it into the harness.

I'll post more pictures of the car progress all together as more gets done.
Here is a picture of my hands from today.
Mind you, they feel completely healed at this point. The burnt section on my left hand finger; shown in the picture, literally was a blister larger than the finger itself.

:gives:

 

[RICH17]

Yikes man!!

 

[boostedguy05]

ouch! that looks painfull. glad you are doing better and feeling good. hope the car gets back on the road soon.

 

[TonzKnock-G]

Damn that's crazy.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

damn coolant, you scary

 

[AjL227]

I haven't posted much.
Blower & VC's repainted.
Engine/trans reunited.
I got my 6 month old axle set warrantied and installed.

Things left to do...
- 140A heater hose fittings!
- Solder 140A alt connector.
- Solder snipped wire in wideband harness
- Grind down 140A alt bracket (one I/C hose path is blocked)
- Bleed brakes
- Install hood/bumper/lip
- Find GXP/SE spoiler
- Paint bumper/lip at some point

This picture is almost 2 weeks old.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

yeah i know ill get those fittings to ya someday

or you can come here and bring that bracket with ya

 

[AjL227]

It'll get done when it does.
We're both busy doing our own stuff.

 

[AjL227]

James got me past a little roadblock I was stuck at yesterday.
Today is the day.

 

[boostedguy05]

:toast:

 

[AjL227]

140A alternator connector soldered.

Fixed snipped wire in wideband harness.

Horizontal bolt bracket needed a 'C' machined into it for I/C hose.

140A alternator needed more machined off the backside. Now thin piece of cardboard clears between alt/blower.

Here you can see just how much space I have to work with.

Unfortunately, I have a brand new Gates K060905 belt which happened to be just a tad bit too short for this alternator/bracket setup.

I need to run to a store and grab a Gates K060938 for a Riviera, which is slightly larger outside circumference.

90.873" vs 94.470"

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Aaaandy?