🔧 BUILD LAME Turbo V6 Camaro

[v6buicks]

Excited for a video man

I'm excited to make one! Every hour that goes by without tracking information for my flywheel is like crack withdrawal.

 

[TurboTPI]

This build makes me want to find a clean 3.8/5 speed f-body. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait for a video

 

[v6buicks]

This build makes me want to find a clean 3.8/5 speed f-body. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait for a video

Doooooo it!! I've definitely worked on mine more than I've driven it, but I think it'll be worth the effort.

The transmission thing is a turnoff for a lot of folks, but the reality is that you can have planty of fun with an M49 or 4l60e... Just not 1000hp fun. Lol

I'm going to try to be a pioneer with this. I've heard a lot stories about budget bolt-in T56 and Mustang T5 conversions but no hard evidence to back it up. Whenever I get a new body for this car I plan to Mustang T5 and 3800 swap our Volvo. It'll be well documented and I'm betting it can be done with all off-the-shelf parts.

 

[v6buicks]

Here's a little taste of some of the research I'm doing.

 

[v6buicks]

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I'm so close, but this transmission does not go back in as easy as it comes out. It really just falls out once you shake it a little, but going back in? You have have to tilt the engine back a whole bunch which means undoing all the K-member bolts. Apparently that's one thing that I couldn't remember from the last time I did this. The other thing I forgot is why I need to drain the fluid! I paid for that one. Oh well. I only wasted maybe 20 minutes trying to toss the transmission back up. As for the fluid, I'm guessing it's going to cost me a few towels.

My employer changed my working hours due to COVID-19, so I'm now working four tens as opposed to my regular eight hour shift Monday through Friday. I don't understand how TF that's supposed to help anybody since we will all still be together for forty hours per week. However, I'm still employed, so I'll keep my mouth shut! Anyway, the point is that I'm exhausted from waking up an hour earlier and working at least two hours longer. Hopefully I can sucker a buddy into helping me out soon. Bench pressing this T5 on my own with a floppy engine and tight block dowels isn't going to happen. Working with pals in the garage is not exactly CDC approved or socially acceptable though, so it might take some convincing..... What an era we're living in!

 

[v6buicks]

probably should have cleaned up before quitting last night. lol

 

[v6buicks]

No problems! My buddy was happy to help muscle this trans back in as long as I would help him do brake lines in his Civic this weekend. DONE. That's just his beater though. I'd bet that TCG would love his Power Tour Long Hauler. I'll try to take some pics when I'm over there.

I really wish that dropping the K-member wasn't necessary for re-installation of the T5. It's kind of a pain and so hard to remember to do when the trans just falls out upon removing the bell housing bolts! Oh well. The deed is done, and I can complete the rest of this stuff solo. I think I'll be cruising this weekend.

 

[v6buicks]

Does anybody know what it means to "catch a break"? I don't. As usual, my daily saw that the Camaro was about to leave the garage, so it said "MY TURN!"


I also got my pay cut by 10% starting tomorrow. I'm going to be in a world of hurt if this thing ends up needing an engine, but I'm pretty sure it's just a water pump. I still think that the Camaro is closer to daily status than the Volvo, so I'm still on track for weekend completion. However, don't expect any COVID-Gymkhana videos. Once again, the Camaro's duties have been demoted. I really need a new car.

 

[v6buicks]

Imgur won't give me sound on that video, and I have no idea why. Just know that it's knocking loud enough to hear 100 yards away.

 

[10sec]

Damn, that sucksssss. 100% rod knock and it has oil?

 

[v6buicks]

Damn, that sucksssss. 100% rod knock and it has oil?

I say "knocking" as a sound description, but it's not a lower end issue. Worse case scenario is that I have a bad cam follower in which case the engine is still toast. It could also be a failing cam phaser, but I'm really betting it's just the water pump shaft bushing that's causing the water pump fins to slap the block. There's also a cringey metal-on-metal screaching. It all comes and goes.

What I know is that there is plenty of oil, plenty of oil pressure, and no glitter on the dip stick. That's a big relief. It's also puking coolant out the front of the engine, but it's hard to say where exactly. The water pump is timing belt driven so I'm guessing the issue is hidden behind the timing cover.

This is what I HATE about this car. There is never a warning. There's no limping the car home. When it breaks, it's dramatic AF.

 

[10sec]

My dear friend, you need to own a Honda. IF it has timing belts it only needs them every 100k miles and if it doesn't, you just have to make sure it has oil. Literally all you have to do.

 

[v6buicks]

My dear friend, you need to own a Honda. IF it has timing belts it only needs them every 100k miles and if it doesn't, you just have to make sure it has oil. Literally all you have to do.

You speak the truth. I was younger and dumber when I bought this car. I had just graduated, got a good job, and wanted a flashy car to show all that off. It hasn't been a bad car overall (assuming my engine didn't just yeet itself) and it's actually pretty enjoyable to drive. I just could have been a more sensible.

A Honda would be a great replacement, but I also need a truck. Toyota Tacos seem to be the Honda of trucks these days. We'll see. With all that's going on, now is a terrible time to buy something if I can avoid it.

 

[10sec]

There's that $900 Ranger on here, that's a killer deal. Beat up or not that thing will run forever.

 

[Pewter-Camaro]

My dear friend, you need to own a Honda. IF it has timing belts it only needs them every 100k miles and if it doesn't, you just have to make sure it has oil. Literally all you have to do.

Yup my wife had a 98 civic. She drove it for 4 years with a Blown head gasket. Oil all in the coolant and coolant in the exhaust. $800 car with 268k when The speedometer stopped working. I kept that shit topped off with used oil and whatever coolant or water and changed oil filters and it was still running when we dumped it off. Nothing else worked on it though. It was a tank and we purposely never maintained it and never sank a dime into it.

 

[v6buicks]

My next vehicle is already kinda picked out. I just want to save up for a bigger down payment than I can afford right now. I want the capability to tow a car on an open trailer. I also want at least 20 mpgs going to and from work. It must run on 87. As much as I love the look of regular cab trucks, that's a big no-go for me. I want interior, and exterior cargo space. However, I won't do an extended cab either because I can't stand the look of them. I also want to spend less than $40k. That kinda narrows things down to a few possible options.

Now for the real kicker that's making all my car buddies' heads spin... I might end up selling one of my "toy" cars to help ease the pain of the purchase. I'll give you a hint. It sure as hell isn't going to be the Camaro.

 

[v6buicks]

Somebody pinch me... It's happening!

Damn! I have videos, but I'm once again having hosting issues. Thanks imgur... anybody like another free hosting site?

This thing runs like a scalded dog now! I don't need to change my turbo. The lag is very much acceptable now that its's no longer trying to boost the atmosphere. I haven't even hit peak boost yet and I'm totally in love with everything I've done. The heat blows nice and warm, there's no draft from the holes in the floors, the carpet really quieted things down, and there's no more smoke or smells coming from under the hood! The new clutch is honestly super easy to drive so far though. That's not what I expected from an unsprung 6 puck. Maybe it will get grippier once it breaks in? I don't know.

I guess this is what happens when Russia is over producing oil this year and all the corn was destroyed by floods last year. Weird! Still cheap AF though.

 

[v6buicks]

I tried posting a couple more videos. I figured out the sound thing on my phone, but Imgur won't let me post them at all anymore. You can see the best one anyway.

 

[Pewter-Camaro]

I tried posting a couple more videos. I figured out the sound thing on my phone, but Imgur won't let me post them at all anymore. You can see the best one anyway.
View attachment 54668

Hell yeah!! Fucking love it.

 

[v6buicks]

I just ordered a suction cup Gopro mount. Maybe then I'll figure out how to get some good action footage.

 

[TurboTJ]

Nice work homie!

 

[v6buicks]

Thanks guys!

Business as usual. When one project is completed no time is wasted when moving on to the next one! I'm still standing behind my water pump theory. That's at least for sure where all the coolant has been leaking. As for the noise, I guess we'll find out as soon as I get the parts and install them.

The Camaro's clutch now has 50 break-in miles on it. It seriously feels nothing like the car I was driving last year, and I mean that in only positive ways. I know I've said all of this already, but all the sounds being muffled by the carpet, the lack of exhaust fumes coming through the rusty floor, the oil smoke being caught by the catch tanks, and being able to feel boost earlier in the gears is absolutely amazing. I feel like I actually built something good! It feels even better that I didn't have to break the bank to get here either. Sure there's plenty of room for improvement, but I finally have a complete car that I would be happy driving for a long long time as-is!

I mentioned earlier how the clutch seemed too smooth. Now that it's starting to break in a little, I'm starting to notice how I need to rev match a little better. No worries! It's by no means uncomfortable, and I'm extremely excited to give it the business. It's going to be super grippy in a couple hundred miles, and a little feedback is going to help me learn how to drive.

Not having a mini heart attack every time I roll the key and don't hear the fuel pump will be nice too. lol

Isn't my lifeless quarantined town so cute? lol

 

[SleeperLS]

Absolutely awesome!

 

[v6buicks]

I edited post #383. The sound works in the video now.

I wasn't feeling good about seeing this weird spot on the floor.

...but then I took everything apart and found this disaster. It turns out that that the black on the floor was coolant seeping out of freshly machined aluminum. How on earth I didn't hear anything long ago is beyond me!


That should take care of my noise and leak, so I started putting everything back together. I should be done next weekend.

Why?

Because Volvo and their beloved torx!!!

WHY WOULD YOU EVEN MAKE IT LIKE THAT?!

Here's a nice POV shot of failure

Sometimes hitting your head with a breaker bar that just stripped out the tensioner after hours of smooth work and only ten minutes to go means taking a nap on the concrete floor. Pro hobo tip: Empty oil jugs make surprisingly comfy pillows. Embarrassing head bruise selfie ahead.

After learning that Volvo changed the design of this tensioner halfway through the model year, I spent the next hour trying to figure out which one to order. Then I found out that it might not arrive until Friday. Joys! At least the timing aligned perfectly with the Camaro project being ready to roll. Although I must say that it's a little tough to trust it being so fresh out of the garage!

 

[m_dogg]

Damn dude, you don't mess around