Lukes Maroon GTP

CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
Wrenchin

Brake and fuel lines installed but hanging loose still. Honestly, the brake and fuel lines were the worst part of all the work I did. I dreaded every day when I knew I had to work on them. Getting them all to fit and cooperate was a nightmare. Glad it's over.

I will try and post more pics tomorrow...

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CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
I'm not there to witness and photograph the strut tower/rocker repairs. Wish I was. Thing is, I live in Chicago and the welder lives on the Fox River so I can't keep a good eye on any progress. He came as a recommendation. He's an autobody/paint guy that has a garage on his property that he works out of. The plan was to cut out all the rust and weld in new, .25" sheet metal. I know he ran into problems with the rear quarter panels being rusted. That resulted in more fab work being done than we expected. I also need "dog legs" fab'd up. I learned that the dog leg is the lower part of the door jam that leads into the rockers. Who knew... Once I talk with him more, and see his handy work I will have more to report for you guys. I know that rusty strut towers are like the plague in the 3800 community.

The metal that is being used for both the towers and the rockers is new. I did some research on the rockers and ended up ordering from Tabco, out in OH. They dicked me around a little (they have it in stock.... now they don't... now wait... we'll call ya back). Waited like 2wks to get my order in but a lot of guys swear that their quality is the best. I had them shipped directly to the welder. Never actually saw them. The strut tower metal, quarter panel metal, and dog legs are all being fab'd up from scratch using new sheet metal.
 

CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
Wrenchin

Next I upgraded the tie ends to a MOOG brand. That came with it’s own share of problems. The tie rod would not dislodge from the driver side knuckle. I tried everything. As a final attempt I tried sawing it off and drilling it out. Nothing. That drivers knuckle was also different from the passenger side knuckle. The bolt holes to mount the calipers were thicker on passenger side. On the drivers side, the metal around the hole was thinner requiring washers. See photo below. I didn’t like the idea of washers being used to mount the calipers.

On the passenger side, I developed a leak around the axle seal. Went to a Haggerty GM dealer and ordered the seal directly from them. Some parts are best bought from GM, this is one of them.

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CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
Wrenchin

This meant that both knuckles were coming off. One knuckle had a seized tie rod stem and thinner metal, the other one needed to come out to fix the seal. Heard a lot about Ed Morad Parts Co. out in OH. Called them. Thee actual Ed Morad picked up the phone. I shyt you not. After having seen his name so many times in my 3800 reading, it felt like I was talking to God damn celebrity. He shipped me a knuckle for $35 from a GS they just scrapped. Both knuckles got a scrubbing.

Removed the axle nuts, removed the hubs, popped the ball-joint, wire wheeled the ABS sensor bracket and later rattle canned it.

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CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
Wrenchin

Looking at the knuckles. I thought they were ugly. So I painted them. Might be the first 3800 owner to ever paint the knuckles. Ever. LOL. First, I scrubbed them with alcohol. Taped off the mating surfaces. Primed them. Painted them with some Aluminum colored POR-15. Cooked in oven for 20min to seal the paint. All this was done over the course of like a week. Allowing time to dry and cure and what not. Photo below has middle knuckle unpainted for comparison. And since the knuckles are off, might as well upgrade the bushings in the front LCA’s right? Right! Got some MOOG problem solvers pressed in at a shop.

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TrboGT

Member
Aug 29, 2016
95
137
Not the only one to coat the knuckles! Lol. I did that over the winter last year to my turbo car. They looked new though. It’s not seen winter or rain in 12 years. You’re doing great work! I still mess with my wbodies. They’re paid for. And I still like them. I also have a 98 GTP that has received similar treatments to yours. Just less extensive. Was a Michigan car before I bought it.

Keep with the updates and have fun!
 

DEEZUZ

NO PUKESTERS
TCG Premium
Nov 20, 2008
82,325
94,416
NWI
Going to be one lucky fuck who finds this car in the junk yard I tell ya that much :rofl:

Good work dude. You must not get your hands dirty at work?

Here I am @ 215k miles, 15 year old brake lines and I'm patching inches at a time as they blow out lmao
 

CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
Going to be one lucky fuck who finds this car in the junk yard I tell ya that much :rofl:

Good work dude. You must not get your hands dirty at work?

Here I am @ 215k miles, 15 year old brake lines and I'm patching inches at a time as they blow out lmao

Junkyard?! What Junkyard? Shyttt. My 7yr old son is gonna drive this thing to prom my friend! haha

I'm at 243K on that thing. Got tired of fixing everything inch by inch. Decided to curb it, boil the ocean, and FIX IT ALL, damn it. Especially coolant leaks. Ohh God. It's my mortal mission to fix and prevent any and all coolant leaks in this thing. Drives me NUTZ.

And nawww, don't get my hand too dirty. Maybe with toner. I'm a print room manager, 9-5.
 

CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
Wrenchin

Next up were the trans and engine mount. Lifted the car by the pans and everything worked out. Hockey puck came in handy here. Since the car was lifted, it was a slight upward angle. The hockey puck compensated for that angle while still providing enough friction so nothing slipped.

Trans mount wasn't too bad. They never line up right, but I was able to get the bracket onto the new mount studs pretty quick.

The engine mount was easy to remove, but getting the engine bracket to seat correctly onto the new mount was stressful. The engine did not want to swing in the direction I needed it to. I had completely loosened the nuts on the trans mount to give me more wiggle room, that helped very little. Started to panic cuz how long can you have the engine held up by the pans... Jeeze. Finally got it tho.

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CHI2000GTP

Grand Prix Junkie
TCG Premium
Dec 1, 2017
480
157
Chicago, IL
I love viewing this thread every day.

Thanks man. I have maybe 2-3 posts left, and we will be at present day. My updates will slow down to those of a normal person. That's a good 20 months of work right there. All posted in like 3 days. lol

Waiting for the turbo install pictures.....

Check back like 2022.
 

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