Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Both from the $$$ spent, and rolling around on very un-even rocky ground, working by myself with hand tools. It doesn't help that I barely remember what each size bolt was under the car so I had to get up/down quite a few times to fetch the proper socket/wrench. I was my own tool bitch too.

Accomplished? Doesn't seem like alot on paper! Axle removed, Stock PH/LCA's removed. Exhaust removed up to Y-pipe. Tank dropped, new Walbro 255 installed, tank re-installed into car Even got the filler neck in and out on the FIRST TRY!!! Hooray!

Total Hours? About 4.5. I can accept that.

Whats tomorrow?

Re-install the Axle with all the UMI stuff, button up rear-end. Remove Hooker 2055 Ceramic coated headers and Y-pipe for sale.

Need to sell the old parts to make way for the new parts. Will be selling some Spohn Tubular LCA's w/polybushings, and my Ceramic coated 2055's.
_____________________

Still to do, REMOVE ENGINE and TRANSMISSION lol. Assemble new new engine, measure/order pushrods, re-install into car. Dyno TUNE. I've run out of funds this month so no Dyno Tune till later, but will be putting a mail order tune from MadZ28 onto the car.

New engine = Stock displacement LT1, balanced rotating assembly, ARP hardware. LE 231/239 110LSA cam, 30#hr injectors @ 58psi. 2210 Long Tubes.

Install C5 front brake upgrade.

Cut springs to lower car.

Ugh. My butt hurts. Gonna be bruised for a week.

________________

Only snapped one pic today. Spent most of the time working.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85540264@N02/8623673310/http://www.flickr.com/photos/85540264@N02/8623673310/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/85540264@N02/, on Flickr

novadk13

And all I did to mine was order fuel lines to add to the parts pile

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I have everything needed for this upgrade. Short of fluids, and tiny stuff I shouldn't need to buy anything.

Trying to get it to Road America, but if the car isn't ready I will probably just drive the Focus instead. Better fuel economy and the GTA probably won't be broken in properly by then either. Plus I need to purchase the Plate stickers for it (ugh, $100 for nothing).

I don't think I'll be able to swing the Race Pads and rotors.

Unless my LCA's, Exhaust, and get the $100 core credit back for the spindles. Potentially a few hundred right there.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

How much coil did you cut off ? Good progress!

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

None yet. Was going to do some more research on that.

Though based on this article on page 41: https://www.thirdgen.org/buildingabe...bird-hpp-dec89

They cut 2 coils from the rear springs, and 1 7/8th coils from the front to get about a 1.5" lower rear, and a about a 1 1/16th" lower front (can you even measure that accurately...) I'd just call it 1" even.

As I'm losing 50# off the front of the car due to the aluminum head swap I'm not sure on the front springs.

I didn't like any of the lowering spring kits. They pretty much all have ridiculously lower spring rates in front compared to a stock setup. Also not a fan of progressive rear springs. Springs on car now are linear.

The front end of the car already sits pretty darn high. This pic illustrates the skyjacker stock springs. You can see just how high the front rides compared to the rear.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85540264@N02/7990503066/http://www.flickr.com/photos/85540264@N02/7990503066/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/85540264@N02/, on Flickr

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Anyone remember which orientation the Fuel Sock goes on? See this thread: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...tion-sock.html

Pretty sure I have it installed correctly, when its submerged I guess it won't matter! Got it parallel with the float. which I'm pretty sure is how it came out of the car too.

Also forgot to mention. Apparently at some point after the drag rental one of the nuts on the rear Sway bar end-link backed off and eventually fell off. And I apparently lost the bottom part. Good thing I wasn't really throwing the car around on the way back from Cordova. Then again, on that trip back I was SUPER babying it go limp a knocking LT1 home 160 miles.

So I apparently have to buy some new poly endlinks.

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

I feel for ya!! I hated getting under ours!!
Gotta give you 2 thumbs up for going at it like that!!

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

Bill you can have my poly end links off the slomaro. Also one coil on the front was a stupid huge drop on my car. Try half coil front and back and remove the rubber isolator in rear and use 5/8" heater hose around top coil. Lube it with lithium grease to slide on.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I'd like to keep the isolators since I have linear rate springs. I don't really have to worry about the rating ramping up as coils are cut. Just a a matter of how much to cut.

I put the springs back in un-cut. I want to let it settle then measure how much the compressed height is per coil since I forgot to measure that with the springs in.

Back end is otherwise buttoned up. Though I'll need to bleed the brakes later, doing that after the C5 brake's are installed up front.

Car may or may not make it to Road America.. Might have run out of money for the Hawks HPS+ pads and high temp fluid.

Gotta sell some stuff. I have plenty of $$$ in savings, but want to keep that around for the first car payment. Going to schedule the car payment in a 26 payment per year setup. Aka, pay some of it out of every paycheck. And then I also don't have to worry about the conflicting schedules with payments and monthly. I really wish I was back on the Bi-Monthly paycheck thing instead of the two week pay period they moved us too.

___________________________

MMMMMnnnn. UMI Roto-Joint rear suspension goodies.

Double adjustable. Though I was VERY **** in matching the length of the UMI LCA's an PH against the stock length stuff.

LSJuan0068

How much for the hookers?

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Gotta get'm out of the car before I put a price on them.

gp90gta

iTrader: (1)

That LE cam should be real nice, whats the lift on it, so your going with the rotojoints? I have the Spohn delshere's and I hate them, you feel and hear every little bump and pebble, but it does handle real nice, I think I just getting old cause these days my back cant handle the ride anymore, anyways good choice on going with the UMI ones, much better design.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I expected more harshness being that I was taking a bunch of the deflection out.

Its not my primary car, so i'm fine with that. Part of why I want to keep the rear isolators in.

LE cam's specs are:
231/239 @ .050" lift (282/288 duration)
110 LSA
107 ICL
.571" / .587" @ valve with 1.6rr.

its an asymmetric lobe design, the closing ramp of the lobe is more gradual than the opening side.

gp90gta

iTrader: (1)

Wow that's a nice cam, mine is close but I would love to swap out for a new one, mine is a Bullet cam which I believe is the same company LE has make his cams
@ .50 226/234 (280/288)
.565/.565 with 1.6
112 lsa.
108 Icl.

Yeah no my car is not my DD, really I just think I'm getting old, I just came back from an hour drive and I'm really considering putting back the stock control arms after three year of having it like this.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Normally Lloyd's cams are through Comp Cams. But this one is actually through Lunati. He really seems to like the asymmetric lobes. Lloyds a good guy to talk to on the phone.

gp90gta

iTrader: (1)

Well now you have me curious, I'm going to keep an eye on your build, I want to see your results, I really wish I went with a better cam but back when I ordered it I was still kind new to tuning the GM ecu and I didn't want to end up having to buy an aftermarket standalone so I went conservative 112 lsa, people where telling me that the stock 7730 was going to be a pain to tune without a 112 or better lsa, truth is with all the hard work the the diy guys did here at hacking it, I think I could run any cam without a problem.

LSJuan0068

Let me know, been wanting to swap out my flowtechs.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Probably could. They've further with that ECM than everyone ever thought it could go.

I originally had his 226/232 cam when I had a 100k mile stock short block. I never installed the cam, but when I was buying I wanted a cam that wouldn't stress the shortblock. Then the block started knocking and now i have a brand spankin new shortblock to abuse. So I had some of the basic goodies one has done to increase its like expectancy at high RPM.

So I sold the 226/232 and bought the 231/239 knowing the new short block could handle it.

Not the only one out there. Had quite a few people PM me about my SLP 2otL cat-back as well because its impossible to get ahold of one that isn't torn up now. Muffler still shines like brand new. I'll probably continue to run the 2otL unless I decide I don't like its noise. I was originally having a True Dual 2otL setup built, but money/time is short so thats a future project. Would run twin 2.5" pipes along the stock factory routing with an X-pipe, then over the axle with a set of chambered mufflers or a dual in/out muffler.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

So, wrenching on the car again Fri/Sat/Sun if weather holds.

Need to do the C5 brake upgrade, as well as pull the old engine. Also need to assemble new engine and drop it into the car.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

no no no...."need" to do the motor swap to get it running, can do the brakes later on Gotta prioritize the list for sure. Ever do the blue calipers either? Buddy had his done in blue candy powdercoat for $200 and oh my do they look amazing.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Negative Ghost Rider, brakes are important at Road America.

3.8TransAM

Good going Bill.

Definitely piling on the parts list and making progress.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Grrr. Friday looks like a crappy day. No work will be getting done friday. I'll have to see what the weather is going to look like later today. I would like to start prepping the car for the removal of the transmission so I can lift the engine out tomorrow. Aka, just getting the car up in the air again, and starting in on the trans to bellhousing bolts. I don't have a trans jack, so not sure if I'd really be able to safely pull the transmission by myself. A normal jack woudn't let the trans be stable enough.

The ground is very rough, uneven and cracked making rolling a trans around very difficult. Specially a trans full of fluid. I remember how much "fun" tim and I had putting the transmission into the car on the flat, level ground of his garage.

davila0115

Where are you located at? Have a price on the LCA's? I live in Schererville 46375. Thanks

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

LCA's sold in about 2 hours. Crazy fast.

novadk13

I got my trans jack from harbor freight for like 40bucks uses a half inch socket, not the best one in the world but it works for the amount of times ill use it. Plus after messing around with 2 jacks and almost smashing my hand with my t56 it was 40 bucks well spent.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

I don't see a $40 one on their site

novadk13

Just looked I guess I got mine on special 4 years ago or whenever I installed it, they have the one I have for 76 now, still better than fumbling around with 2 jacks

davila0115

Yeah, I have this Trans jack also. http://tinyurl.com/c8vdv4c Does well for the few times you use it.. Also is really handy for dropping gas tanks... Put in a few Th350's with it..

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Welp, 2055 headers and Y-pipe are off the car. Trans is still in the car, but mostly unbuttoned. The rain has put a stop to working today.

Poor ceramic coating flaked off in spots. They will have to be painted with some ceramic paint now to make them look clean. Still solid though.

Going with my Hooker 2210 Long Tubes for the new engine.

Hooker 2055 headers | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

So thats where I put that engine!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85540264@N02/8649972101/http://www.flickr.com/photos/85540264@N02/8649972101/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/85540264@N02/, on Flickr

RockinGTA89

interesting bill, now how will the car move without a engine and trans combo? Were you able to bleed the brakes yet? Keep me posted on your next trip out there, hopefully i can help you out again but with Jefferson County Swap meet coming up shortly, i may end up having to find some parts for you when the date comes....that is if you can afford some go fast goodies...

9D1BURD

I think bill has all the go fast goodies he can handle...lol

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I admit, I have some lernin' to do with that car once its together.

Its got more brakes than i'm used to.
More Power than I've ever had.
And more tire than I've ever put on any car before.

Once this is done, I'm done with go-fast goodies. If anything the rest of it would be interior, sound deadening, and Infotainment type stuff.

9D1BURD

I think we are getting old...took a little longer than it did 10 years ago...lol

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

If I hadn't decided to make the shifter hole bigger it would have been out sooner. Ooops.

RockinGTA89

so much for needing a short throw shifter huh?

either way just keep at it...and make sure all bolts are secured!

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Well, I made the call yesterday. I will not be bringing the GTA to Road America. I have too much stuff I NEED to do to the car like repair the rust in the engine bay under the brake booster, as well as notch the K-member so I can run A/C.

If I put the engine in without doing that I won't get to it for another year if not longer.

Instead I will be rocking the Focus ST at RA.

That said I'm still going to keep working on it weekends, just not with the same rush. Going to take my time and fix the things that need fixing.

At some point I'm going to have to have the windshield replaced as its separating, I also have rust coming in on the A-pillar where the seals are and that must be fixed before it turns to rot.

It'll be at Thirdgenfest though.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

Glad you're making tgf at least