New 87 GN (Topic merged with "It's On!" post)

[Jeff]

looks like youre going to have a killer stereo system 


all jokes aside i love improving and cleaning up the engine bay[size=78%]/harness. sometimes it can be a rats nest..[/size]

[SuperSix]

Yep - I hate having the fuse links down by the starter.

We have been wrenching, just not on the GN.

[deathraider6996]

We did get a lot done. we replaced the upper control arms, brakes, colipack, cleaned up and painted the valve cover, and compounded the outside of the car. im sure i lkeft something out but we got a lot of work in.

[deathraider6996]

Supersix has been called out! I told him that he has to have the car at least driveable by march. The reason for this is I am in the air force and I have gotten orders to Yokota Japan and I leave at the end of march. I won't be back in the state's for at least 2vyears and I really want to drive to some car meets with me in my turbo t and him in his gn. 

[SuperSix]

Yep - called out indeed,

So I have been doing some work on it, getting the last things done before I put the motor in.

Completing the ground assembly block for the firewall, got the negative batt cable in.

I still need to order the converter.

I replaced the possibly cracked oil drain pipe with an aftermarket piece I bought. Tough to get it in right without dissembling the front of the engine. I got it in there, not sure if it will leak though.

I may just pull a few more parts off and reinstall it to make sure it is done right. I don't want a leak after I get the motor installed.

I rebuilt the rear brakes last Saturday. Everything is new - wheel cylinders, shoes, most hardware..

They looked like they were in good shape, the shoes were fine - but I just can't trust anything on this car, much less the brakes.

Old shoes:


Finished brakes:

[deathraider6996]

Woohooooooooo lol

[deathraider6996]

He also has a new pair of jegs fender covers to use

[SuperSix]

More updates:

Did some work a few weeks ago..
Installed Racetronix hot wire kit
Installed firewall ground lug I built, worked on positive batt cable/supply routing.
Laid out trans cooler lines.

Then yesterday, I decided I would drop the motor in.

I pulled off the oil cooler sandwich plate – since I am using an FBody radiator, I will go without an oil cooler. With the FBody rad, dual fans, and a Racetronix fan harness - I don’t think oil temp will be an issue.

I hooked up an oil pressure gauge and made sure the motor still had prime – it did.

While I had the crank sensor out, I made sure the motor was at TDC (Both Cyl 1 valves were closed, balancer at “0”) and set the crank sensor (I hope) I am using a Casper’s LED cap, so I made sure to use the instructions on his site.

I finally got my new converter from PTC.. It took over two weeks, not sure what the holdup was. I drilled out one of the flexplate bolt holes to 7/16” per the included instructions, it’s ready to go in. FYI – It seems Pat’s is out of business..

While I was under the car I noticed the shift cable is trashed – have to replace that before I put the trans in, I have one on the way from Amazon.

I was amazed how easy the motor went in, it literally took 5 minutes to drop it in. These are worth their weight in gold:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-ton-capacity-heavy-duty-load-leveler-67441.html

I still need to put a ground lug on the fender near the battery, install a few extra ground straps (Adding one from body to frame as well), install and reroute a new alternator > battery charging cable, and a million other things.

But at least I am making progress!

I only took a few pics..

Laying out the braided trans cooler lines:


Closeup of homemade firewall ground lug:


Fuel pump hotwire:


BWM PS reservoir I am adapting to the Buick – Only needed a ˝ > 3/8 barb adapter to get it to work, I will mount it to the existing PS bracket with a huge hose clamp:


Motor pics:

[Steve Wood]

looks good.  This should kick you into gear to finish it up....good feeling to drive one after it's been parked forever...so I hear

[SuperSix]

looks good.  This should kick you into gear to finish it up....good feeling to drive one after it's been parked forever...so I hear

Good and bad..

Good that it's finally in, bad that there's a bewildering amount of work left to do.

[SuperSix]

Worked a bit on it tonight..

Hooked up fuel lines - after spending 30 minutes looking for the replacement orings I bought 2+ years ago.

Plumbed new replacement BWM PS reservoir. I used a Dremel to cut slits in the factory mounting bracket, so I could use a huge hose clamp to hold it. Pics of the bracket below are before I painted them. $18 for the reservoir, and $12 for the 1/2" > 3/8" barbed adapter. Damn sight better than the $100 people want for a used stocker.





Installed:

[Steve Wood]

saved some money there!

[deathraider6996]

I think it even looks better!

[SuperSix]

Actually got my ass out there an got a bunch of shit done today. I'm over making it look pristine, I just want to get it on the road.

cleaned the used PS reservoir I bought - I had to use the one above to save the kid at Pep Boys when he was getting tires mounted. Long story..
Cleaned and painted PC res bracket, then installed and plumbed it all.

Ran alternator charge wire - 6ga stuff I bought online. I don't like the way it looks, so I just ran it along the back of the motor and connected it to the + dist block.  I will move it later, if need be.

Installed a ground lug in the fender near the battery, and connected the 4ga GND portion of my new - BAT cable. The portion from the BAT to the block is 2ga. Makes a nice spot to connect the relay GND for the Racetronix dual fan harness I also installed today.

I had ordered a new condenser from Amazon, and as my luck would have it, they sent the worn one. After a nit of web surfing, and a nice coupon, I found one local for ~$2 more than Amazon. Went, grabbed that, and after I mounted the trans cooler (I need to buy some cooler line) installed it in the car. A decent looking parallel flow unit made in China. Not the best fit. Should work fine.

Shortened the ECU + feed wire - it now connects to the + distribution block I installed.

Connected rear engine ground straps, I added 1 that goes to the passenger side head.

Added a ground strap from the body to the frame. Cant hurt, I have a few spares.

Installed stock intercooler (For now)
Went to install some of the intercooler hoses - and realized I have none. Derp! I must have thrown them away or something.

Next thing is the driveshaft loop - all 4 bolts were crossthreaded when I removed it, so I need to retap / thread the holes and get that done. After that - transmission goes in.

I am at the point now that I spend a lot of time looking for the right bolts, etc. Remember kids - bag-n-tag!

It's coming along..

**EDIT** More I forgot:
Replaced the orifice tube with one of the red Ford units.
Installed new orings on condenser > drier line
Installed new TV cable.
Installed/router cruise control cable. (missing a clip. Can't find it anywhere. Grrr)
installed throttle cable.
Snipped off the charcoal canister purge plug.

oops - forgot the pics

[Steve Wood]

ground strap to the frame cannot hurt?  Ground loop in the making!

Sounds like you made some progress!