Aloha all. I’m finally continuing my 2000 SSEi rebuild after 2 years and am looking for opinions and advice as I progress in my build. I spun a rod bearing in March 2017 and so far I have:

- had the block cleaned and inspected for cracks, should be ok to reuse
- crankshaft inspected and polished
- con rods will be inspected this week, at least 5 are ok(I do have 6 extra OEM L67 rods)
- heads inspected and cleaned + valve job

For parts, Ive ordered
- ZZP Master Gasket Set w/ FelPro head gaskets
- Valve Stem Seals
- Balance Shaft Bearings - std
- Camshaft Bearings - std
- Connecting Rod Bearings - .001” undersized
- Main Bearings - std

I’m also thinking about getting a
- ZZP VS cam
- ZZP 5/16 7.00 pushrods
- LS6 90lb valve springs

Not looking for anything crazy, just a slightly better than stock rebuild. If I could extract 300whp I’d be happy. I have headers and an intake sitting in boxes on the side I may as well throw on too. I have a few questions before I order anything else if anyone can chip in?

- I can’t find stock replacement con rod or main cap hardware except for ARP stuff, I have no experience with any ARP. Thoughts? It’s all I can find as replacements.
- ARP makes Head Studs instead of bolts, can I still pull the heads if I have to do a future head gasket replacement?
- Is a PCM tune required to run an aftermarket cam like the VS?

Thanks in advance! Ive never done an engine rebuild before, only tear downs.

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

Some parts came in. Just waiting on the piston rings and Intense valvetrain package.

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

Hey there!

I don't think you'll get to 300 whp without an intercooler but I'd bet that set up will give you 260+ for sure.

However! You do need to get a tune, not only for the cam, but because you'll be dropping pulley sizes and adding boost.

Also, remember that the transmissions are the weak point here.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles

That’s good news, 260. Guess Ill look into getting a ZZP intercooler a little later.

That’s what I needed to know. Wasn’t sure if the factory PCM could compensate. Figuring maybe a 3.5 pulley is conservative enough?

Any easy trans mods to do while the engine is out? I’d think a trans cooler wouldn’t be a bad idea.

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

All of the parts are in minus the Total Seal piston rings which were ordered by my builder. Will begin the build next Thursday! YEEEEEESSS

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

DANG! Nice build!

S

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Shane "RedZMonte"
2004 Z16 Z06: Virgin
2000 SSEi: Kenwood DDX512, 3.25" MPS, ZZP DP, PLog, Puck Mount, NGK TR7's, DHP Tuned
1995 Monte Z34: T04e "60" turbo, 42.5# injectors, Borla Catback, OBDII swap, DHP Tuned, Much more...

Can’t wait for everything to be finished! There are no other Bonneville in my area except for a black GXP, but I haven’t seen it around since it sold off Craigslist. I’ll pretty much be the only one driving around lol

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

I think lately this is true no matter where you live. Lol. Bonnevilles are unicorns these days.

I'm very interested to see how this build goes as well! I've got the L36 on my Camaro about 1/3 torn apart at the moment, so I'm all about the engine info and builds lately.

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2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi (L67) - Galaxy Silver Metallic
1996 Chevrolet Camaro (L36) - Sebring Silver

hi, you have a pile of go fast stuff: dont forget about the transaxle or you may have a 300hp anchor.

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poverty forces one to do unorthodox things

2000 SSEi
past rides:
1996 SSEi
1992 GTP
1987 Grand Am

What are your suggestions? Besides the plan to change the trans fluid with maybe a newer spec Dexron fluid, quality filter kit, an external trans cooler and knock mat kit that mounts to the trans, I haven’t made any plans to modify the transmission.

_________________
2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

The big ones I can think of for the trans are the 4th hub, a shift kit, and replace the oil pump shaft if the splines are worn on either end in addition to the trans cooler. Then while you've got that open, the PCS and switch bank, just as PM. Check the diff pin that the roll pin isn't falling out and don't do burnouts.

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Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

apart from the above,I would have regular fluid changes so I would install a drain plug in trans pan to make changes a breeze.

I would also install a fan on the new cooler, and a temp sender: heat and dirt are a trans #1 killer

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poverty forces one to do unorthodox things

2000 SSEi
past rides:
1996 SSEi
1992 GTP
1987 Grand Am

No kidding. It’s so hard to find any parts for this car. Feel more like Indiana Jones searching for hidden treasure online when I’m looking for taillights lol if Bonneville are unicorns, then when I start the body work and repainting process, I may as well do the base color white and throw in a rainbow of pearls for the pearl coat! Purple spoiler and a ZZP decal on the rear quarter and all lol

Stay tuned. I will update as progress is made. I’m on vacation and will be doing other small projects I can post about on here.



You may have to translate for me, I don’t understand automatic transmissions or it’s mods. To me it’s all magic and pixie fairies in a metal box that’s better if I don’t ask any tough questions. I know a shift kit replaces the valve body and springs to improve shift points and the external trans cooler is to help keep the fluid cool to extend trans life but that’s about it. 4th hub, PCS, switch bank, diff pin and roll missed me. I do understand burnouts though if that counts? Lol Transmission has 60K at the moment.





Do you know if anyone makes a modified pan or is a drill the pan and weld a nut application? Better than dropping the pan every 20-30K miles.

Agreed.

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

yes, you can drill and install a drain plug - no need to weld if bit matches outside diameter of plug.

_________________
poverty forces one to do unorthodox things

2000 SSEi
past rides:
1996 SSEi
1992 GTP
1987 Grand Am

So after another year and a half, I finally got my engine back last Saturday. Also moved into a new house in a warmer area so a lot has happened since I last posted here. The weather here is more favorable to working on cars. So! Engine is back. Went through my storage units and pulled all of my SSEi parts that were in containers and boxes. Unfortunately, water got into some of my stuff and corroded a some stuff beyond use. On a side note, the engine is cleaned up, with the aforementioned goodies. I’m installing my oil pan and valve covers tomorrow morning. If anyone may chip in, is there any resource for getting new or finding what bolts go where? It’s been 4 years, I don’t remember what bolt or nut goes where. Car also came home today via a tow. Happy to have my baby in a prime spot to be roadworthy in hopefully short order! I’d post pics, but don’t remember how!

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

Nice!

Congrats on the move to a warmer area. As for pics, you can host and upload them to Imgur and then paste the IMG codes here.

_________________
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles

Nice on getting it back.

I think the only thing that will have what bolt goes where is the FSM where it distinguishes each bolt for torque values.

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95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

Here’s my attempt to test and post some pics.

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

Progress Update:


Drilled and tapped the trans pan, installed ZZP shift kit, new filter.


Restored torque converter


TR6 spark plugs, 1 step colder


Painted valve covers, low gloss black


Painted supercharger same color


Fuel injectors rebuilt, fuel rail restored and installed






Going in


It’s in


Long tube headers installed

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2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels

Can anybody post some pics of their SSEI engine set up? I don’t remember where the wiring harness is supposed to route or where any of the black brackets on the engine go and how they mount. I forgot after years of stalled progress. Also what wire goes to which terminal on the starter? The small one is obvious, but the other 2 or 3 terminals not so much.

_________________
2000 Bonneville SSEi
2003 ZO6 - FAST 102 LSXR, LS2 TB, afe CAI, LTs, Catless X, Corsas
2005 Mustang GT, Her - 4.10s, Intake, TB, Tune
2002 RSX Type S -
2008 F150 Lariat - Lifted, Fuels