Just a few options it shipped with: 4WD, dual exhaust, full size bed, quad front shocks, 8600GVW, antenna integrated in windshield, a 160hp/250tq 350ci v8, HD cooling system, tow package, power windows, power locks, chrome bumpers, dual gas tanks, 4.10/4.11 gears, 14B semi-floater rear differential, blue on blue exterior with blue interior.

No center mount brake light in that list...


Anyhow it's paid it's dues over the years. But now it's time to start paying it back. Currently has over 300k miles on it - hard miles that include towing in tandem a camper and 38' travel trailer. Since the original 350 died, it's had an Olds 455 and two Buick 455 motors under the hood. It's on it's 4th or 5th trans and second transfer case.

Long term goal for this project: Full restoration with a Northstar V8 and some turbo love. With any luck that will happen later this year. Parts for this truck are still mostly available, so should limit the amount of welding that needs to happen.

What I'm going to be doing now: 3800 swap, exhaust repairs, body mount rust repairs, new ball joints and tie rods, new fuel tanks and lines, new brake lines, and rear disc brakes. This should get me back on the road for winter.

What I'm starting with:


455 not looking so hot:


3800 drivetrain:


A little history on the 455: It was bought in 2013, reconditioned, and replaced the 455 that my wife ran in 1st gear at 45mph for about 2 miles before that one spun a bearing (she knows I'm never going to let her live that one down). I'm pretty sure with the gearing it had that was around 6400rpm on a motor that normally redlines at 5000. It has the high compression heads and a late Olds 455 Q-jet. I did all of the recommended oiling mods and it was running fairly well other than the secondaries on my Q-jet sticking shut all the time. Then one day it started randomly misfiring for a short duration, corrected itself shortly thereafter, and was fine the rest of the day. Next day did it twice. Third day I headed off to replace the cap, rotor, coil, all of which were years old, and it started misfiring and wouldn't recover. It got worse, and started making a random metal on metal clanking noise. Of course, the ignition components didn't correct the issue, so I called it quits and towed it home. Further inspection revealed metal in the oil.

The 3800: Started life out in a '91 Regal that we picked up for $600. That car had the typical rear-end sag due to rusted out mounts for the rear swing arms. It was poorly bondo'ed everywhere and a true beater of a car that pretty much everything worked perfectly on. Coupe, sunroof, and the euro cleared tail lights, concert sound with steering wheel controls, and the most comfortable seats ever. A few years back, somebody pulled out in front of my brother while he was driving it and he rear-ended them. At that point it just wasn't worth the money to fix it up. We pulled the motor and trans, scrapped the car. The drivers seat is still in use to this day, setup as a computer chair with all the power functions still operational. The trans, 3.06 FDR, was donated to my LeSabre prior to the L67 swap, and this 3800 was converted to RWD for my brothers G-body Grand Prix. It was mated to a S10 700-r4 that we picked from a junkyard. He didn't get to use it much before deciding to have some real fun with that car, and stripped it down last summer. Motor has somewhere near 160k miles on it, so plenty of life in it still.

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

Excited to see this thing take shape.

_________________
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 187k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 61k miles

Here's that old 91 Regal that engine came out of:





Here it is next to the pickup truck (2007ish)



And here it is with Matt's 86 Lesabre pre-L67 swap.



and its doom with the accident:



That thing was definitely the most reliable car I've had, save for being a complete beater.

_________________


2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab, 6.0, Z71. The project mover.
1999 Buick Regal GS 3.4" pulley,SLP headers, fwi, pnp, gemini chain w/ other trans mods, 12" brakes, GR2's, STB's, 34mm front sway bar; The Summer DD
1982 Pontiac Grand Prix L36 and an hx35 turbo; It's pretty quick Mod list here

Holy crap a blue Michigan plate, that is an old picture.

_________________

-Ryan
2004 GTO....LS1, 6MT
96 SSEi...September 2010 COTM........GONE
04 GTP comp G.... December 2015 COTM........GONE
2001 Volkswagen Passat, 1.8T 5MT......winter beater

yepp, they switched to white shortly after that. Hard to believe this was that long ago.

_________________


2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab, 6.0, Z71. The project mover.
1999 Buick Regal GS 3.4" pulley,SLP headers, fwi, pnp, gemini chain w/ other trans mods, 12" brakes, GR2's, STB's, 34mm front sway bar; The Summer DD
1982 Pontiac Grand Prix L36 and an hx35 turbo; It's pretty quick Mod list here

What's up with its tail lights? Never seen one like that before I don't think. Looked nice!

_________________
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 187k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 61k miles

It's actually factory believe it or not. It was an option for the 2 door regal's. There's more info about them somewhere on the w-body boards but I don't think I ever found much about them. I still have the assembly somewhere actually because I thought I'd end up selling it but never did.

They look amazing at night! I wish I had a picture somewhere.

_________________


2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab, 6.0, Z71. The project mover.
1999 Buick Regal GS 3.4" pulley,SLP headers, fwi, pnp, gemini chain w/ other trans mods, 12" brakes, GR2's, STB's, 34mm front sway bar; The Summer DD
1982 Pontiac Grand Prix L36 and an hx35 turbo; It's pretty quick Mod list here

The rears are being converted to disc brakes. The HD 3/4 ton trucks all got a weight adjustable proportioning valve, I'm still looking into it but there should be enough adjust-ability in that valve to take up any additional bias adjustment when going to rear discs. It was leaking fluid, but looks like I may be able to rebuild it. However, I have a semi-float rear end so I have to crack open the differential and remove the axle shafts for the swap, and of course inspect the rear end to make sure failure is not imminent as it has a lot of backlash.

To parking brake, or not to parking brake..
As long as I've been driving it the parking brake has never worked. The cables are rusted as are the shoes. In order to fix that I'd have to replace everything. The rear parking brake calipers are also about 2x's as expensive as the standard caliper. To be street legal I think it has to have a parking brake, but I heard those calipers need to have the parking brake set every time you park otherwise they start getting soft and/or pedal travel will increase. There is a chance that the same rear calipers I used on the Bonneville will fit the brackets, they are cheaper and don't have the same 'setting the parking brake' concern.

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

Boy that's a lot of rust.

_________________

I like to think of it as a nice patina. My main focus for now is going to be cleaning up the important things, like the frame, brakes, suspension, body mounts, and get it back on the road.

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

If you never use the parking brake, then don't bother! Or does MI do inspections?

_________________
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 187k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 61k miles

I know we all love the 3800 and N* on here, but why not a proper Chevy BBC? Engine's, parts, etc, all all plentily available, and usually pretty cheap and should be more or less drop in.

I'd be shopping junk yards for a wrecked NBS 3/4 ton Suburban with the 496 and 4L80/85E.

OH, those tails on the Regal were one of the tweaks done on those last years of that gen, so what, 1996'ish...

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Mommy's NEW RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Daddy's beater affectionately called the Rolling Garbage Can or "RGC" for short
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2009 Chevrolet Impala SS: LS4 V8, Victory Red
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

Sure do miss my 81 C10 Custom Deluxe shortbox... Got ripped off about the same time my SLE was totalled...

_________________
*Chris*

15 Impreza 2.0i Premium/97 F-150 XLT 4.6L 4x4
Previous, 07 GP SE, 06 GP GXP, 97 SSE 40th, 96 LeSabre Custom, 93 SLE, 90 LeSabre Custom

If I found a wrecked '02 with the 496 and a 14b rear, I would either swap the entire drivetrain into mine or put the body from mine on the newer frame.

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

What are your thoughts on a ladder bar for this thing?

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

Micro-update:

I removed maybe a few dozen parts this weekend. Cab will need a lot of work. I'll be getting new fender liners, a new radiator support, and probably a non-dented fender. I'm somewhat surprised that the grille was still attached, the plastic has been sun bleached and is brittle and was only being held on by 4 of the screws.
I'll also need new body mounts.

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

Let's have some fun! I'm disassembling everything that I'm going after here first. Fuel tanks, rear brakes, exhaust, front end. I'll repair what I can, replace everything else.

That doesn't look too healthy:








Less rust on the body mounts points than I expected:




And the engine is out!


This is what happens when you let lug nuts get rusty:

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

So I've discovered that the standard fuel injection sending unit from our H-body cars is nearly a direct fit for the sending units from the truck. The advantage here is that I don't have to figure out how to add wires to a sending unit and re-seal it, I can trim a tab off an H-body sending unit and drop it in. All I need now is a tank selector valve that can switch the fuel pump as well.

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

Once again, I find myself faced with a dilemma. I wanted to find a set of RWD headers for this 3.8, but I can't find anything. Of course, there are some Holden sets out there, in Australia.
So that leaves me with keeping the set of ugly manifolds on, modifying a set of series 2 headers, building my own, or LG3 top swap and run the '86-'87 turbo 3.8 headers.

_________________
Blow all the things! Wait, I meant boost. Boost!


Runs:
'93 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi - Twincharged, manual, and lots more! Build thread
'97 Chevy Camaro - 3800 supercharged, T5, T-tops
'05 Cadillac STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Olds Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'84 GMC Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 Buick LeSabre - L67 winter DD
'92 Pontiac Bonneville SSE future project

Doesn't run:
'87 Buick LeSabre T-type - future victim
'67 Buick LeSabre - future victim

I hate to be that guy but why not just take the easier way out? Stick a 4.8 in there and a small eBay turbo and call it a day

_________________