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 Post subject: 1997 LeSabre project L67
PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 1:03 am 
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
Now that I've cleaned up behind the SSEi project, it's time to start the next one.

I bought a 1997 LeSabre last winter as a replacement summer driver for my wife's '93 SE L67. The SE will become the dedicated winter car. When we first got the SE, it was if fair condition, only needing some interior repairs and some suspension replacement. However the concept of the car wash is very difficult to grasp and this car has started to rust out really bad. I just don't have the motivation to fix it if it's not going to be taken care of. The last time this car saw a car wash was the weekend of the first intense meet...not kidding.

The best part of that is she was supposed to get a free carwash every week where she was working all winter long. It was literally attached to the same building. :banghead:


So this is the current victim:
Image

I'll have to work on getting more pictures, but overall it is in very good condition for it's age. Interior is clean, needs nothing, exterior has some minor dings in the plastics, and some paint chipping but nothing major is broken. Picked it up for scrap value because the motor spun a bearing and seized.

Earlier this year I picked up an L67 and trans from a '00+ SSEi on half off day at the junkyard.
Image

And that's where everything has sat taking up space and just waiting... until tonight. I popped open the motor and selected a random main and rod bearing to see the general condition of the motor.

Image

Image

Amazing! It's in perfect condition! No bearing wear at all. Pushrods don't have any galling at the rockers either. Which is great news. It means no time at the machine shop, straight into the build.

The current plan:
NIC cam
single roller timing set -or- modified LG3 set
105# springs
ER rockers
upgraded lifters
3.2" pulley
P&P intake and exhaust, SC, and throttle body. Focus is on port matching.
The modified LG3 headers with 3" downpipe
O2 sensor delete
The longest glasspack I can find that fits
No muffler, dual tips, considering a center out exhaust

I'll be using the axles that used to be on the SSEi here, and possibly rebuilding the SSEi trans (well, fixing the input shaft at least) if the trans I pulled with the motor is shot. I still need to get a L67 engine harness for the '97-'99. I do plan on converting the A/C to R-152a if the system is not functional. The trans is going to get a 'reduced firm' shift kit. No more 1-2 chirp and broken input shafts. Shooting for a solid 14.5 second car. No body mods, only dent/paint repairs. But I do want to run 17" or 18" wheels (am taking suggestions) and HID retrofits.

The main goal for this is to get it on the road again before fall, and maybe next year start on the retrofit, wheels, rear disc brakes, etc.

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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


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:00 am 
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Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:15 pm
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Location: Palm Bay, FL
Year and Trim: 1999 Buick Lesabre Custom
Looks great Matt. Glad to see the motor is clean so you don't have to worry about that. Also, are you sure you don't just want a free 135k L36 for it so you can drop that L67 in mine? ;)

As far as wheels go, I've played with photoshop a lot over the years, and the only two combos I've found that look good are Grand Prix GTP 5 spokes like Gwegb has (or that style wheel), or my favorites are Mustang Bullitts. I looked into bent 5s, but with all the roundness that the LeSabre has compared to that vintage Bonne, they just looked weird. I had hoped they'd look great since J wikoff's car looks good with them, but without that aggressive front, they don't do a LeSabre justice imo.

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Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:43 am 
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Location: Michigan
Year and Trim: 2002 Buick Park Ave
I had to google R152A. Interesting...

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f135/how- ... on-493953/

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:57 am 
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Location: Lincoln Park, Mi
Year and Trim: 2004 GTO
The A/C worked on that car last summer, so I'd imagine it should still be good. Also I was talking to Travis about this Buick just yesterday. They think the trans may have been rebuilt (that's what his uncle told him anyway) so it might be able to get used in something else.

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2004 GTO....LS1, LSA supercharged 525whp, 6MT
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:18 am 
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Location: Browerville, MN
Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
I would pull off ALL the caps.

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1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:43 am 
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
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'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
I have to pull the crank to chase the oil passages out anyway, there is some gunk in this motor from sitting in the junkyard without an oil cap, but I was just excited to see that there was zero wear on these. It means I've found a lower mileage engine.

Well, if that trans really was rebuilt I think I'm going to swap out the HD differential and call it a day. That's actually great news as it might take this project down to a week or two to get done! Hmm... That money saved could go into a set of SD headers.

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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


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:24 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
I pulled the crank, all the bearings are just as clean as what I saw yesterday, and got the block cleaned up as best as I can without taking it to a machine shop. I did have to fight with a snapped head bolt, but a little Matt power fixed that up.

This motor won't need any machine shop work!
Image

Middle piston is cleaned of all KR inducing crud:
Image

Removing a snapped head bolt. That's a big pipe wrench..
Image

Not sure what that black stuff is, I've never seen anything like it before, and it was only on this one bolt that snapped off:
Image

I do not own masking tape. Brake cleaner and rags will clean up the overspray faster than masking it anyway.
Image

I expect to get most of the other parts (heads, intake manifold, etc.) cleaned up, ported, and pained up tomorrow.

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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


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:27 pm 
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Year and Trim: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
that's fast work! - BC

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2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 10:56 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
No new pictures yet. Still cleaning up a lot of parts. Heads, intake manifold, and timing cover are in primer.

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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


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 11:15 pm 
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
I think you can go faster than 14.5 given the NIC no? In any case, this will be even more of a sleeper than the Bonne. Trans should hold.

I really really like that blue!

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 7:31 am 
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Location: DeKalb, IL
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92 Lumina Z34
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I love this. Especially given the condition of the car. Can't wait to see it.

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88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 8:41 am 
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Location: Palm Bay, FL
Year and Trim: 1999 Buick Lesabre Custom
Great progress on this Matt! That blue looks about the same shade that I did my intake and valve covers in, so great choice there :beerchug:

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1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 4:08 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
A cat got in the garage, knocked stuff over and made a general mess of my work area, and now I get to re-paint the block.

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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


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 5:25 pm 
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This is why I'm a dog person.

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PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:16 pm 
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92 Lumina Z34
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:withstupid: Though my derp makes his fair share of messes. Lol

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88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:23 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
The cats usually make much smaller messes, this is the first time one had a psycho freakout in the garage, but I can see how size would be easier to keep a dog out vs. a cat

Almost everything is cleaned and painted. M90 is ported, heads and intake are port matched, at this point I'm waiting on Rock Auto. I ordered parts from them on Tuesday, not scheduled to arrive until next Thursday...

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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


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 4:58 pm 
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Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
I am curious, why the R-152a conversion. The vibe of the thread listed above suggests it runs better in R-12 systems than R-134a does, but that isn't a factor here.

What am I missing?

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1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 11:16 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
R-152a pressure vs. temperature curve. For a given size condenser the R-152A will be more efficient than the 134, meaning cooler A/C temps, as one would note the '92-99 condenser size is insufficient for R134 anyway. The other benefit is cost, $10 to refill and empty system vs. the $40 for R134a.


Edit: Just waiting on gaskets now. Everything is cleaned and repainted.

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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


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 2:20 am 
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Year and Trim: 1998 Oldsmobile 88 LS
some more pictures of the Lesabre when you get to them would be awesome. Can't believe you found a clean one.

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1999 Oldsmobile 88 Base....it has power windows and locks! Second rescue, might flip...Click HERE for project thread.

1998 Oldsmobile 88 LS w/ FE1 Float Suspension, Leather and Power Everything - Totaled (Rolled!) out during Winter of 2015 by Sister Click HERE for project thread.

2002.5 Blazer - Stock Stuffing 30s, SLP ZR1 Replicas, Dynomax Catback, TONS of other mods. Click HERE for project thread. - DD


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 3:59 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
Parts are coming in today, most of them anyway. I ordered a few things from ZZP and a few things from Intense. Last week. And they hadn't shipped anything on Monday. So I emailed them, wanted to know what's up. Intense responded that they haven't shipped yet because they were waiting on some parts to get re-stocked, and that would happen in the next few days and they'd get everything shipped out as soon as possible.
ZZP informed me that their automated mailing system would notify me when my parts shipped..

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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


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