pdsq98gt

Ok. Just haven't ever seen a 5.3 blow a head gasket before. But have seen several milkshaked 5.3s with porous heads. You'll probably be fine since you're not reusing those heads.

superbean

I was trying to do some research about certain 706/862 heads that had issues.. these don't seem to have that stamping that was discussed.

superbean

Not a whole lot to update.. I wired up 90% of my MicroSquirt harness to get it ready... I did a supplemental guide to Denmah's article.. you can read it here if your bored and like pictures..

Microsquirt Walkthrough

superbean

Not a whole lot of news.. got the heads on and torqued.. been cleaning up the garage some.

Hummer/Muscle Car Pan with -10AN drain welded on





I'm going to extend the hotside and allow room to weld in a wastegate.. and if it is high enough, gravity drain the turbo, if not i'll need a scavenge pump



Temporary.. or maybe permanent dump pipe.

superbean

Luckily, my aftermarket converter had three bolt hole spacings on it, so I didn't have to drill my 5.3 flexplate.. woo hoo!




High miles stock Turbo 400. Not sure how long it will last, but I got it for free and if it will move the car around enough until I can get my powerglide built, I'll be happy. I just put new pump, oil screen, tail seal, pump seal and drill the valvebody plate a hair to help with the 1/2 shift.



Transmission all together ready to rock. Also, this converter weighs 8lbs less than a factory piece.



Dropped the motor in for good. The studs on these engine mounts are 2 1/2 in long, so in order to get them in, you must jack up the trans and hoist pretty high, then they bottom out on the trans tunnel so I got sorta pissed and hammered them in. If they ever come back out I'm going to trim the studs off the mounts a hair lol. TH400 is a bit more beefy than the C4 that came out of this car. I also have a fabbed up trans mount that came out of a fox mustang with th400. However, the diameter of the mounting brackets between the cars are different. The Fairmont is about 2 inches narrow, so ill need to re-engineer the mount so everything is permanently bolted in place.

TDMKR496

iTrader: (3)

Great build man!

streetknight2

iTrader: (10)

Did you use just the 01' k member or brakes too? I'm wanting to switch mine like this, but heard the later model spindles etc set the front wheels 3/4" further out of the wheel well

superbean

I reused the factory 81 lca/spindles/shocks..

I have a set of 96 lca,spindles and all, but I'll save that for a later project, I just need to make sure the car runs first. lol

superbean

Today I ordered a wastegate, oil feed/drain and th400 yoke to finish up driveshaft.

So If I can get the trans 100% bolted in , driveshaft done, and finish the hotside of the turbo Ill be happy this week.

streetknight2

iTrader: (10)

Thanks. I used AJE and coilovers on my mustang, but wanna go as cheap as I can in the Fairmont

JJMclure

This is my kind of car, aren't enough sleepers like this in the uk. What sort of hp/ tq are you shooting for?

toughy v8

But there is,im in the uk and im doing a turbo fairmont as we speak.

ls13ater

iTrader: (3)

Should be a very nice little setup

TDMKR496

iTrader: (3)

How well does that pan fit? does it hang below the crossmember??

Nophix

So, I'm cruising the conversion forums for ideas on a new daily driver. I'm pretty set on a 5.3 powered Volvo 200/700 series. Then, I see this beast. I can't wait to see it done!

superbean

Honestly the factory k member and shocks are only about 32 lbs heavier. For a competition racer, thats a lot of weight. But for me on a budget using stock junk, i could really care less lol.

I got a set of shocks free off a friends 99 GT and K member next to dirt.

superbean

Just as judging by what most cars make in a similar setup, I would say at @ 10psi, 450whp/wtq, @ 14 psi 500whp/wtq and @ 21 psi well over 600. Just depends on how well I can keep air intake temp down and whether or not I run water meth

Right on !!

Going fast with junk !

That is the hummer h3 (GMPP Muscle Car Pan) $150 for pan, windage tray, pickup tube, dipstick tube and dipstick, so the price is right. It hangs about half an inch below k member, so it's really not at risk, plus the car isn't slammed or anything. For a significantly lowered car I would go CTSV pan or FBODY

The volvo would be kickass !!!!!!!

superbean

Picked up a 3 in L bend to finish hotside for turbo so I can finish mounting everything

superbean

Put together a driveshaft.. driveshaft was 3 inches too short, I have a short tail turbo 400.. tail is 4in long.. long yoke turbo 400 is 7 1/2 inches. So the yoke goes in about 3in or so, has 1in of slip to keep from bottoming out. The picture makes it look like the driveshaft is retarded short but its actually sitting deep in the tail housing
Also made a tranny mount..

superbean

Finished most of the hotside mock-up. I think it looks pretty good considering it was my first time