GearGrinder

iTrader: (1)

I started out with another thread asking questions, but through all the forum members I've had all my questions answered and still moving forward with the build. I figured instead of updating that thread I'd start a new one specific to my progress on the build.

Victim: 1970 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. Recently it gave up its original 455 and TH400. It was missing on one cylinder and I suspect it was a burnt valve. The rest of the car is in decent condition, a little rust here and there, a few dings, fairly nice interior. I hope to build it into a daily driver that I can rely on to start every single time, drive 500 miles on a whim and so on.

Transplant: LQ4 w/ LS3 heads and 4L60E was the plan, but I've come across some parts..

So far I have torn down the block. The rods and mains look borderline for a polish. I might just swap it out for another crank we have at the shop. It has the rounded LQ4 style rods, but since I was digging around today and found a set of the LQ9 floating pin rods.

I bought a L76 intake from a LS1Tech member
Found a 2001 truck harness and computer on CL for $75
Going to look at a 4L60E tomorrow

I'm going to try and use manifolds and not headers. First I don't have a huge budget for this project and It's a family wagon, I'm not going to cry over losing a couple HP.

Today I also found a barely used set of LS3 pistons and rings that came out of a 2010 Camaro. A while ago, a customer brought in this engine to convert it to Grand-Am spec for one of their Camaro GS.Rs, so that left me with a very very low mileage set of pistons and rings. Iron block 6.2? hmmm....

The pistons in the pic are the ones I had planned on using until I found the LS3s.. I still might.

Edit: one more pic showing how much the 455 weighed in at. Hopefully an Lq9 will shed some pounds.

oldgoat69

Love the car, we had a 69 back in the day till mom crashed it in 1985.

Bob@BruteSpeed

iTrader: (16)

These old Vista Cruisers are cool, I even liked them when I was a kid back in the day. Bob

sheikss

iTrader: (11)

Is that a glass roof? Car looks cool.

Bob@BruteSpeed

iTrader: (16)

The Vista Cruisers have glass windows all around the top edge of the roof, which makes the car seem really open when you're inside it. Bob

Doug G

Why is it I hear the theme of "That 70's Show" when I hear Vista Cruiser ? LOL

krwyellowZ28

iTrader: (10)

Awesome project car... good luck on the build.

spaulsen

iTrader: (12)

wow! you read my mind!

Hal StClair

iTrader: (3)

I'm doing a 1965 VistaCruiser also. I'm doing a 2004 GTO LS1 and 4l65e and have completed the 12" discs all around and mostly Hotchkiss suspension parts. I'm off the project for a month to be back with the grandkids but am looking forward to the final engine stab when I get back. I think the new Camaro manifolds should work on the 65 and yours will have even more room-the exhaust seems to be one of the biggest problems. I used the Holley pan and it cleared just fine. Good luck, will be fun to watch the progress.

GearGrinder

iTrader: (1)

Hal, Did you try the GTO manifolds? There's a guy local that has a pair for cheap and I was about to get them to try out.

MiniLSx

this build is too cool. i love the old Vista Cruisers. subscribed

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

My dad had one with a 454BBC in it..everyone said it wasnt slow.

Hal StClair

iTrader: (3)

I tried GTO, C5 &C6 Corvette and S&P's short headers. Couldn't make any of them work.

Bob@BruteSpeed

iTrader: (16)

Has anyone tried these Kooks headers?
http://shop.brutespeed.com/Kooks-645...Kooks-6450.htm Bob

GearGrinder

iTrader: (1)

My wiring harness arrived today. It was real cheap and included the PCM, complete unmolested harness and fuseblock. It was from an 01 silverado, and from my research I thought that would work, but...

It has an 896 PCM which is not a DBW PCM and has the blue/green connectors.

Is there a DBW PCM that will work with my harness if I add the appropriate wires? I should probably post this in the Electrical section, but but my build thread needed an update anyway, so I thought I'd ask.

KC Henry

I know this is an old thread, but love old BIG cars.

Any updates planned for this thread?

-Q-

iTrader: (10)

Love the Vista Cruiser. Would be awesome to hook it up with a ram air hood.

GearGrinder

iTrader: (1)

Sorry for the slow updates. The holidays plus a sudden increase in customers at work has put this on the back burner for a while.

Since I sell these shortblocks, it was hard to claim one for my own, but
we finally found the time at work to finish a shortblock for this car. I kept building them and selling them before I had one I could keep.

I used some spare parts off the shelf that I had so this one got some goodies that the previous ones didn't.

Originally an LQ4
Flat-top aftermarket replacement pistons with the 1.2/1.5/2.5 ring package
Mahle Rings
LQ9 rods
Clevite H series rod and main bearings.

There were a few hiccups during the shortblock build. One of the Mahle top rings had a manufacturing defect in it. A void or pit on the top of it. Had to order another set. Since I switched to the heavier LQ9 rods the crank was underweight. Not a big deal, but adding weight to the crank is always more work than subtracting it.

So now I have a balanced and built shortblock. I have my stock LS3 heads waiting, but I an a couple of days away from finishing the program for CNC port. This port is for contracted for another shop, but I'll see if he won't mind me running a set off for my personal use.

I'm still cleaning the engine bay....
Fixed the broken stud I found on the passenger rear axle. I was swapping wheels and took off four lug nuts and the wheel fell off! The P/O had used Great Stuff expanding foam to glue a lug nut to the wheel from the backside!

rickyzZ28

iTrader: (28)

Looks great do you have any more pics of the car?