81 fairmont -new project LSX turbo
 

Hey guys ,

long time lurker here. I've been around NA LS motors and boosted mod motorsI figured why not combine the two together? This project is obviously inspired by Denmah/sloppy mechanics and various others who have done similar swaps with these Fairmonts.

I bought the car (800 bucks) from an 88 year old women who was the original owner, she had fallen recently and could obviously no longer drive. It has 92,000 original miles, the body is solid , but has a few holes at the bottom of the doors. (Nothing bondo can't fix) the old lady told me to send her pictures of the car once I fixed it up. I'm not sure if I should ! :). I'm sure her idea and my idea of fixed up are two different things.

my goals are a fun street car, that can click off low 10's. (Possibly push it deeper later on in the build)

I'm planning on using a 5.3 /4L80E/sloppy stage 2 trickflow cam/whatever other cheap shit I can find in the junkyard. . Turbo origin Chinese. Turbo size yet to be determined.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...c71e1d9582.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...4eb0ff5373.jpg
It looks to be still wearing its original paint.https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...c15668aba4.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...0aeaff710b.jpgI'm not quite sure what exactly this bumper sticker means?, but I'll leave it just for fun.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...1f55b1b74e.jpg

Should be a fun project. Keep us posted

Man that thing was a steal!

Take the old lady for a ride when you get it up and going, say ma'am did you know this car was this fast? You just had some bad gas in it is all lol good looking start

Any suggestions on motor mounts? I was planning on going AJE crossmember, but for $800-$900 bucks is the package with all the control arms etc... it seems like quite a bit of money. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...FZ22wAodn4INUw

I think I will go with these mounts and use the factory K member...The only issue is I understand a factory truck manifold won't fit using this setup....I'd have to switch to a lower profile LS1 intake....
http://www.dirtydingo.com/shop/produ...oducts_id=1431

How cheap do you want to be? And how sketchy do you want to be? Welcome to the fairmont life. On year 6 of my build.

What engine did the car come with? The I-6 had a different k-member from the 4cyl and V8. If you can weld then I'd say make your own.

What was your experience on the AJE install ? Did you buy the control arms too ?

I got it with their arms then changed them to one's with spherical bushings.

You'll have to enlarge the rear holes, but that's it. I've went well over my initial budget, but who cares it'll be bad ass

Looking for mounts for stock K member, I have a 79 Zephyr that came with the I-6. There was a guy that had some fast stuff and is part of the sloppy mechanics group on FB. He engineered up and made some nice mounts for these cars that came with the I-6. I have a set that I got from him as soon as he advertised he was going to make and sell some. I can't remember if you can fit the truck mani under the stock hood with them, but far as I can remember you don't have to do any mods to the oil pan or anything to make the engine fit nicely. Supposedly he only made a short run of them, sold them all and is no longer making any, but here is a pic.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...26&oe=593DD6E7

Dude you gotta keep the hubcaps !!!

i like it, looks like a great start

The car did come with an Inline 6.

I believe the guy who custom made the fairmont mounts is Tony Reiner?? dont know the exact spelling. There is a guy on youtube Dick Hamm that just built a LS fairmont with Reiner mounts and he also had to cut the hood to fit the truck manifold. Although I'm sure the LS1 manifold would probably fit under the hood. My goal is to definetly keep a factory hood

I will try to get a 15x7 or 14x7 summit rim that I can shoehorn the factory hubcap on. This is the plan and it would be hilarious.

I tore out all the hoses and radiator yesterday. Should have the motor out in the next few weeks...I've got my eye out for an Fox 8.8 that I can pick up cheap...

And incorporate that sweet tailpipe!!!!

It was Tony that made the mounts.

I have an LS1 intake mani that I bought because I refuse to cut the hood or anything like that. Trying to keep the car as much intact and original as I can as far as that stuff goes.

I have an 8.8 housing from a fox that I got from a friend a while back. It has the ends cut off because he was going to put 9" ends on it. I also have an 8.8 from an Explorer with the trac lock stuff. I had planned on swapping over the diff and all to the fox 8.8 and getting all of that squared away. Just haven't gotten to that point yet. I've been slacking big time on this project, but recently regained interest. I have the engine basically all together finally. Next obstacle is rebuilding the TH400 that I got for it.

How do you get ahold of the Tony guy to try to purchase some of these mounts?

Far as I know he isn't making them anymore. I dealt with him through facebook from what I remember though.

See the donor vehicle for my new project. This 2000 silverado has donated it's 4.8LS, judging by the condition of the vehicle it looks like the motor has 180,000 miles hah.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...8a51dbfdee.jpg

see shot of the next victim is it a 4.8 or 5.3? who knows ...... how will she like 15lbs of boost?
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...b463e3b493.jpg

took a peek at the crank casting.....verdict is 4.8LS.... oh well just add more boost!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...8b4a817d0d.jpg



Old I6 ready to come out...it ran and drove great. a bit of a shame to scrap it. oh well.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...8f42e8aa8d.jpg


Relieving the Fairmont of it's ford powered guts....should be replaced with LS excellence soon.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...13ecacf6d9.jpg


now the question is do I pressure clean and paint it black? or leave the caked on grease and gunk just for comedic effect.........
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...7171547ff3.jpg

Stage 2 Turbo Cam & Valve Springs in route........updates to come