Funkster's 2009 G8 GT
 

I purchased my G8 on Monday December 3rd 2018. The car was a trade at a local dealership and I stumbled upon it by accident while driving by. I had been looking for one for quite some time and had specific wants. This car actually met and exceeded them. I knew I wanted white with decently low miles, wanted the premium option, but without a sunroof. My plan was to find one and start off easy with a Roto-Fab Intake and a Solo Axle back. This is part of where I lucked out as this car actually had both of those things already. My plans are to build a blower car that I can still put my son in the back of and drive anywhere with some style and comfort. I will go ahead and give the basics.

Car Purchased:
2009 Pontiac G8 GT
Hot White Exterior
Premium/Sport Package
Black/Red Interior
72,240 Miles
Roto-Fab Cold Air Intake
Solo Axle Back

Attachment 715859


Attachment 715860

Not one to leave well enough alone I went to my friend's speed shop today and ordered some parts to start off with my build.

ZL1 Torque Converter
American Racing Headers & Midpipe
LS3 Valley Cover/PCV Parts/ Gasket
BTR .660 Spring Kit
BTR Stage 3 PDS Cam
Johnson Lifters
LS2 Trays/Chain/Damper/Etc.
Smith Trunion Kit
LS9 Headgaskets
ARP HeadStuds
Melling 10295 Oil Pump
ARP Crank Bolt
Miscellaneous Gaskets & Seals

Once I get everything in I will measure for pushrods and get them ordered up. I will also be ordering some more parts here in the next day or two. Car could stand for some new brakes and I will probably do things like the carrier bearing and driveshaft flex joint while I have the exhaust off. Also eyeballing a set of the Aussie MGT Shocks and King Springs, but I need to do some more research on that first.

Very cool, subscribed. Should definitely turn out to be a real sleeper.

Thank you, hope it turns out to be an entertaining thread.

Some of the parts arrived today. Still waiting on the American Racing headers and pipes. I ordered a few more parts as well, but they won't be here for a week or so.


Here is what was waiting at my friend's shop.
Attachment 715819

I got the boxes opened up.
Attachment 715820

ZL1 Torque Converter
Attachment 715821

I have seen them several times, but the BTR Springs and Smith Parts are gorgeous.
Attachment 715822

Attachment 715823

Damn, that looks like an entirely different car

You'll hate those mounts or at least I did. Vibration is horrible.

These mounts are not solid. They have a rubber bushing between them. I also daily drove a vehicle with solid engine mounts for a few years. I'll give these a go and if they end up being an issue, I will swap them out. I appreciate you sharing your experience though.

Looks like you found a nice canvass to start with. Looking forward to seeing the build come together.

Nothing too exciting, but I had some free time today and figured I would get a small project done so I went ahead and installed the Sharkfin Antenna. I know you guys have seen this a million times, but parts installed are parts installed, haha.

Started off with the big stocker.
Attachment 715744

I got the actual antenna removed and put some tape down. I marked the center of the top strip to point the fin at. I subtracted the width of the antenna from the bottom tape total width and then marked where the edges would be.
Attachment 715745

With everything lined up I removed the gasket, bolted it up and put it in place.
Attachment 715746

Removed all the tape and got the area cleaned up.
Attachment 715747


I also had a few more parts delivered. Johnson lifters finally arrived. They are a pretty nice looking piece.
Attachment 715748

DBA Rotors and Hawk Pads came in as well.
Attachment 715749

I have ran several sets of these rotors and never get tired of how well put together they are.
Attachment 715750

This is the forced induction section...we don't care about antenna's...we want to see the boost...LOL

Finally got the last few parts I was waiting on. I did grab pics of the major ones.

Red/Black Shift Knob to match interior:
Attachment 715716

Adjustable Timing Set:
Attachment 715717

American Racing Headers with Mid-Pipe Setup:
Attachment 715718

Attachment 715719

Attachment 715720

Attachment 715721

Attachment 715722


I also got the car pulled in and set up with my tools to get started on the upgrades. I am going to get started here in a couple of hours since I have the day off. (Ignore the Hawkeyes Logo, was there when I moved in and I don't really care about college football https://www.g8board.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Attachment 715723

Attachment 715724

Got started around mid-afternoon yesterday. Made some decent progress, it will be a few days before I have much else for updates though. I have my son for the next few nights and so I won't be doing garage work. Here is where we are so far.

A quick shot before the work starts.
Attachment 715705

Pulled the plugs out, nothing special here.
Attachment 715706

After a couple of hours this is where I am at.
Attachment 715707

Lifters and cam all looks great.
Attachment 715708

A picture of the parts that have been removed so far.
Attachment 715709

As one of the upsides of being single is the tear down in the living room. A little warmer, plus there is a TV to watch. haha.
Attachment 715710

About halfway through taking the heads apart.
Attachment 715711


This is where the pictures stop for the time being. Heads are torn down and are soaking in cleaner currently.

I also received the Holden center gauge swap parts today. The top panel was wrapped in a carbon fiber vinyl so I will probably get that all removed and cleaned up tonight after my son goes to bed. A trio of AEM gauges is on the way to fill the panel as well.
Attachment 715712

Your not wasting anytime!

Because this car is eventually going to have an LSA setup on it, as stated in the first post. The cam going in is also a supercharger cam.

Do I have this kind of thing to look forward to from you each time I post? You could save us both some trouble and stop looking at the thread if you don't like my approach.

Have been on hiatus a few days and the plan is (rather, was) to get some work done and hopefully get the cam swap buttoned up this weekend. However, this hobby is not forgiving to our plans.

I went ahead and finished stripping down the front of the engine.
Attachment 715669

I pulled the cam and all looked well with the removed components.
Attachment 715670

Unfortunately...I forgot to turn the lights off so I was able to see the cam bearings, haha. The wear on the first bearing didn't bother me much, it was the second bearing that was cause for concern.
Attachment 715671


So...these are going to need to be replaced. This means my plan for the weekend has changed. I will now be pulling the shortblock out and tearing it down for the machine shop. We will see how everything looks on tear down. This may end up being a complete refresh, if anything looks crazy I will weigh my options. There is already temptation to forge the bottom end, but at my goals it really isn't needed.

In the mean time, I did get my rocker arms disassembled. This press made the process pretty easy.
Attachment 715672

All the internals from the arms.
Attachment 715673

Empty rocker arms.
Attachment 715674


Will get started on removing the rest of the engine today. On the upside it will make reassembly on the stand a lot easier than in the car. Also will give me a chance to wipe down the engine bay.

Cam bearings in one of my 5.3s looked like those. So I took it to the machine shop and had them replaced, took my cam with me when I picked it up. Needless to say it wouldn't fit anymore and by the time he dingle honed the new bearings for clearance they looked just like my old ones.

Well today I got everything torn out. Short block is currently loaded up and will be going to the machine shop tomorrow to weigh some options and make a decision on what to do.

Engine all hooked up and ready to pull.
Attachment 715664

Engine on the stand.
Attachment 715665

Stripped down to the block and rotating assembly.
Attachment 715666

Loaded into the trusty Honda, haha.
Attachment 715667

FWIW, my bearings looked the same in my G8 when my DOD cam took a crap, its the DOD cam does that and is pretty notorious for causing issues down the line. I put in a BTR PD 2 cam last year and bearing look unchanged when I put the new cam in. Coming up on 40k miles with the cam being swapped and a LSA added on top making just under 650whp with no danger in sight so far. :)

Friend did have an Escalade with some of the mixed in DOD hardware and supposedly was the reason for his drop in oil pressure and eventually destroyed bottom end.

After talking to the machine shop today I will be doing a full refresh. The list includes:

Block cleaned, honed, surfaced, clean up hone and finish clean.
Crank will be refinished as needed.
Durabond Teflon Coated Cam Bearings
King Main and Rod Bearings
Hastings rings which will be gapped for boost.

It will probably be 2-3 weeks before I get it back. In the mean time I am going to go ahead and install a few front end related components (Rack bushings, sway bar) and if my trans cooler parts ever show up I will get that hooked up.

If I was that far deep into the motor and had it pulled and at the machine shop I'd have thrown some forged rods/pistons in it at least lol.

Realistically it's not needed at my power goals and would add about $2,500 to the cost. Believe me, I considered it.

I appreciate the support. :lol:

What machine shop do you use here in Iowa? I don't have a relationship with or trust anyone local to me.

Working with Mid-State Machine in Ankeny.

Eat a d

Let's keep it halfway civil.

I've heard good things about them when I asked around recently. Have you used them prior to this?

A few things over the past days. Nothing major as I am waiting for parts and the engine to come back from the machine shop.

I received the following:
ATI Balancer
Crank Pinning Kit
Oil Pan Gasket
Rear Cover Gasket
Rear Main Seal
BMR Steering Rack Bushings
LS3 Waterpump

Got a couple odds and ends completed as well.

I sat down with my heads back from the machine shop to get them assembled. They ended up cleaning up really well and I had the outside surfaces glass beaded as well as had the heads surfaced.
Attachment 715636

Got them all put back together with BTR Dual Springs, lapped in valves, new seals, etc.
Attachment 715637

I mentioned the other day that the trim and pieces for the HSV gauge pod and cubby came in. I finally got them all cleaned up and am vinyl wrapping them black as the silver does not match the 2009 interior. I ordered the Black 2008 Seat/Traction Controls and Radio/HVAC faceplate. I got a few pieces done, but I am not sure how well it will match with the 2008 pieces until I get them on Tuesday. If they don't match up well I am planning to paint them.

Trim pieces:
Attachment 715638

Cubby wrapped. I like the look of the silver button, but I may end up doing it in black too.
Attachment 715639

Next I wrapped up the shifter trim. A word of warning...if you are a perfectionist, this job is a bitch.
Attachment 715640

Attachment 715641

This is posted in the Forced Induction section, wheres the BOOST at ???

Lol how many times is that going to be asked here. He is planning on boosting it it's just not boosted yet.