Let me start with the goals I have for this build:
1. Build a fun weekend car that a blast to drive, with power and handling.
2. Keep the OEM comfort items, AC, power steering, etc.
3. Stay within some type of budget (I have 4 in college now)
4. Do everything the right way, don't cut corners.
Looking at the other build threads, I have to admire guys like Graham/mayham/fx, who pay attention to the little details. You know they're on a budget, but they use a lot of ingenuity and craftsmanship. I may not reach that level of quality, but it's what I'm shooting for.
Ok, here is what I started with, a 1988 GXL that had a half completed engine swap, but the owner was moving and had to let it go. He was building it for bracket racing, so a lot of the items I needed had already been stripped from the car. It did have a lot of parts I needed, including a TII rear-end, the Granny's kit, aluminum NA hood, the big OEM brakes, and a Chevy 350. But, what a mess....
Not being a fan of red cars I went looking for a better FC. It's amazing how cheap you can find them if you look long enough. Found this white 1989 GTU on Craig's list. The motor was in boxes, but everything else I needed was there and in decent shape. The body has a few dings, but it's good enough to drive around in until I get time to do the body and paint. I like the white color and the rear spoiler really completes the look of the car IMO.
Some of my friends told me I should just leave the engine alone and run it. I figured it was just a stock 350, with a Holley intake and carb, but I didn't want a oil burning, worn out engine in the car. I tore the engine down, it was all stock, mid 1970's smog motor, 2 bolt mains. It was in decent shape, except that a few of the bores had some pitting from sitting up for a long time.
Took the block to the machine shop for a bore and hone, but ended up getting the works......ouch! They did a nice job. I went with some Speed Pro hypereutectic flat top pistons, which should give 10:1 compression with a 64cc head. The cam is a Comp XE268H, which according to their program should give a broad power band and make around 400 hp with the heads I selected.
When I checked the piston to valve clearance, it was below the .08 required on the intake valve on two of the cylinders. Looking at the pistons, the valve reliefs were very inconsistent in their depth and width. A quick trip to Wal-Mart for some Play-dough reviled where the valves were hitting. After masking off everything, I used a Dremel with a sanding drum to widen the eyebrow reliefs on the two pistons. Glad I took the time to check the clearance, another engine builder told me not to bother checking because the cam I'm running wasn't that wild.....
I wanted to go with aluminum heads to save so weight, and there are a lot out there for the Chevy that are reasonably priced. I decided on the Patriot Performance as cast 185cc runner, 64cc chamber heads. Here is one next to the old small valve, smog motor head. Definitely shinny.....
I was going to reuse the old rocker arms, but I was told that nobody put old stamped steel rockers on a new aluminum head, so I got the Summit house brand, which the local machine shop said they have had good luck with. Here's a shot of the completed engine.
Next, the transmission. I would love to have a T56, but it's off my budget. I found a WC T5 from a '89 camaro that had a Hurst short throw shifter on it. It had been sitting in this guy?s yard for a long time and was in need of a rebuild. I thought I would just get the rebuild kit and download the Tremec service manual and go to town......wrong! The printed manual doesn't show enough detail to see exactly how all those little parts fit together, and there are a lot of little parts. I found that Hanlon Motor Sports offer a DVD on how to rebuild the T5. It takes you step by step and shows close-ups of the little parts. Here is the T5 in pieces on my bench, notice the DVD player....hey, don't laugh, I've never rebuilt a transmission before..
Got it all back together in 3 evenings. End play on the main and counter shafts at 0. Shifter feels great, click, click, click though all the gears. Can't wait to get it in the car....
Next, the clutch, flywheel, slave. I hope to get to them this weekend........
