2005 CompG - Back on the road. It's about time!

**SaukRapids** · 04-30-2018

Couple things. First, I broke all my pintle caps. I have a part number for anyone else that breaks theirs, lol

Got some wheels for when I take mine off. Gonna go over my originals and see if they can be saved. They're pretty corroded. These are off a Challenger, even though they were sold as Charger. I'll probably verify that later because my wheels aren't on the front anyway. Oh, they got a couple issues like a few small chips on the spinnin' tire, which is completely bald btw, lol. There's a little corrosion around the center caps and a few bubbles etc from mag chloride. Not a big deal for what I paid. Plus, if I like them enough I can look at having them redone.

I'm interested to see them on Old Grumpy here. Gonna see about getting those injectors back in today. Take care

**SgtMarshal** · 04-30-2018

those wheels have a more aggressive offset, I think you will like them. I have a set for winter tires on my GXP.

**SgtMarshal** · 04-30-2018

Shared album - Marshal Corwin - Google Photos

**SaukRapids** · 04-30-2018

Looks good man, thanks! Got em off a guy that let em sit all winter. They wouldn't fit over the V8's front calipers. I honestly couldn't believe he was gonna winter that car. It was immaculate.

Now for some center caps; What do I do, just measure them?.. maybe google "center caps for dummies"? Lol

**SgtMarshal** · 04-30-2018

I tried to get my pontiac center caps to work, they would fit in the hole, but nothing would keep them in. as you might be able to see, I just ran the dodge center caps. it was better than nothing.

**WarStryker13** · 04-30-2018

Or get some of those reflective concepts center cap vinyl wrap things.

Proper terminology escapes me. But they honestly don't look too bad, and they'd stay stuck for quite a while.

**SaukRapids** · 05-06-2018

Oh, Grumpy! You smoked and sputtered and sounded like this, but we're back!
(Alright alright, almost ready. Bearings on the alt are bad)

I hadn't started it since February, the time before was probably around Thanksgiving. I'm happy to report besides the terrible bearing chirp, all seems well. Even have a full tank of gas! Lol

Gonna be trying to replace those alternator bearings. I haven't tried opening an alternator before, so here goes.

**SaukRapids** · 05-06-2018

Couple left over pics from doin everything.

Well, I had a grand idea for hanging my intake pipe up. The stock holes are too far away on the bar, so I'll have to drill. Seems like that would be a good time to repaint. Anyway, here's a mockup for the failed experiment.

I ended up using the zip tie solution to class things up a little, lol. It'll look really nice once I do get it done. Those couplers made a huge difference in appearance.

Ohmed these Taylor wires out. Still good after two sets of plugs. Cleaned em up and reinstalled. (sry its blurry)

Yesterday when it started lookin more like something we drive.

Hey, whaddya know, I even got me a souvenir! I've almost never, ever seen these work in person, especially with the cheapest ones which these were ($3.99 Menards, lol)

I'm %100 serious I'm keeping the end of the stud on the bit like that. It's back in the case and going with my treasures, lol.

Alright, I'm off to pull that alternator. Take care.

**WarStryker13** · 05-06-2018

That was some nasty brown gunk coming out of the t-stat housing...

Please tell me you flushed out the radiator too.

**SaukRapids** · 05-06-2018

Oh yeah, it was puking out some nasty stuff. I used Scott's method to flush and fill it. I'm not so sure about the coolant I chose again. That Peak Fleet Charge or whatever left some gunk in there. It's kinda hard to tell but fairly certain anyway. I'll probably "winterize" it this year.

I was rotating tires for the last time on this set. Decided to put the Dodge wheels I got on for a test fit. They look good. I'm pleased with the purchase.

Edit: Yes, my alternator started squealing something awful right when two other things happened.

1) The engine warmed the exhaust and starting burning off the oil that dripped onto the rear manifold, at a quite alarming rate I might add. (I shut it off.)

2) The supercharger belt slipped one rib off. So when I first looked I saw smoke everywhere and a nearly thrown belt.

Imagine my relief when everything calmed down during the flush/fill. Just waiting to get that alternator fixed or replaced.

Thanks for looking!

**mars5l** · 05-07-2018

I have the same rims, I just wrapped a bunch of painters tape around the lip of the pontiac center caps. Just have to build it up enough to fill the cap and it will stay no issue. Looks a little ghetto off but once its on it looks factory. Have been on for 2 years no issue. Dont use electrical tape

**SaukRapids** · 05-08-2018

Thanks for the hint! I'll definitely try that

**SaukRapids** · 05-15-2018

I've been driving it a few days now. Everything seems good after being back together. I got a new alternator, then chased down a different squeak that ended up being the belt on the power steering pulley. I put it on too far and backed it off to line up again while it was on the car. Instead of staying flush the way the tool puts it, I remembered it being down further. Realigned and it's fixed.

I cleaned the inside today, which I'm embarrassed to say didn't happen last year beyond the vacuum.

The radiator was giving me a hard time bleeding out for like a day. I got it sorted and added a bottle of that Hyper Lube coolant additive from Vatozone. Idk if it really works, but what the hey - Hy-Per Lube Hy-Per Lube super coolant HPC100 - Read Reviews on Hy-Per Lube #HPC100

The steering feels tons better. Nice and smooth even sitting still. Seems like it takes less effort all around. It starts up better than it has while we've owned it. I sent a text/pic of the engine only to the previous owner today. His reply included "Holy sh*t!!" Lol.

It's nice to walk out to it again.

This is the pic I sent the guy.

We've had a new addition, hence me taking a long time to complete this job. Little Vincent is doin okay too, just gotta get his baby formula figured out yet, lol.

Laters

**CHI2000GTP** · 05-16-2018

Car is looking good man. Congrats on the baby boy! In 16 years, the Pontiac will be all his... LOL

**SaukRapids** · 03-12-2019

Well, we decided to redo the front suspension. I posted a couple questions, but I think I have an idea of which route to take. I'll be switching to the LCA's with the tab to use the bigger Dorman bar. There's problem solver ball and socket bushings for them in the garage. There's a few little things like seats and retainers to get.

This whole FE3 idea isn't turning out to be cheap. It's seriously worth considering BC coilovers as a better option. (think I said that before, lol)

I haven't found many tutorials, etc on doing it. Maybe I'll take some pics.

**SaukRapids** · 03-28-2019

Guess I'm gonna try this compressor. The little loaner kind I wasn't too sure about. The silver cups actually fit the springs really well.

I'll see how it goes keeping my limbs in tact, lol

**spazzz** · 03-29-2019

I have one I bought from Eastwood like that and a set like the single one in top tray.

It works good. The single one you have I used to stop the spring from bowing out when getting to the bottom.
But if you are using stock springs you will have no problem.

I didnt have any problem with the claw style on the compg but on my 535 BMW I needed the one with the adapters.

**SaukRapids** · 03-29-2019

Originally Posted by spazzz

It works good. The single one you have I used to stop the spring from bowing out when getting to the bottom.

Well then. I guess great minds think alike. That is exactly what I had in mind. Lol

**SaukRapids** · 03-29-2019

Success. Looks like it was time to get rid of some of this crap.

That's the dust cover thing that goes down to the upper seat. The upper spring isolators/insulators are worn pretty flat. New ones on the way.

The bearing held up really well. It's hard to tell if any adverse wear occurred. Maybe it's reusable, but new ones are here.

This mount... Lol. That's the top.

Glad to get that junk off the car. Now, I'm also doing this partly because I wanted to see what could be reused or substituted on FE3's.

So far, it looks like quite a bit can be put on new struts. The upper seats are fine. They're plastic, not metal. The top cap/washer rusted. I can feel age on the bumper stop, but it looks alright. The bellows.. guess we'll see in my instance.

Waiting to buy the rest like SPRINGS *!ouch my wallet!*, control arms, sway bar, etc. I'll post back once I have some more work done.

Thanks!

**SaukRapids** · 04-17-2019

Got most my parts now. We both were impressed with the wet traction of the BFG's. This'll be our 2nd set.

I got these thinking they were bolted ball joints because that's how they look online. They came from RockAuto riveted. I still needed the arm with the tab for the new sway bar, so I kept them.

I got the stock bushings out easy enough. Then a shop did this by accident. They stood with integrity and replaced the smashed to hell bushing. (like.. how did that even happen?

)

The roads still aren't clean, so I been fidgeting with getting Pontiac caps to fit Dodge rims. Need to clean the faces and beads up. (sry for awful sun glare)

Hair ties are actually really good at holding them in, lol. Using them is a perfect size reference to find a large o-ring.

I'll post pics of the suspension swap!

Okay, next time then