My L32 Swap Build Thread (20k mile update!)

[BillBoost37]

Yes to aluminum, not so sure they are new. Who cares though...

[RivMan]

More slow progress this week, and I'm about to hop on a plane for another business trip...

The GT motor is ready to pull, just running out of floor space in the shop at the moment, so it's staying put for a bit.

I tore the GTP motor down a bit to replace the VC gaskets. The entire block was saturated with oil from them leaking. I'm guessing they weren't replaced when the LIM gaskets were changed. The gasket surfaces were in bad shape, lots of gunk / burnt oil deposits making a good seal impossible. I plan to pull the SC and LIM to clean / replace the gaskets again since it's obvious whoever did it last time had no clue how to do it properly. So far I've spent several hours with the parts washer cleaning up all the accessories / brackets / block. Should look pretty good when I'm done.

A few questions for you guys:

I need a new lower engine mount, is there a good solid one available?

Has anyone tossed a CompG Trans into a Non-CompG car? I know there are some differences, but if I can get away with swapping some easy to get to parts, I may use this fresh re-build that came in the GTP.

Are the upper and lower injector o-rings different? I know they weren't on the L67, but these have two different color rings, and RockAuto has listings for upper and lower rings.

What plugs are the go-to plug now? I used to run AP104's, but the Series 3 calls for iridium.

Thanks!
-Rob

[REDCRAPGP]

As far as I know nobody has through a comp g trans into a non comp g etc.

When I ordered injector orings from rockauto it came as a set and they were all the same as well as when I pulled my old injectors off both appeared to be the same.

Our cars love copper. I would go with Autolites 606.

I believe for solid mounts you can also check our Buick regals and use those I'm sure Bill will chime in later and verify my info.

[MidnightBlue]

the bumper on the first car you posted has a aftermarket bumper prob been in a wreck. take the good parts of the first car and repair the comp G, if not lmk i may be intrested in buying the comp g with trans and no engine

[RivMan]

The bumper on the grey car has been replaced, but there's no damage behind it, looks like it was a light hit.

The CompG is un-fixable with a salvage title. It has major unibody damage. It was hit so hard that the body twisted enough to pop the sunroof up and buckle the opposite side rear quarter. The guy I bought it from was a body guy that bought it to repair, and he agreed that it wasn't worth it at all.

I'll probably just pull the Diff out of the CompG trans and toss it in the GT then.

-Rob

[BillBoost37]

Comp G is a totally different valve body and I haven't heard of anyone doing the swap. Lot's have talked about how cool it might be...but I don't know any that have. You'd likely be able to if you spent a lot of quality time with the FSM's for both and reading until your eyes bled.

Mount.. IDK..

[RivMan]

I just spoke with Dave over at TEP about the swap. He said that the only incompatibility is within the Valve Body and Channel Plate. Swapping those parts from my same year GT trans should give me a fully functional CompG trans running off the GT PCM without having to mess with the tap shift stuff.

-Rob

[RivMan]

More progress this week.

Pulled the SC and LIM because of how bad the gasket job was under the Valve Covers. As expected, they were horrible, no chance they would have sealed properly. Got those handled, re-assembled the motor and accessories.

I also got the GT motor ready to pull, hopefully it's out of the car this week!

Slowest motor swap EVER! heh

-Rob

[RivMan]

Big progress last night on the car.

I pulled the GT's motor, and started cleaning up the engine bay. It's pretty nasty so I decided to let it soak overnight.






Almost ready to drop in!


I'm pretty sure I'm going to be swapping the CompG transmission into the GT. I looked at the markings on it, and they match up with the GM rebuilds I found online. It isn't too much more work to make the swap now, since the engine's already out of the way!

My Trans:






GM Rebuild I'm comparing it to:
You can see the green lettering as well as the "Tested" stamp match.
Remanufactured Genuine GM 4T65E Transaxle Transmission 2nd Design | eBay

Just for fun, a panorama shot of my work space.


-Rob

[RivMan]

More parts on order:
Plugs, Wires, Belts, Hoses, Ect...

I also ordered the gaskets required to swap this trans out, cant wait to see if it works out like I want it to!

-Rob

[RivMan]

More progress to report, but not as much as I hoped.

Both subframes are out, transmissions on the bench. I went to swap the channel plates, and ran into a little snag. The 4th gear clutch packs are different between the CompG and non-CompG transmissions, and don't fit under the GT's channel plate. I was going to re-use the original GT clutches, but they're shot. A new pack is on order from Dave at TEP.

Other then that, I've gone through and verified almost all the wiring changes between the CompG and GT engine harnesses. Most are for the stabilitrack system, the additional ambient pressure sensor, and the boost control solenoid. I still need to track down 3 pins on the ABS connector, but I don't expect them to cause me an issue.

Started cleaning up the GT's subframe for reassembly in the car, as soon as my transmission parts arrive I'm going to start getting this thing back together!













-Rob

[RivMan]

IT'S ALIVE!

No pictures, but I spent the last couple days down at the shop getting it all buttoned up. Huge thanks to Dave at TEP for getting me some new 4th clutches that are compatible with my setup! No issues bolting everything together, dropped the car on the subframe, hooked everything up, and she (almost) fired right up! Had to do the Security re-learn process on it, but after that, it fired up and ran like it was never taken apart!

The only thing I need to finish up is the tuning. I've got it running on the stock CompG flash right now, not sure if it's going to control it properly though.

Now I just have to fix my garage door so I can pull it outside!

-Rob

[RivMan]

She drives!

Took her for a few warmup laps around the block last night, first time I've actually driven the car.

First impressions:
The suspension blows, the rear end is shot.
Transmission works Great!
Plenty of power, no funny noises
No DTC's!
Damn radio I pulled out of the wrecked car is locked...
She looks pretty good on her new wheels!



Tonight I'm going to steal the rear subframe from the donor car, hopefully it's in better shape, until I can get some lowering springs and new struts in for it.

Are the Excel-G's a good replacement for a CompG spec car?

-Rob

[The Guz]

I heard the kyb's are too soft for the comp g. Everything that I read says to get replacement comp g's for it to ride as it did from the factory.

[REDCRAPGP]

Well considering the Comp G is just bigger sway bars and sport struts you'll be fine. Gr2s are softer then Comp Gs but still pretty stiff compared to the FE2 susp that comes on the base models etc.

[Buggsy]

Wow, those rims look really sharp on your car.

[RivMan]

Thanks guys!

150 miles so far with no issues, except for the blown struts.

Fuel mileage isn't quite what I was hoping for, currently 23 on the DIC. I guess the 3.29's dropped me a bit. Hopefully an alignment and sorting out the crappy suspension will bump me up a little there.

I'll be getting it cleaned up soon and snap some better pics!

-Rob

[BillBoost37]

Looking good..

[RivMan]

320 miles, first fill-up!

No real issues, just living with the blown out struts for now.

20.62 MPG, mostly around town miles.

TCS is not working (Wasn't from the beginning actually.) I had to swap some wire locations in the ABS connector (The CompG Harness has the Engine Speed output in a different pin then the GT Harness did.) This fixed one of the codes I was getting, but I still get a U1000 (Loss of Class 2 Data) DTC. I may have fried my ABS computer with the signal coming in on the wrong pin. I'll be looking into this later, but for now it's really not an issues for me, TCS off is the first button I hit after starting the car!

The Washer Fluid level is showing low, even though it's full. I'll be replacing the sensor soon.

Got it aligned, wasn't too far off. Need to pickup some Tie Rod ends, both sides have play in them.

Also, fixed the radio!!! Borrowed a Tech2 and unlocked it, clunky struts are a lot easier to live with when you have good tunes!

Still haven't hit a car wash, pics soon!

-Rob

[RivMan]

Kinda forgot about this thread.

2,000 mile update: Haven't touched a thing since I got it on the road! Only opened the hood to check fluids / check for leaks.

Now it's getting close to time to fix it up a little more. I've got a set of GXP Bilsteins to install, as well as some new tie rods / wheel hubs.

I also threw a code for the EVAP system / Check Gas Cap light. I'm guessing there's a problem with the tank, so I'm going to plan on swapping the tank from the donor car.

So far I'm liking my Grand Prix GT(P)