As most of you know a few weeks ago I had a long weekend project with the car. First was the Tranny Install, second was the valve springs, retainers, seals and last were the Headers. I left off with getting the headers on, but I couldn't get the tranny dipstick tube to work. After the car was down a couple weeks, I finally got a solution!
I ended up finding a modified tranny dipstick for my car. I was going to use a Lokar, but I didn't like how it mounted, plus it needed some mods to work right. I wanted soemthing simple and plug and play, especially for an important item like a tranny! Anyway, I got the modified tranny dipstick tube a couple weeks ago, it wasn't close to fitting either (like farnsworth warned me). After some more bending, and making a notched bolt hole, it worked. And fianlly got to run the car. Boy it was loud w/ open headers! I started it up and 7:00pm, all the neighbors were out looking! LOL! After running it a few mins, I changed the oil. Then I drove it around the block. It was a blast!
A couple days later I ran it up to the exhaust shop (20 miles away) to get the open downpipe welded to the rest of the exhaust. I used the back roads all the way and of course with my luck I ran into the law twice. Luckily I saw them in time to be off the gas when I passed them. I'll have to say, the exhaust sound better with the headers! I was worried it would sound worse with them on, most 3800s do. Mind deepened up a little bit though!.
A few days later I installed a set of new tie rod ends and got the car fully aligned to finish it up. For the last week or so i've been driving the car off and on, enjoying it, hammering it a couple times and just enjoying it. Making sure everything it in order, retightened the headers, making sure everything is leak free. I think I got all the bugs worked out, tuning is next.
The next mods I need for sure, a wideband for a good tune, and Thrasher Torque Arms. The car torque steers way worse than it did before. Its fun, but I need it controlled too. Hope to do these plus a set of Drag Radials soon.
Here are a few pictures I took the other evening after washing and waxing it...
FINALLY! I got my AnimuL Valve Cover Installed I won at the first BGPM meet!
And my WheelSkinz cover finally installed...
More Pictures here: IronIndian/Spring 2008 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Took awhile to get done. I literally did everything between jobs from work. I'm glad I can now relax a little bit... for now.
