TGP progress thread

[psych0matt]

So, as most of you know, I traded my old Jimmy for a TGP. I spent all of $50 getting it running, but still had the issue of the tranny having no first gear (which I was fully aware of when I got it). So, finally yesterday my buddy (who has an engine lift) came up for the weekend, we tore into everything, and at about 1:30am this morning we had the engine and tranny free. Today we pulled the turbo off, as well as the crossover and basically everything else turbo related, separated the transmission from the engine, and set them both down to be cleaned up. I have a spare tranny to be put it, which is a supposed good one pulled from a parts car, so hopefully that's correct when we put it in, but the plan for the next week or so is to clean all the crap on the engine and in the engine bay, get a bunch of parts that need replacing (motor mount, various o-rings and hoses, etc) and get things ready to drop back in the next time I have a free weekend and can get the engine lift and a spare set of hands.

Here are a few pics from last night. The only difference today is that the garage is cleaned up, and the engine and tranny are on the floor between the garage door and the car







and the obligatory in-the-engine-bay shot:




I'll merge another post here, as well, since no one seems to be answering it on W-body (at least not in the powertrain section):

So, got the engine and tranny all pulled out, ready to be cleaned and everything fun like that. I have a bit of money to spend (not a ton, but enough to replace some things) and am starting a list, hopefully to order/buy things in another week or so. Feel free to add to the list, or ask about anything

-Fuel line O-rings
-Oil drive O-ring
-stainless bolts for turbo (and some other stainless bolts)
-some rubber hose, since it's cheap. I'll just redo whatever when I see it
-probably some new wire loom
-new lower motor mount, mine was completely destroyed


I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but I feel like crap and cant think right now :lol:

[TGPilot]

The fun never ends does it?

Here are a couple of pictures of a 6000 wagon I am playing with now...much easier this way! ;)

[TGPilot]

Also a couple of high HP FORDs I am playing with. The twin turbo (Black Mustang) will be in the neighborhood of 800+ wheel HP when finished.

[cobracmdr]

Looks like the HP twin turbo kit for the terminators :)  Looks like fun Kenny!

[GOT2B GM]

Loving that turbo 6000, I'd rock that anyday.

[jimmy]

  Yea, this is the way me and TGPvsTIII  did it, when we swap to the 5speed. This way you get to change everything you've always wanted. Much easier

[mfewtrail]

That's a clean engine in that 6000. :icon_mrgreen:

[psych0matt]

well, been extremely busy so I haven't done much since we pulled the engine. Tonight I did a little degreasing of the engine bay, and I decided to pull the upper intake, both because I need to regasket it anyways, but I painted it black, and started sanding down all the raised parts. I have new valve cover gaskets as well, so that'll get done too. I need to get a new engine mount and otherwise basically finish cleaning the engine and engine bay. Ken and I are thinking either the first or third weekend in april we'll throw her back together, and I'll move on to other maintenance at that point (plugs, wires, sensors, etc).

Im moving back up to michigan either the first or second weekend in may, so I mostly just want/need her back together and running so I can hopefully drive her home and have the cutlass on a trailer behind the parents avalanche. That way, if something happens to the TGP, swap it to the trailer and drive the cutty.

Anyone have suggestions for cleaning up the wires and such? I'm, thinking I might get some new loom, junk all the old stuff, and pretty much degrease all the wiring I can get to and reloom it all.

[psych0matt]

Bought an electric drill at work for $20, clearenced because it was the display model (i think it was originally $60 or so), so i spent just a few minutes with the plenum:



I accidentally caught a bit on the rear right, so I'll just mask it and give it a quick spray, but this is so far, not done, but closer

[psych0matt]

Helping Ken with his crap tomorrow, but next weekend we're going to tag team the TGP, and get the engine in thursday night/friday, and hopefully have everything all buttoned up by friday night. Then I get to help him go to ohio to pick up some crap of his.

So, point being, next weekend she should be back together, I just have to remember to stop by autozone or similar to get a few things

[psych0matt]

Plans didn't go quite accordingly, since we had to abandon Thursday's plan and most of Friday's, but we did get a few hours in Friday night, spent all day Saturday picking up a car and a TGP engine for him in Ohio, driving back in the middle of the night. We got back to my place at around 10am, on basically no sleep, so we took a 2 or 3 hour nap, and then went to town on it, and got the engine/tranny all back together, and mounted back into the car. We didn't do anything past bolting the tranny and engine mount on, but from here on out it's basically reassembly, most of which I can handle on my own.

[psych0matt]

She lives! Got her all back together tonight, and she fired right up. Not even a check engine light! Only problem we had was the fact that the only thing we forgot was to tighten the power steering line right at the bottom of the pump. Otherwise she runs great, and fast! She shifts into gear kinda hard, but I know my top mounts are all completely shot

[GOT2B GM]

thats great news!

[psych0matt]

she still hesitates a bit until warm, but I think a lot of it has to do with bad gas and an old fuel filter. Have that ready to go on next weekend, as well as new front pads. I drove her a few times last night, and then for about a half hour this evening, just to kinda feel out how she's going to do. she runs damn near perfect, except I need new dogbones, and for some reason the temp guage never gets abouve about 130*. Anyone have any idea what that's all about?

[TGP Nick]

The thermostat is probably stuck open.  Get a new one from the local auto parts store, they are only $5.