Project "Wreck" Begins

[duster580]

That should be a fun toy when you finish!! If you know anyone else looking for a fiero tell them to holler at me I have one layin around... the ****** thing caught fire somehow...ha ha...seriously though...it did...and I do...

[NonGoggleGuy]

Here's a little video link of "The Wreck" taking a spin from the driveway into the garage. Also are some pics of my progress. I haven't gotten much done yet, besides taking the junk frame to the yard after pulling the motor & tranny. I got $35.40 for the s******* for 1180 lbs.

"The Wreck" Test Drive.

[NonGoggleGuy]

Disassembly has begun. I removed both rear strut towers so I can drop out the engine cradle. Removal of the towers isn't necessary, but the frame is going out to be powdercoated and a new Koni suspension will be fitted, so I'll try to sell the stock ones. Anyways, here's some pics of the progress.

[NonGoggleGuy]

I was trying to remove the rear left cradle bolt to drop the subframe, and when I broke the torque on the bolt, it broke the weld on the nut plate on the other side. So I had to cut a hole in the frame to clamp the nut plate. I tried using a hole saw on a drill at first, but that was almost as useless as a girlfriend, so I hooked up the high-speed air cutter and that did it in about 2 minutes. After I put the vise grips on it, it came right out with ease.

So, in short, the motor gets pulled tomorrow, along with what's left of the interior most likely.

Here's some pics of the hole I cut:

[NonGoggleGuy]

I got the engine pulled out last night. The cradle's also out. I also started stripping the interior. Here's some pics. The third one is of the right side quarter area of the frame that needs to be patched. This is the only bad part of the whole frame.

[bradrhale]

location of the oil filter is really convenient.

[NonGoggleGuy]

Originally Posted by bradrhale

location of the oil filter is really convenient.

Yeah, I'll bet that makes a mess changing the oil... but still not even close to the mess my boat makes during an oil change.

[NonGoggleGuy]

I found a running LS1 for a good price!!!! Going to look at it (and most likely pick it up) probably next weekend.

I'm waiting for a call today from my welder friend so he can look at my frame repairs. I'm also awaiting a call from the sandblaster.

When the powdercoat happens, I'm going to do the frame & cradle in black, and then control arms, brackets, coolant tubes, etc. in gunmetal grey. At least that's the plan until I change my mind again; which is very possible.

I also started a "budget" for this project. While it's not written in stone, I'm trying to only allow myself $1,000/month. We'll see how it goes.

[NonGoggleGuy]

I made a dolly for the cradle today. I stripped the cradle down, so that's ready to be sandblasted - minus burning out the old bushings. I went intake window shopping and found this, as some already know:
The Harrop Hurricane from Australia - used on the Commodore (G8, GTO):

Wow. That thing looks so pretty.
I called about it to get more info, and Mike from the company sent me some literature & specs on it. It's got 8 52mm TBs with cathedral-style inlets, so it bolts right up to the stock LS-family heads. He also told me it was upwards of $3,000 + shipping. Anyways, if I'm looking at the dimensions right, it won't fit in the engine bay - it's 24 inches wide. So is the engine bay. I'd have to trim part of the trunk area I think. Once I get the engine "fitted", I can know for sure what I'll have to do to get that thing in there. Or I might decide against it.... don't know yet.
Here's some pics of what I have now:

[NonGoggleGuy]

I picked up an LS1 motor today despite all my frustration with my truck. I drove about 350 miles, and the truck gave me no problems.