The All About My 1980 Pontiac LeMans Station Wagon Thread...

[motorhead]

Nice progress

Thanks! I am scheming to see what the minimum amount of work I would have to do to get this thing to Drag Week.  I am even considering dropping in the SBC/200-4R/4.56s from the MCSS... I could make it all run on one wire essentially.

[motorhead]

Well I pulled the brown turd '81 Lemans parts car into the garage today and got to tearing into it.  I got both virgin plastic fender liners out.  They looked like they had been Rhino-lined the grime was so thick, it actually chipped off it was that old.  I soaked them both in WD-40 (because mineral spirits) and set them out in the sun for an hour; and then went at them with the pressure washer and a scraper.  After they had dried it time for more scrapping and more WD-40 - using my old wool Army socks really helped work the last of the goo off.

I will say this: I am glad I bought a complete unmolested parts car. 

Because I have no idea what car the fender liners that came in the wagon were out of... but, it sure wasn't a Lemans.  Anyway, it looks like wire and accessory management will be much improved with these non-hacked up liners in place - plus the amount of crap tossed up in the fenders will be greatly reduced.

[motorhead]

Almost done!  Just needs a drivetrain (and exhaust, cooling system, pads, rotors, wheels, tires).

[good2win22]

Looking good!  The rest of that stuff that your missing is the minor shit... You got the difficult part out of the way

[motorhead]

Thanks! And I tried to tuck the wires as best I could for you, Jason.

[motorhead]

Hung the tailpipes... getting the MCSS hangers off my Monte and onto the wagon was a long and frustrating process.  The Pypes exhaust seems to fit the wagon really well around the gas tank and the spare tire well.

Then the UMI Roto-joint control arms went in, followed by the Bilsteins, and finally the S60.  I will put the backing plates on the axles soon and load it all up.  I will need to set up the e-brake cables and run the solid brake lines to the flex hoses.

I am just grateful for the freed-up floor and shelf space.

[larrym]

Wow looks really good like it was meant to be there.

[motorhead]

Thanks; and for the money I paid for all of that crap it damn sure better look and fit correct.

Wow! It looks like I took that last picture with an overexposed potato... but, then again it was after 2300hrs, I wanted to go to bed, and didn't care to check the quality before posting.

[Scoobum]

Mike...is this the car you're taking to Dragweek?

[motorhead]

Mike...is this the car you're taking to Dragweek?

Ideally, yes.  However, if it isn't running and driving by 30 July we are ordering drag wheels/tires for the TBSS and taking that.  Reason being I will need a month to get the car registered, insured, aligned, tuned up, and the kinks worked out.

[larrym]

that's quite the collection of jack stands you have there too lol

[motorhead]

That is only about half of them... I can never seem to have enough jack stands.  Currently looking at a new 3 tonne jack as my old ones are wearing out.

[good2win22]

I've read and heard lots of positives on that pypes exhaust. Sounds like you were equally impressed. 


I like the rjc 3 inch single to dual crossover but man does it take up a lot of real estate between the rear diff cover and gas tank

[motorhead]

I would have preferred if they shipped the kit with slash-cut tips; because now I get to solve that issue.

[motorhead]

Well, let's just say that I have a "Strange" issue that is likely the nail in the coffin for this car making Drag Week - I'll know for certain on Monday.  In the meantime I kept plugging along on other things - like the exhaust.