Thread: Dirt cheap mods: my never ending struggle

I’m surprised to see this thread lasted so long. I’m new to the 3800 scene. Just picked up a 2000 regal GS. I know it’s not a GP GTP but this was the only forum still alive. And we share similar parts!


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Originally Posted by idrivejunk

Congrats on rear wheel drive. I had a 500ish horse 83 for a time, and have seen several of them with merciless wheel hop like it had. I can probably help advise on metal work stuff, click the link in my signature for an eyeful. Unfortunately, metric Montes are not made of 18 gauge steel like they were before so rust goes through quicker. One reassuring thing I can say is that besides a welder theres nothing very expensive in the way of tools for rust repair. One thing you may find much web controversy over is the use of acid products against rust. Also much confusion about "direct to metal" primers. I can offer pointers about both if you are freaked out by the talk you see. Enjoy the correct wheel drive performance oriented bodywork project, lol.

Originally Posted by idrivejunk

Congrats on rear wheel drive. I had a 500ish horse 83 for a time, and have seen several of them with merciless wheel hop like it had. I can probably help advise on metal work stuff, click the link in my signature for an eyeful. Unfortunately, metric Montes are not made of 18 gauge steel like they were before so rust goes through quicker. One reassuring thing I can say is that besides a welder theres nothing very expensive in the way of tools for rust repair. One thing you may find much web controversy over is the use of acid products against rust. Also much confusion about "direct to metal" primers. I can offer pointers about both if you are freaked out by the talk you see. Enjoy the correct wheel drive performance oriented bodywork project, lol.

Haha thanks! I'm definitely going to need some help on repairs. I'm struggling enough with skim coating the hood and sanding! I'll have to see what comes next though. I think this will be more on hold until both my fiero is out of the garage finally, and my grand prix is up and running. I convinced the wife to let me swap the cam and do the valvetrain like I want, so I'm a happy camper!

Also got some neat side projects going on, such as a diy electrolysis tank and "hot tank" to degrease and de-rust parts for all my project cars! Hopefully it'll work and I won't have to spend a ton of money for a machine shop to do it for me! As much as I have to do though, I think it'll be useful. I'm getting really bad about posting updates, but I'll try to be better!

haha thanks! And welcome! I'm sure there's tons out there that's useful towards your project. I mainly specialize in electronics and transmissions and just janky general diy stuff, so I should have some entertaining stuff to post from time to time!

Good thing about a regal is that it's less likely to be beat on like a gtp! Plus they're cheap to insure and still have a lot of pep to them. Mine isn't even truely a gtp (yet...). Started out as a na gt actually. Hopefully I'll get the funding ok from my wife so I can finally get this project done! But if you have any questions or need help, feel free to pm me! Good luck!

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

I'm a month or so late to seeing your Monte, always liked that body style. IMO.. pull a Brandon move and pickup a higher mileage cheap 5.3 or 6.0 and swap that plus trans into the car. You'd have computer, fuel injection and I'm sure either would fit under that big ole G body hood easy enough.

haha thanks Bill! I'm really going to have to buckle down and create a separate build thread for it. That's the long term plan, mainly because of fuel economy concerns. I'm still going back and forth between my Monte and my Fiero. Don't really have money for either!

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

In that case I'd suggest pulling a Scotty and doing good for others and magically parts are delivered. That's how he got started. Was funny the first time I met him was doing a trans swap and he didn't have the excess cash to spend on fun parts. Wasn't too long after he helped a couple of guys and parts started flowing his way.

haha Thanks Bill! I definitely help out whenever I can, but unfortunately pretty much everyone here is already out of the gp game. But I'm always up for help (when my schedule permits).

On a side note, haven't posted anything about my third car on here, and until now, haven't really had to do much! Well, ended up with two burnt out led bulbs and after replacing them at the same rate as halogens and more often than I do bixeon bulbs, I decided to do a bone cheap retrofit! Here's the results (note, I didn't have time to polish the lenses, so it doesn't look great, but it's functional at least).

Lights look good man!

Originally Posted by 98grand

Lights look good man!

Thanks 98grand! Now I just have to fix that hood and bumper and polish the lenses....

Too many projects lol, I prefer to fight one forever

Originally Posted by selliott

Too many projects lol, I prefer to fight one forever

Haha you're not wrong... I'm definitely going to buckle down and complete one at least! I plan on taking one of them to the power tour this summer if I can get one done by then. I'm just deciding which one I want! Right now, I'm leaning more towards the fiero since it would be the best gas mileage, plus it would be different.

Well, speaking of too many projects, got to have "fun" replacing the inner and outer tie rods on the A$$tek along with a host of other issues such as burnt out bulbs, power steering pump, shift lock issues, and the list goes on. Think the only major things that are left are the crack on the windsheild (high enough that it passes inspection, but still bugs me), and the broken glove box hinge (easy fix).

Still have to track down the oil leak, but the power steering leak has been masking the leak, so I'm hoping that since I replaced the pump, that's the end of one leak at least!

Starting to sand the hood for the monte now so hopefully next week I can start on the grand prix finally.

Still battling with work and school to find time to work on the grand prix. I'm really missing driving her. As it stands, I need to clean up the heads, intake and parts in general to go onto the "new" engine, transfer everything, modify the wiring and the fuel and various other things, then program her for the top-swap. Just bought the gauge pillar and the vacuum gauge, going to buy the wideband and gauge, then it's just installing all that and figuring out how to tune without blowing her up! I'll post as soon as I have anything!

Not blowing up is a plus

Alright, so I've slowly been amassing parts and I think it's about that time to start on the top-swap!

Before I get started on that though, I want to make sure my transmission is up to the task...

It was rebuilt (by me) to stock specs L36 na 4t65e + shift kit + lube tube retainer (I replaced all bushings, bearings, and solenoids too). For now, I'm just going to go stock L67 topswap, with headers, n* intake, cai, 80# injectors, vs cam, ls6 springs, ls7 lifters, possibly meth injection. Knowing me though, I'm going to want to start doing pulley drops though and I really don't want to keep pulling the transmission...

End goals, I'm not going bigger than the vs cam, probably not doing rocker upgrade, might drop a pulley or two at most on this car since it's my daily. I might "race" for fun a time or two, but no burnouts or drag racing for me.

So far, this is what I'm thinking of replacing:
-gxp chains (still rocking the stock ones)
-sonnax boost valve
-Raybestos high energy clutches
-hd differential
-high stall torque converter
-afl valve repair kit

My question, is since it's been rebuilt, do I really need high energy clutches, or should I just stick with the chains, and valve body upgrades? On that note, is the torque converter really necessary? I'm assuming the na one will be too low so might as well upgrade while I'm there. What about the flexplate? I've heard a lot of them have been cracking lately.

Thanks in advance for the advice and I hope to be re-vamping this thread soon!