Thread: 2000 GTP: Still Alive! New Trans?

So after that, I knew I'd be changing the engine. After some research and price checking, I decided to go ahead and upgrade to an L32. The price difference was minimal, if not cheaper (more on the cheaper part later). I pulled the old engine first, to clean the rockers, rebuild the lifters, clean push rods, clean valve covers, etc. and I found that sludge had clogged up an oil passage, starving the engine of oil, spinning a bearing, and thus causing a rod knock:




Sludge:



Rockers:


I don't have any pics of them clean yet, but they'll be coming. I completely disassembled every lifter, and cleaned them until they were SPOTLESS. All 12 were stuck. Anyways, I found a L32 (out of a 2004) and the JY said it was 155k for $650. I drove up there with my old engine (2 hours), just a short block, heads, the old S\C, and LIM. The L32 looked to be in great shape, I gave the 2004+ TB back to them, since I wouldn't need it.



The flywheel has 120483 written in paint pen on it, so I think the car had 120k on it when the engine was pulled. Then I tore into it a bit. Now I think it has even less mileage on it. Both my father and I have built engines before, and we agree it looks to have around 40-50k on it. If it does have 120k on it, it has been VERY well taken care of. Since it's a 2004 L32, it still has a steel oil pan, and this block still had plastic intake gaskets. I pulled everything down to the timing cover to clean, along with the rockers and push rods. I pulled 3 lifters, disassembled them, and they were in just as good of shape as the ones I rebuilt, so I just used them. Pics:
Before cleaning:



Plastic gasket, what a surprise, it was leaking:

One side is clean:


Timing chain, I was going to replace it, but based on the wear I see on the tensioner, it's pretty new as it is.

4509, L32 rods:

Date stamp under the oil pan:


Cross hatching:

As it sits now, I have most everything cleaned, just need to wait on parts.


I have the engine bay about 60% clean as well, I'll be working on her more this weekend. What do you guys think?

I think you know what you are doing!!
luv the pics and good luck with the engine upgrade

Thanks, I've also put some Kenwood 6x9s in (don't remember model, I'll look), boosted the alternator voltage, and a few other small things. While the engine is out I'll be draining the transmission, putting in a DIY shift kit, and a new filter. I hope to have her back on the road in about 2-3 weeks. My wife isn't due until 8\21 so I have plenty of time. Next up after the engine is a 12 inch brake upgrade up front, then troubleshooting the ABS system...I'm sure it'll be fun.

Oh man that car is lucky to have you as its owner your bring it back to life keep up all the good work I can't wait to see more pictures of the progress

Awesome find on the motor, that thing is almost spotless! Good luck putting it all back together, hope to see some mods soon!

The Series III engine was in such great condition, I was able to reuse a lot of parts, like the timing chain\tensioner, rear main seal, etc. I'm assuming I wouldn't have been able find a L67 in this condition since they are older. The cheapest L67 I found was 3 hours away, with 120K for $750. I live in a small town (3,000 people), so everything is a few hours away.

Series II Series III Oreilly Rock Auto Oreilly Rock Auto Water Pump Reused Reused Reused Reused Timing Chain $47.99 $40.79 $47.99 $40.79 Oil Pan Gasket Reused Reused Reused Reused Rear Main Seal $15.99 $9.18 N\A N\A Timing Cover Gasket $14.99 $11.98 $14.99 $11.98 Valve Cover Gasket $61.99 $36.79 $61.99 $36.79 Super Charger Idler $18.99 $13.55 N\A N\A Timing Dampener $19.99 $14.71 Reused Reused Super Charger Gasket $0.00 $0.00 $61.99 $8.75 Throttle Body Adapter $0.00 $0.00 $99.99 $99.99 Shipping $0.00 $13.31 $0.00 $41.11 Tax $24.41 $0.00 $27.00 $0.00 Parts Total $204.35 $140.31 $313.95 $239.41 Engine Price $750 $750 $650 $650 Engine Tax $54.8 $54.8 $47.5 $47.5 Grand total $1,009.10 $945.06 $1,170.35 $936.86 Rock Auto Series II vs. Series III price ($8.20)

Just got done working on cleaning it for today, got quite a bit done on the engine bay, finished cleaning the old valve cover, and did some more work on the intake. The lower intake had some pitting on one of the blind coolant passages so I JB welded it up. Today, I sanded it down, but I might put some more JB weld on there to make it better...what I have now is enough, so I might just leave it. No pics of the intake, but here's some pics:
Old lifters, rebuilt, and soaking in gear oil. Who knows if they'll be used in the future. Surrounded by most of the clean parts, and cleaning stuff:

Engine bay:
Before:

Now:


Original Valve cover cleaned, it's been soaking for 2 weeks in purple power. I'm going to remove the sticker and paint them. I'm thinking black, with white stripes:

Started cleaning the intake runners of the heads, the coolant passages, and the majority of the gasket material from the old LIM gaskets:

Now I'm off to work, more to come tomorrow...BBQ, Friends, Family, Beer, and Projects, what more could a guy want.

Oh man when I put my cam in this summer I need to clean it like that it looks amazing

Thanks guys, I'm a bit of a neat freak when it comes to my engine bay, This is the dirtiest I've let my truck get in a long time:

I have a BUNCH of stuff done to my truck, needless to say, it's nowhere near stock anymore. Has 81,000 original miles though, not bad for a 1989 truck.

Anyone know a cheap place to get a GTP door badge? None of the JYs around here have them, and it's around $30 on ebay last I checked, but this was when I first got the car...before the engine took a crap.

Yeah I think I have 2 sets laying around

Damn, sounds good, how much do either of you want? I can PM you my address for shipping and such.

I did quite a bit of cleaning and painting today, only got pictures of the engine mocked up together, so I could see how it looked. Still undecided on the valve covers, I might just paint them to be completely white, originally I was got to put some black on it as well...




More to come tomorrow.

Does anyone have any input on the valve covers? I like the way all white looks, but I think it'd be too much of a pain to keep clean.