My official LeMons car thread questions and answer??

[91parkave]

We tore into our junk yard engine this past Saturday and found some major problems...I always hear people telling others if there looking to rebuild there engine to just get another one and swap it in but you never know the true condition of what your getting. Found the #6 lifter roller portion cracked, damaged cam lobe, chipped #1 piston, damage to the cam bearings, scored crank journals and front timing cover g-rotor oil pump so very very glad we tore into it.
Thankfully we have a 30 day return policy from pick n pull so next Saturday we'll be returning the bad parts and looking for replacements to swap out for. There is lots of cleaning right now on all our parts we are keeping and making the parts list we will need for the upgraded components we want to install. So to all the people who want to rebuild there engines, I'd say do a cost analysis and always check and tear down the new engine you get, never know what you might find.

given that the 3800 oiling system isnt the greatest and has some flaws you should count your blessings it kept the grand prix rolling for the race.

heres some tech on what you can do while its apart

http://www.3800pro.com/forum/bottom-...iciencies.html
http://www.3800pro.com/forum/bottom-...wanted-do.html

good luck on the rebuild and next race

[dezebe1]

The engine in the car is fine...this was a L67 junk yard motor we decided to pick up and swap once we get it built. Great links, thanks for the info. Take it you couldn't make it out to the race?? No worries, got the new schedule for next year and looks like we'll be racing at Eagles Canyon Raceway in March so hope you can make it out for that race

[dezebe1]

Been a slow week at work so I took the oppertunity to do some assembly cleaning on all the engine components. We found additional damage to the front timing covers oil pump, the wall is severely scored inside the cover area and was packed with sludge, so far the block, crank timing cover, 1 piston and the cam and rollers are going back to the junk yard this weekend to exchange for better condition parts.
Can't order anything yet till all the machine work is performed and get final specs on bearings, pistons, rings and so forth. I have the heads disassembled for porting and polishing which I'll be performing myself. Supercharger is the next item that will get cleaned and ported later this week. Tell you what it does get overwhelming when this much detail goes into an engine build. It will be all worth it in the long run.

[gtpeddie]

This car is awesome keep up the good work

[dezebe1]

This car is awesome keep up the good work

Thanks buddy. We have till middle of March to get ready for the next race so fiured I'd get started early

[91parkave]

I'd seriously look into some of those cheap easy oil mods
Before reassembling the new engine

[dezebe1]

I'd seriously look into some of those cheap easy oil mods
Before reassembling the new engine

I read through both the linked articles you posted and will 100% be doing them. Just need to swap the bad parts for a better set at the junk yard before i do anything to it

[91parkave]

I read through both the linked articles you posted and will 100% be doing them. Just need to swap the bad parts for a better set at the junk yard before i do anything to it

Great news...sorry if I was being a dick about that. Just wanted to see a reliable grand Prix kick some ass at something. Can't wait to see some updates

[dezebe1]

All in all we seem to be very competative with the Grand Prix platform, It's not the gratest in stock form in this type of racing, "road course/endurance" racing. We have only been running a near N/A stock block, pistons and cam. our major mod's have been hand ported heads, LS6 valve springs, HV3 insert and a hot air intake/open cone. With that setup we typically finish within the top 20 of about 100+ cars, by going supercharged and modding it we should be a first place contender easally. This engine will get a very high attention to detail build and many custom touches when all is said and done, hopeing for close to 330-340 hp and close to the same in torque.

[dezebe1]

Got to the junk yard today to swap the shot block assembly, found a solid candidate from a 2000 Buick Regal GS. Bottom end looks great and no visable cylinder wear so now we can procede to phase 2, send the block heads and rotating assembly to the machine shop. On a second note, we noticed a 2004 police package 9C1 Impala with the complete oil cooler, P/S cooler and a trans cooler with lines, hoses and brackets. I looked up the part number for this setup at work and brand new it runs over $1200 regular price, we picked it up and other odd's and end's for only $92. Things are falling into place and now we can start ordering all the upgrade parts we want. We will tear into the short block this week for final evaluation on what machine work we need to have performed

[TexasTanker19kilo20]

Don't forget, you can score GMPP rear trailing arms off a Police Impala, scored mine for $30 from a JY.

They look like this

[dezebe1]

exactly what we got also....great minds think alike

[TexasTanker19kilo20]

Yes and SCORE for you.

This is how mine turned out.

[dezebe1]

very nice, we need to get together some time and check out the cars

[91parkave]

Got to the junk yard today to swap the shot block assembly, found a solid candidate from a 2000 Buick Regal GS. Bottom end looks great and no visable cylinder wear so now we can procede to phase 2, send the block heads and rotating assembly to the machine shop. On a second note, we noticed a 2004 police package 9C1 Impala with the complete oil cooler, P/S cooler and a trans cooler with lines, hoses and brackets. I looked up the part number for this setup at work and brand new it runs over $1200 regular price, we picked it up and other odd's and end's for only $92. Things are falling into place and now we can start ordering all the upgrade parts we want. We will tear into the short block this week for final evaluation on what machine work we need to have performed

I scored the 9c1 setup for 40 out the jy. Regardless there great coolers and you can unscrew the quick connects and use standard brass fittings to make installation easier.I did have to modify the brackets but no biggie

[TexasTanker19kilo20]

very nice, we need to get together some time and check out the cars

As soon as I'm able to keep a steady cash flow coming in, the separation from the Army thing killed my funds.

Cause DFW is only a few hours away.

[dezebe1]

Been a bit since I've updated, we stripped down the second junk yard engine and this one looks much better, no major wear noticed at all, lifter are damn near perfect, pulled the crank out and the main bearings looks almost brand new, rod bearings seemed a bit loose but all bearings will be replaced. We will order new Sealed power hypereutectic pistons from ZZP on black Friday and rings, and in the next 2 weeks all parts will get sent to the machine shop. Hope to keep a standard bore and just hone it. Went back to the junk yard this past weekend to pick up a some L67 fuel lines since ours are for the L36. Well that's all for now, everyone have a happy and safe Thankgiving

[dezebe1]

Further update....on 12-05-13 we had a major ice storm in Dallas for a few days, during this time I parked the race car in our shop on Thursday night, work was canceled till Monday. Come in to work Monday morning and find out the buildings roof caved in and crushed several of the vehicles from ice accumulation and the shop heaters being turned off. Luckly my car wasn't damaged but our building was condemned and unable to get the vehicle out due to safety concerns. Along with the car....all the new engine parts where also inside Just last week they came in to shore up the walls and roof to remove vehicles and equipment. Long story short no progress has been made till now but sending everything out next week to the machine shop. This means that we will be missing our upcoming race in March but a friend is willing to let us race in his vehicle. The next race after will be in September so should have all the parts ready and all the bugs worked out.

[MrPoopyButthole]

wow that sucks! It would probably take you all of about 30 seconds to get your car out of there.

[dezebe1]

Ya, your right but once the fire dept came to shut off power and gas they decided it was not safe to go inside with all the additional weight of the ice on top the roof. Got it ot now and back to getting it running again soon.
Side note...out JE pistons just came in yesterday, holly crap they are sweet