The Rebuild of my 4.9 GT

Blair asked me to post a resurrection thread of my 85GT.

So here is the start of it.

A little background first.

The car is an 85GT that I have owned since I was 17. That's 15 years I have owned the car. Went through 4 different 2.8's-2.9's. Rebuilt and modified the V6's to death. Car had an auto when I bought it, I converted it to 4spd when I did the first 2.9 V6, then converted it to a 5spd when I did the 4.9 V8.   I am on my 6th trans axle.   I found clutches to be almost as hard to keep together, this is my 3rd clutch on the V8.   My last clutch was a V8 Archie Centerforce that I exploded. This time we are installing a Clutchnet 6 puck Race Clutch.

I had a few issues putting it back together. I was installing one of the 4 bolts on the rear trans bracket and stripped on out. Due to the fact that Isuzu trans axles in my case are a disposable item. I figured I would just grab a larger steel bolt and force thread it into the aluminum case. I grabbed my impact gun started the bolt set the gun to max and pulled the trigger. It shot in so fast I could not believe it. Then when inspecting it, I found out why it shot in so fast. Where the bolt goes in, it split the case wide open. FRACK FRACK FRACK. So I pulled the bolt back out. Mixed up a batch of 2 part epoxy, filled the bolt with expoxy, then filled the bolt hole with epoxy, smearing it all over the crack and put the bolt back in. I let it harden over night.   I don't plan on this trans lasting more than about 6 months at best anyways.    

Well enough chatter here are the pics of the car coming back together.

Scan of Clutch Invoice


Pics of new Clutch disc.










Clutch installed




New Isuzu going in.


Bad Isuzu


Note the missing input shaft sleeve. Its laying on the bottom of the bell housing.



Engine in the dropped position


Trans Installed


Engine and trans finally back up in the car.


Kinda see the side exit exhaust pipe.


All tucked up nice and neat.


Ya its on the ground


WooHoo, my motor is back in its correct place.






Edited by Capt Fiero

Well I am out working on it now. Everything is hooked up aside from battery. All the lines are hooked up and double checked the hose clamps.

Need to install the oil filter. Fill it up with coolant, hook up the battery and see if it fires up. If she fires, I will start setting up the clutch hydraulics and see if she will move under her own power.   If everything is going really good. Maybe slight chance I might throw a temp on it for Sunday. I would love to have it on the road for Arlington. However with so many little worries about the trans in there, not sure if I would want to risk driving it that far. Oh and I am going to have to Air-Scare it as well. Kinda funny watching them try and find the exhaust outlets. (in front of rear tire on the passenger side)

Maybe a break in cruise tonight?

Ya'll better watch out, what ya gonna do when you see this coming up in your rear veiw window.

   I fired it up and drove it out of the garage under its own power today.  I was a bit worried about the clutch being too grabby, however, I let it idle down to about 550rpms, and gently lifted the clutch up and it engaged as smooth as silk, gently pulling the car backwards.

I am really happy.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hood is to maintain the "rat rod" look.  It also serves release the hot air from the radiator and relieve pressure from the area under the hood.  It seems to work quite well.

Edited by Capt Fiero

Well another Isuzu bites the dust.........

     It never even made it fully on the road.  Friday night was going to be the first night to really take it out and play.  I did the oil change today, got the front tires swapped on, greased the front end, was really happy with the way the car was doing.  So I took it out into the ally behind the house.  Started out slowly and started working my way up to 3/4 throttle rolling starts.  Then BANG, Grind, Grind..................  FRACK FRACK FRACK.  I knew the trans was weak, but I wanted to give it a good test before taking it on any long distance trips.  I guess its good that it blew up here at the house and not 25, 50 or 100kms away. 

      So we pushed it back into the driveway, and I am going to drop it out again.  LOL, #7 Trans here we go.   The next trans going in, will be a 4spd.  I am done with the Isuzu's. 

   Ya know with all the nightmares I have with Isuzu's, I would never even consider going back to an auto.  It was an Auto when I bought it and I converted it to stick.  Even having to replace things as often as I do, I still love grabbing gears.  Even if sometimes I grab for them, and they go flying out the back end.

Could ya flip it on its side, (bellhousing down) and take a quick pic of it.  If you don't mind, please.  Just wanted to see if it is an 84 or 85-86.5 4spd.

Yep that is a later model 4spd, and to be frank, it looks more like the Citation 4spd rather than the 85-86.5 Fiero 4spd.

Edited by Capt Fiero

That car does not count as it is a Camaro and not a Fiero.