Pontiac LeMans T-37, Project LeManiac

[DDY RCKT]

LeManiac is the working title. Got the car in the shop yesterday, as you can see in the into section, and started tearing it apart and emptying the shell. The front clip is off. There are a few bits left of the interior, but it's pretty much out of there. I also pulled the engine and transmission this morning, and swapped for the LS1. I now have a completely rebuilt TH350 (I think) with a 2400 stall if anyone needs one.

I had a time of maneuvering that big car in the shop and positioning the engine hoist, etc. to test the engine fit. Hopefully tomorrow I can bolt up the T-56 to the LS1 and start to see where my issues are.

On to the pics!

It fits better sidways in my shop, anyway.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2393116147_2942a4674d_b.jpg

It's at roughtly the height of the engine mounts I had for the Chevy 350. Plenty of room!

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:woot:

[DDY RCKT]

The floor and trunk pans were cut out and the previous owner (poorly) welded in complete new ones. The car sat outside for a week, and of course, got rained on. This will all be sanded off, ground down, and re-welded as soon as my new welder and new compressor get here. Of course, I'm still trying to decide on a new welder and compressor....:willy:

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Supplied with the car is a complete Painless A-Body 18 circuit wiring kit. Awesome! I have most, if not all, the front drive accessories for the LS1, too. All I need to find to get that motor complete are the coils and some headers!

[DDY RCKT]

I'm going to need a bigger hammer....

As you can see, there are some clearance issues jamming a T-56 into an automatic 1971 Le Mans...

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[DDY RCKT]

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[DDY RCKT]

Ok guys, who in here has shoehorned a T56 into a 71 automatic on the column A-Body? I'm definately going to have to do some cutting, chopping, and welding, but if anyone has some pointers, I'd apprecaite it.

Also, it looks like that F-body oil pan is going to give me fits about fitting. Any words of wisdom, there? Channeling the crossmember?

[1FastBrick]

I am not sure were I saw it but I believe what most have done is cut the tunel around were the trans hits the floor and raise it up about 1 inch by adding a strip of metal. Not saying its the best way but if you dont have a roller and dont know how to fab up a new tunnel I guess it would get the job done.

[DDY RCKT]

I am not sure were I saw it but I believe what most have done is cut the tunel around were the trans hits the floor and raise it up about 1 inch by adding a strip of metal. Not saying its the best way but if you dont have a roller and dont know how to fab up a new tunnel I guess it would get the job done.

Someone replied to my thread!!! :willy:

:rofl:

Luckily, the kids who (poorly) welded in the replacement floorpans, well, they just overlapped them to the cut tunnel by about 2-3", so I have plenty of preformed metal to work with. I just need to carefully cut it out and patch it back in. :unibrow:

I'm way more concerned about what I'm going to do to the rear of the frame to get the Independent rear installed...

[wookham]

.............HEY IS THE TRANSMISSION STILL FOR SALE GOT A 73 454 IN A 71 CAMARO .......WHAT WOULD YOU WANT FOR IT AND THE CONVERTOR......WAS GOING TO DO A 700r but if the deal is good i may use yours for the time being

thanks
jeff

[DDY RCKT]

The new rear suspension gets picked up tomorrow! :willy:

I hope to be able to pull out the old one and mock it up for all to see beforeI have to fly out again thursday evening. 2 x :willy:

[ProTouring442]

The new rear suspension gets picked up tomorrow! :willy:

I hope to be able to pull out the old one and mock it up for all to see before I have to fly out again Thursday evening. 2 x :willy:

What rear suspension are you planning on using?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[DDY RCKT]

What rear suspension are you planning on using?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Let me get it out of the truck and under the car, and I'll see if you can identify it. :lol:

[DDY RCKT]

Out with the old!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2419187031_13a032850d.jpg

And in with the new!

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[DDY RCKT]

There are, of course, some clearance issues to be corrected. Some trimming and integrating of the new subframe with the original frame. Still not decided if I'm going to make concessions to bolt the rear in and out, or weld it in. I'm leaning towards welding, but that's going to depend on how accessable it makes things like the sway bar once it's all in the right place.

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Plenty a wide wheel should fit under the fenders, methinks!

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[ProTouring442]

BMW?

I was thinking of using a Mustang or Thunderbird/MKVIII unit, but went Ford 9" instead.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[DDY RCKT]

You know, guys, it's ok to talk to me about my project. I see you looking.http://images.corvetteforum.com/images/smilies/toetap05.gif

Anyone figured out what the rear suspension is from? You get a gold star if you get it right!

[DDY RCKT]

BMW?

I was thinking of using a Mustang or Thunderbird/MKVIII unit, but went Ford 9" instead.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Nope! It's much more appropriate than a BMW!

[Ummgawa]

Why I believe that's also a GTO unit. 04-06.

[DDY RCKT]

Why I believe that's also a GTO unit. 04-06.

http://catalog.schoolocker.com/images/edu/big/CE/BJ51202.gif

We have a winner! :thumbsup:

It's a 2005 LS2 GTO rear indepentent carrier, with all the included bits and pieces. One crushed brake line, but otherwise nearly perfect. Rotor to rotor, it's the extact length of the original, maybe 1.4" off.

[Ummgawa]

I'd be very interested in the install of the IRS in the LeMans. Keep lots of pix coming, and, I'll be watching your build closely. I am building a 70 gto vert (the one the ahole ex friend of mine stole the front end from) and like the looks of the install. Very Cool!

[DDY RCKT]

I'd be very interested in the install of the IRS in the LeMans. Keep lots of pix coming, and, I'll be watching your build closely. I am building a 70 gto vert (the one the ahole ex friend of mine stole the front end from) and like the looks of the install. Very Cool!

Thanks! It looks like it'll fit nicely. The spring perches are in the approximate location of the originals, as are the shock mounts, though the springs are shorter and the shocks are taller. I did, however, get the original upper perches that I can probably weld in to gain some of the height difference back. Either that, or it's going to squat right nicely. :lol:

I will probably end up getting some adjustable coilovers, though. That should help balance the system out somewhat.

[DDY RCKT]

Sorry for the lack of updates, here, guys. My work and specifically travel for work schedule kills my ability to work on my projects. At least it funds them, right?

Anyway, I just got the new compressor and welder in shop, i added wheels to the rear suspension and have positioned it in place (I hope) so I know where I need to start cutting into the frame. I should be home this weekend to work, but as of next thursday I'll be on travel for 2.5 weeks. :faint:

But there should be an update this weekend with new pictures.

[DDY RCKT]

Wooo! what a day! I managed to notch out the frame for the new rear subframe, but there's some more massaging to be done. I need to figure out the spring perches, and get the car lowered to check alignments, centering, and clearances. Hopefully I can get to that tomorrow!

[DDY RCKT]

So if anyone is still interested in my project here, I've got some updates.

I literally have been on work travel for almost 5 months of this year, so not a lot of work has gotten done. But when I got back, I decided that there needed to be some separation, or I'd never be able to get to anything. So I spent a few hours pulling the frame out from under the body, and fitting stuff in place. I've got a little more trimming to do before the subrame is ready to be bolted up, but here's some teaser pics! (yes, I know, the garage is a mess. I've been gone! :willy: )

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1240182/photo3_detail.jpg

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[PonchoJohn]

Looking good.
How close was the upper spring mount vs. the lower?

[DDY RCKT]

Looking good.
How close was the upper spring mount vs. the lower?

In location, it's freaking spot on. Unfortunately the springs from the 2005 subframe are too short, by 4-5 inches. I have to retrieve the original springs to see if they are more the right size, but I haven't gone to get them yet. I'm planning, hoping, praying that I can figure out a rear coilover setup that will work. Still trying to figure that one out, though. I could re-configure the spring perches to support coilovers, or use the original shock mount on the subframe and fabricate something up. I'm going to work on the rear crossmember design for the diff mount, and see if it could be used to locate the uppers for the shocks/coilovers.

[DDY RCKT]

I managed to finish trimming the frame last night and set the subframe in place on jacks and jack stands. It looks good! It'll take some work to massage in the springs and shocks, but I feel that's minor vs the victory of placement. I'll start fabricating the mounts probably tonight. I hope to have the think rolling this weekend! :faint:

[DDY RCKT]

Ok guys, I'm getting ready to go down the path of building a crossmember to mount the rear of the diff. It's on a rubber mount, so the bracket that you see in the first pic of the earlier post with pics is what I'm working with. If there's anyone who has any ideas for what I should do to mount that up, please post up. otherwise I'm just going to do what I always do, and overthink it until I overdesign it.

Post up!

['02ta]

Hey DD RCKT, any progress on this build? I've got a '71 Lemans also and I'm looking at possibly swapping in an LS3 & T56.

[Mark_Lide]

I know this thread is old but I would like to hear of any updates. I'm looking to do the same rear suspension on a 72 Nova in the future.

[wellis77]

...and I just like seeing IRS put under old cars.

[cdoggy81]

Any luck???

[Tuske427]

Cool project! I hope you can find more time to work on it.

[ProTouring442]

It's been over a year... and?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill