GM High-Tech Performance
March 2007
Power Trip - Part V: Wrapping Up Loose Ends And Installing The Drivetrain
By: Rick Jensen
Photos by:
Photography by: Rick Jensen
I want this Turbo-T to run 10s and be as reliable as your girl's Honda, and with the Hartline Turbo V-6 built and shipped to Ron's Custom Auto in Jersey, and the Dynotech Performance 200-4R modified for the five-disc Vigilante converter, it was finally time to start building toward that goal. But we have a ton of work ahead of us at Ron's -- this isn't simply a drivetrain swap, as my T, after 160,000 miles, has seen better days. I don't want to just throw a sparkling new mill into a rusty engine bay, and I really don't want to count on original parts like the wiring harness, trans and fuel lines, radiator, and motor and trans mounts when I want to run big numbers and make it to and from the track without calling AAA. So I guess you could say that this is GMHTP's first resto-build (damn, I feel old). Also, the engine still has some final assembly components that we need to install, and the fuel system currently consists of a single-pump setup that won't supply enough fuel for my goals. Yep, the old girl needs some serious TLC before we crank 'er up -- we'd better get started.
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My original transmission cooler and fuel lines have taken a beating over the last 19 years -- thankfully, Classic Tube has direct-replacement stainless steel trans cooler (back) and fuel feed/return (front) lines. It's a godsend having lines that are bent right and fit well.
Junior puts the trans lines in the general area where they will go, then zip-ties them to the frame. The harness is zip-tied up out of the way, and the engine bay is finally ready for the V-6.
Junior hooks up the engine hoist and removes the bolts holding the engine to the stand. He wheels the LC2 into position, drops it down halfway, adjusts trans lines and wires like the cylinder head grounds, then eases the engine all the way down. He aligns the new motor mounts and slips their bolts through.
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