The Turbo T that no one wanted

[gusszgs]

Very nice work and good on you for doing it right and saving the car. May I ask whom did you get the new TE45a from? I see it has the Garrett EX housing on it.

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Garrett housing was supplied by me to Limit Engineering and they built the turbo.

 

[Lee_Burough]

Very nice work! Enjoy the journey, that joy is priceless.

 

[chazman]

Good job! Looks like you were the one to save it.

 

[quikv6]

Kudos for fixing it the right way. Knowing how meticulous you are, it's clear the car is in good hands and will be properly saved.

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Kudos for fixing it the right way. Knowing how meticulous you are, it's clear the car is in good hands and will be properly saved.

Thanks Chris

 

[Adam28]

Out of curiosity, why did you get rid of your WE4? Looked like you put alot of work into it and it was a really nice car. It was actually on my list to look at when I bought mine.

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Out of curiosity, why did you get rid of your WE4? Looked like you put alot of work into it and it was a really nice car. It was actually on my list to look at when I bought mine.

I don't like black cars. Just like my Black TrailBlazer SS (which I just sold and already regretting) the deal was too good to pass. WE4 was original 54k mile car. TBSS was my best friends car that he bought new.

I always wanted a bench seat, manual windows low optioned Turbo T or T type. In any color, but Black. The only thing I hate more than Black cars is leather interiors. And of course Jim Dunn has a nice Limited now BUT it has leather.

That was the long answer to your question. The short one would be: I'm nuts!

 

[Adam28]

LOL, understood man. I had a 07 TBSS....black with leather....you would have hated it.

 

[turbo39151]

Nice work. I'm glad the fix is done properly. I hate hackjobs!
Very nice car- And I don't even like burgundy interiors but this one is very clean. Congrats!

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Hey crowd. Is this damn winter ever going to end?

Well, a little update on my Burgundy ugly duckling transformation, it's still in the ugly stage.

All body work on the rear part of the car was completed and done right, unfortunately I was kicked out of the shop to make room for other strugglers so now I have a two tone car... front to back two tone





Hopefully I can get back in there to finish it. Removed the rear spoiler (sorry, Rick). Had them weld the holes in original trunk vs replacing the trunk and the sticker.



Had my driver seat moved back 3" (every inch matters, according to her!) and GNX brace welded in. After that floors were sprayed with Eastwood heat and sound barrier.




Now the car is in interior shop getting new carpet and headliner.


Parts Bin:

got my "new" 15" Buick hubcaps for my sleeper look









had my dual fans set up disassembled, powdercoated black and re-assembled. Why I didn't go with Alradco? Different harnesses. This one has both fans on right away.




Got all new weatherstrip from Rockauto. It fits like shit! Trunk doesn't close properly, windows impossible to roll up. Hopefully when the rest of the car is painted, I'll find a better choice.

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Also while on vacation in Florida, I brought down my downpipe and TA headers and had them ceramic coated. Dropped them off on my first day there and picked up before leaving. Price was 1/3 of Jet Hot, not many color choices (2) but owner seemed knowledgeable and very nice. Will see.











Also while there I traded my 3 months old 2016 Silverado for 2016 RAM Rebel. My first Mopar, but might not be the last. Love my Rebel! Night and day from Silverado.

Only I can drive to FL on family vacation in a brand new truck and drive back in another truck. But if any of my FL friends looking for Mopar, I have a good friend of mine who moved there and works in Airport Dodge, in Orlando.

 

[GNRick]

So they painted the back half of the car but not the front? What brand headers are those? Sorry to hear about the rear spoiler. I like the Gnx brace. Keep up the good work!

 

[LIVE4RDO]

So they painted the back half of the car but not the front? What brand headers are those? Sorry to hear about the rear spoiler. I like the Gnx brace. Keep up the good work!

They painted the part they worked on. Painting the front would be a waste of money (and their time now) as it also needs some work. Not as much as the back (I hope!) but it needs work.

Those are TA Performance headers, the only ones other than ATR worth buying.

 

[Gene Van Horn]

Nice job on the coating of everything, if you dont mind how much for Coating all the parts?

 

[seedling]

Glad u saved it! Any issues with fitment on the TA headers?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[turbo39151]

Couple of things...

1. The only weatherstrip that will be right is the OEM GM. It's expensive as hell but it fits perfectly. I tried the cheap stuff (soft Seal, IIRC) and it was cheap and fit ok but the ends did not have the hard plastic molded inside the rubber- just rubber. So, when you put screws to them, the ones with the plastic inside (GM) would hold. The ones without (the aftermarket stuff) would eventually tear and the rubber would flop around. It still sealed but looked like crap flopping around.

2. What rims are you putting the 15" hub caps on? I'm assuming they're steel rims vs. the stock ttype aluminum rims?

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Couple of things...

1. The only weatherstrip that will be right is the OEM GM. It's expensive as hell but it fits perfectly. I tried the cheap stuff (soft Seal, IIRC) and it was cheap and fit ok but the ends did not have the hard plastic molded inside the rubber- just rubber. So, when you put screws to them, the ones with the plastic inside (GM) would hold. The ones without (the aftermarket stuff) would eventually tear and the rubber would flop around. It still sealed but looked like crap flopping around.

2. What rims are you putting the 15" hub caps on? I'm assuming they're steel rims vs. the stock ttype aluminum rims?

My problem is, original stuff is 30 years old, even stored is starting to deteriorate.

I will use regular steel wheels.

 

[626gn]

Great thread. Keep those updates coming, I really enjoy following along. Curious about your choice of turbo. Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing your choice. It's a great turbo (look at my sig ). Just curious why you decided on that one with all the other choices there are these days.

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Wheels before:





And after. Too nice to put hubcaps on them