The LeSabre & Bonneville Project -- New SSEi Progress: Pg 8

[gweg_b]

I believe my 3rd brake light and center tails are leaking. Yeah, I pulled the plugs also, and that helped with most of it.

With all the leaks these cars have, they'd sink faster than the Titanic.

It's definitely time consuming, but I'm sure it's a great feeling to have the inside moisture free!

[nubuilder]

I believe my 3rd brake light and center tails are leaking. Yeah, I pulled the plugs also, and that helped with most of it.

With all the leaks these cars have, they'd sink faster than the Titanic.

It's definitely time consuming, but I'm sure it's a great feeling to have the inside moisture free!

It WAS a great feeling knowing that my interior was moisture free.....until I found water in my trunk again after the first rain 2 days ago. Hopefully under my carpet is still dry after fixing my front sunroof drains....

[gweg_b]

Yeah, that's why I'm not putting my carpet back in yet - I want to make sure nothing is getting in there anymore. I just managed to get rid of the wet dog smell, and don't want it back because some small seal somewhere didn't feel like holding water back.

[gweg_b]

It has begun.



The other night I started working on the LeSabre. As mentioned, the wires for the battery are corroded (due to a past leaky battery), and what I believe to be the problem with why the car never starts anymore (unless jumped). So, I've taken the old battery wire harness out, and will be getting it replaced soon.

There are basically three things I need to do to get this car back on the road:
1. Replace the battery cable harness (in progress)
2. Replace fuel and brake lines (and possibly gas tank)
3. Replace upper engine gaskets and A/C compressor (rusted)

The third one I can do after I actually get it running. I have no mechanical background, and I can't work with the speed or efficiency of Andrew or Matt, but I'll get there. I have a lot of work to do, and I'll probably be asking you guys a lot of questions along the way!!

[yonkerse]

Anxious to see this one come together! Have heard of your plans and sounds like a sweet build! As far as questions, you have come to the right place! :D

[SSEiMan01]

Man I wish I lived closer! We could have it running in a day, with breaks for food included!

[gweg_b]

That would be awesome!!

And that's the thing about where I live, not that many people from the forum tha live close enough!

Expect some slow progress today! I get more excited about this everyday!

[SSEiMan01]

If something changes soon and I don't have to be in this area every morning and evening I'll let you know, could be until July though until that happens.

[gweg_b]

If you ever got a chance, that would make for a fun weekend of car rebuilding, Will!

Made some tiny progress this weekend. Had to work Saturday, so I really only had Sunday to work on it. Took the air filter and box I made for it out. Removed the evap canister as well, as I am making plans to set up a FWI for this car. That's about all I got done, because yard work was beckoning.

This is the driver's side ballast for the HID's I used to run (I know, if Lane reads this, I deserve my 30 lashings, but I was young and dumb at the time):



Water must have been getting underneath where the cone filter was, because this thing is almost completely rotted - the metal was just coming apart. I also slashed my finger to the bone on a corner of metal from this box that is still on the car when I was trying to disconnect the vacuum lines from the canister. Blood was everywhere.



That's all for now. Looking at that pic, I realize I have a lot of stuff in there to replace or fix.

[gweg_b]

Some good news!! By the end of this weekend, I should finally be able to start the car without having to jump it every time!!

Got my hands on some almost new battery cables. I will be getting them installed starting Saturday afternoon. I might even has some video of the car finally running again!

[gweg_b]

It's running!! (Sort of):

http://youtu.be/bBa04d3C3G4

This is the longest I've had it running in almost 2 years. I still need to test the battery, and still can't drive it anywhere, but this is a start.

And, yes, I'm trying a new color on the valve covers, it's called "dirt and oil."

[SSEiMan01]

Nice! And that's nothing, my L27 engine bay was like the Exxon Valdez....

[gweg_b]

Yeah, you can't see it too well, but everything below the heads have a nice coating of oil. The underside is a nice gooey mess from ALL the fluid's leaking and combining.

[SSEiMan01]

Mine was layered on even the core support! One day when I was working on it my brother decided to be a jerk and scrape patterns into the grease with a screwdriver.

I didn't really care because the car was so beat though.

[gweg_b]

Yeah, that is nasty.

I think some of that goo is actually holding some stuff together in there!

[SSEiMan01]

Pretty sure between goo and rust there were few other ways my LeSabre was held together. (One of which was zipties)

[gweg_b]

I'm using a few zip ties, too!!

[Jrs3800]

I just love the deep groan of an L27... Just something to be said about a Tall Deck 3800..

[gweg_b]

There is a nice idle rumble. A different story however when I used to open it up.

A resonator is going back onto it!

[nubuilder]

With the camera speed and lighting, it almost looks like the crank pulley is slowly turning over. lol

It's always nice to hear an engine purr again!