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

[Jrs3800]

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

A resonator is going back onto it!

I agree.. The van just has a Magnaflow Muffy... The drone is insane... When I get it the way I want it, it too will have a resonator... The van sounds good with the cam but man its just too loud...

[gweg_b]

The LeSabre just sounds horribly poppy and raspy with the way I have it setup. Loud is what I wanted 10 years ago, but I want clean now.

Yeah, a tablet isn't the best recording device, but all the pulleys are properly turning, and have no play. That A/C compressor is shot, and I'll get to replacing it soon.

Started it up again and ran it last night, and it was quiet, no banshee screaming from the A/C compressor. So, doesn't happen all the time.

Also hooked up all the stereo equipment for fun. Everything still works perfectly, and I've forgotten how hard that sub hits in there.

[gweg_b]

Eh. . .







This car continues to surprise me. Looks like the whole passenger rear wheel well (inner and outer) is completely shot. That hole that is in the second picture happened when I barely touched the metal - chunks of it just fell out. Also, the carpet and sound deadening material are fused with the rotting metal. I couldn't pull it back any further without causing more damage.

I may look into buying a donor car for this project.

[SSEiMan01]

Mine looked worse than that... I pulled my trunk carpet one day and I was looking at the entire width of the tire. There was literally no wheel well left at all.

Luckily I don't believe the wheel wells on those are entirely structural, so having some sheet metal welded in and coat it with undercoating should be fine.

[gweg_b]

Yeah, doesn't seem structural. The front around the radiator (which seems more structural) is disappearing quick, and that seems to be the worst of it so far. I still need to get underneath one of these days and see what is bad where.

I might be able to patch this up sometime this summer. Gonna have to get me some welding practice.

[MattStrike]

The wheel wells are relatively structural. It would be more accurate to say that the strut tower is the structural part, and the wheel well supports it and the surrounding body panels and ties everything into the frame rails. Smaller holes like the ones you found in the wheel well won't significantly impact the structure, but if half of it fell out you might notice it. I would stitch weld metal patches in any holes not on the spot-weld flange.

Any part of the spot-weld flange that needs to be replaced should be continuous welds. It looks like the seam sealer also needs to get removed in that whole wheel well area in front of the strut tower at the floor of the trunk, the flanges have a lot of rust staining. Simple enough to fix with the MIG, but that whole seam pretty much ties into the frame rail.

[gweg_b]

Matt, this is exactly why I wish I could hire you!

I have a lot of work to do. I have done ZERO body work in my lifetime, and have never used a welder. I might try and practice with areas that are not structural.

[MattStrike]

Just don't weld on any car sheet metal without completely sanding it down to bare metal. It has a zinc coating that doesn't play well with your lungs when welding, and makes welding a chore.

I have to say, though, it's a great starting point for learning how to weld on the car. Not too much that needs to be cut out but enough that you'll develop some technique. PM me once you are ready to weld, I can share some of what I've learned along the way. Once I started welding, I had a hard time stopping. The part I didn't like was prepping the sheet metal patches, but I had only a primitive cut-off wheel to do that.

[gweg_b]

Sure thing, Matt, I will definitely let you know once I start!

Yeah, I figured sanding was a must before any welding. I'm going to make sure what tools are available at home for cutting the old and new sheet metal. I'll have to get an inventory from my brother, and hopefully I won't have to buy too much.

Right now, don't know when I can start, but August seems like the earliest. And that will only be the section in the trunk for now. The front will probably wait until I get the engine out.

[gweg_b]

New Update (7.23.13):

It is a couple weeks late, but I am reporting that I finally have the interior of the Bonneville finished!!

11 months in the making - most of that was because of lack of funds, and well, winter kind of got in the way.

Pictures:







And yes, I did do some upgrades which are audio related. I'll post more on that later. Everything is clean and dry! I still need to detail the interior, but I am so happy this is done!!

[SSEiMan01]

Looks just as clean as mine did! Good work!

Can't wait to see your stereo in person... That head unit is familiar... Should serve you well.

[gweg_b]

Thanks, Will!

It's nice having the whole interior clean. The vinyl and leather are starting to show some age, so I need to get some detailers and conditioners in there. Might try to go over the whole car this weekend if I get time (and doesn't rain).

And yes, I love that headunit! Thanks for the inspiration, Will!

[gweg_b]

The LeSabre - now with more Thrills, Chills, and Rusted Bits!!!

Came home yesterday from work, and saw this:





I am going to have to learn to weld one of these days. First for this will be getting a replacement OEM exhaust from the junkyard, and redoing in a much proper way, instead hacking and slashing the piping, which led to this massive rust-fest.

[MattStrike]

Looks like my '93 did when I started.

[nos4blood70]

Weight reduction!

[XxBluecometxX]

sorry to jump in, does anyone on here know why moisture would be coming out of my vents?

[J Wikoff]

Please start a new thread.

[gweg_b]

Ha, I actually forgot I had this thread!

Probably should update the first page with progress that I've made, but I've been too lazy.

[gweg_b]

First post updated noting that this thread is being revived, and updated a few items on the list.

[1oldman]

I had been wondering if the car and/or the thread was forgotten. lol! - BC