The '88 Lesabre T-type, updated!

[Z-type]

Ah, I understand. No I did not mention how my lifter's health was. I never did pull them out. I suppose that IS a possibility, considering the age of the engine and the miles. Wish I would have thought of it when the LIM was out...

In other news, the tune from Sinister seems to be operating everything alright so far, even though I haven't driven it. Fuel trim is rock steady, even with a few small revs, and the fans are kicking on earlier when they're supposed to. The hood still needs put back on, I may or may not cruise it a few miles down to road later to stretch it legs, but nothing over 1/3-1/2 throttle.

I sense another tear down is coming to inspect lifters...

[Z-type]

After much researching and advice from others, I think I'm going to outright replace the lifters with lifters normally used for the LS7 V8's. Being a little 'stiffer' and slightly higher pushrod cup area, that should make up the difference in the gaps on my Yella Terra's. Also, if my lifters are bad, or bad-ish, then they'll be replaced!

No time frame on this end of the project yet. I really just want to enjoy the car for a while and a few hundred miles, a few car shows, then I'll get into it in the Fall perhaps.

I'm pumped up for it. I'd hoped not to tear off the top of the engine AGAIN, but if I have to to make it right, well darn it that's what I'm gonna do. I'm not letting Yella Terras go to waste.

[Z-type]

Hey all! I hope it's not a big deal I brought back this thread. All info is still relevant haha. Anyway, I realized that almost 3 years ago, I never updated my situation.

Basically, I did end up replacing the lifters in the Lesabre to make the Yella Terras work. And boy howdy did they make a huge difference. Really woke up the entire engine combo and made the tune much more worthwhile. I have never seen knock on this engine, which is very surprising. I don't know how much power or torque it makes now, but the car will spin tires anything under 20mph. It all comes at a price as we all know - my passenger side axle needs replaced as of putting the car in Winter storage. Those of you at the 2014 Michigan Meet probably remember me mentioning it being about ready to die, and it let loose all of its grease in the outer boot sometime in September lol.

I did get a reman axle, so I'm going to get a new one this time. Other than that, I DID get the car to the drag strip at the beginning of August at the Buick Performance Group Nationals. I made 3 runs, but I hated each one of them because I could get zero traction whatsoever. I would spin all the way through 1st gear, and even doing easier launches the next 2 times, adjusting tire pressure and rear air shocks, etc, I couldn't get traction for crap. Too much torque. That all being said, my first run I did manage to pass up the new Mustang GT at the end of the run lol. I only did 15.5 sec @ 91.5mph. That's pathetic for the car's setup but again...no traction for the first 100 feet or more.

1st run (she's a screamer!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nS8fft ... kWgXEIv5CQ

My second and 3rd runs were almost identical, but I still couldn't use the car's power correctly to get any results.

2nd run, 15.1 @ 92.6mph:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ4MArR ... kWgXEIv5CQ

It's so frustrating for me because I know the car is capable of mid to low 14's, all the math being done. Being at the track isn't the most important thing though. I really love how the car performs and it surprises the heck out of people when that blower opens up all the way. Since I don't see any knock so far on this engine, I am going to try a 2.4" pulley and see what happens. They're easy enough to swap on the M62's that if I have any real knock issues I can go right back to the 2.5".

Just jumping around here, but for those of you not at the Michigan Meet, I came across a set of chrome Bonneville SSEi 20 spoke wheels. They look pretty good on my older car!


I like the original wheels just as much though, so I swapped back and forth between them a few times last summer.



Not much else to tell about the car except I certainly put the miles on it when the weather is nice (and especially not Winter) and it gets great gas mileage. On long highway trips I'll usually average 29-30 MPG. Now I just have to replace the axle and temperature sender to the gauge and I'll be ready for another season! Unfortunately I can't do any of this until it becomes warm. Fortuantely, I have a lift to make things much easier....


Thanks for checking this out everyone!

[95naSTA]

The car looks great.

What was your 60' on that 15.1?

[tytotheler92]

What?! They made these?! Awesome!

[Z-type]

95naSTA - the 60' was a dismal 2.491 for the faster run, and 2.527 for the first run. I figured the launch was going to be the hardest part, and it was.

tytotheler92 - Well, they made the Lesabre T-types from '87-'89 but unfortunately they never came supercharged. I swapped in the drivetrain from my rotted '95 Riviera, and used Bonneville mounts, heater hoses, etc to fit it into my car . I used all OEM or similar parts and didn't have to cut o fabricate anything.

[Jfridge92]

God I love t-types. Such a good looking car man!

[MattStrike]

I had a harder time launching the LeSabre when I did my swap. It takes a lot less throttle than I thought it would to get down to ~2.2s 60'. You have to roll into it, with only just enough throttle to torque back the motor while staging, you will need to keep the shifter in 1st until you break 30mph or get to WOT.
I want to say I was launching at about 1800rpm, and on the constant verge of wheel spin until I could get to WOT, but I had the series 2.

[1oldman]

Beautiful automobile. You certainly have done the car right. Those 20" SSEi wheels (at least I'm guessing they are since I'm not sure which one's they are - top photo?) really make the car pop. - BC

[haro1225]

Those are 20 spoke 17 inch wheels. I love that car!

[nos4blood70]

Gorgeous! Drop that 60' time and you'll have your 14s.

[95naSTA]

95naSTA - the 60' was a dismal 2.491 for the faster run, and 2.527 for the first run. I figured the launch was going to be the hardest part, and it was.

That means you should be around a 14.5 with a 2.2 60'. (every 0.1 off the 60' is 0.2 off the 1/4)

Just imagine if you got some DRs and jacked up the rear.. you could be low 14s.

IIRC, there has only been a few S1L67 H-Bodies in the 14s.

[Z-type]

Yeah, BFGoodrich all seasons aren't exactly track tires lol. Thank you for the advice, guys.

Matt - that's pretty much what I noticed too. Didn't need as much foot to get a little quicker, but I was still spinning and spinning nonetheless with any advance of the throttle lol.

And thank you for the compliments everyone. I've had the car for almost 9 years now and it's been swapped for almost 3. Such a fun platform, even with all the little goofy stuff that can go wrong. I managed to track down a 21mm rear sway bar, but I'm having trouble finding poly bushings that will just fit. I found some that will need modified, so I supposed that's not a terrible deal. But again, no playtime until spring and the axle gets replaced.

[tytotheler92]

It really is a fun platform...surprisingly.

If the 88 were mine (It is and isn't) and didn't have the salvage title it would have FE1 suspension parts, a supercharger, 16" Monte Carlo wheels, zzp headers and crossover and quite a bit of other stuff.

Right now its just a really reliable DD for my sister.

[WhiteArrow3800]

Hey all! I hope it's not a big deal I brought back this thread. All info is still relevant haha. Anyway, I realized that almost 3 years ago, I never updated my situation.

Not a problem when it's a continuation of your own thread


I absolutely loved seeing this in person back in June. As hard as they are to find regularly it's amazing to see such a clean example.

[Z-type]

Thanks Booze! I have to agree in a way - seeing everyone else's cars in person that I've only seen in pictures was just way cool.

I finally found a rear sway bar for this car! The stock bar is 19mm I think, and I got 21mm off ebay for cheap. I measured it and across 90% of the bar it's telling me it's 22.5mm with my caliper. Does that sound right to anyone?

[MattStrike]

22mm was what I've measured on the '97-'99 parts I've seen. I couldn't tell you if the pre-'96 had 21, or everyone just calls it 21, or what.

[Z-type]

That's pretty much what I gathered, Matt. No one knows lol.

After discussing with some Series I savvy friends and pondering a while, I decided that the last 2 years of scanner info and my aggressive tune obligates me to a smaller supercharger pulley. No knock so far from the 2.5" pulley, so no problem. 2.4" it is! It's so tiny.



I'm not worried about this little upgrade at all. I rarely go WOT or anywhere near it because of how much low end the car has. Either way, once it's on, I'll scan to make sure and drive safely.

Hey, while I'm thinking about it, the passenger axle needs replaced. Since this is the 4T60E-HD and the H platform, an axle for a '95 SSEi should do the trick eh? I am using the origianl 1988 Lesabre spindles with '95 hubs/bearings. That's the axle specification I used last time I just wanted opinions from those who know better than I. Thanks!