Restoring the SSEi: F40 swap, HIDs, and a HY35 turbo.

[2003 SSEi]

The Grand Am Ram Air hoods are not metal, they are SMC (Sheet moulded compound)

[MattStrike]

I may be 1/2 a step ahead of you guys on that one

[devin1986]

Last time I peeked at this project it was... eek. You've made a ton of progress, and you should be proud. I'm also jealous because I don't have a good tuner readily available.

[2003 SSEi]

I may be 1/2 a step ahead of you guys on that one

i doubt it.

I have a Grand AM Ram Air Fiberglass hood, and a 00+ Bonneville hood, that are cut and pasted

[MattStrike]

Update time!

As everyone probably already knows by now, I've upgraded to 4-wheel disc brakes last week. Info here. Part of that was upgrading to F-body dual piston calipers, as well as a set of W-body KYB AGX struts (Thanks to info on Pontiac Bonneville Club and 95naSTA!). I grabbed a random set of W-body springs that seem to have lowered the front between 1/2" and 1" total. To complete that mod, I need a set of W-body crosslaces or some nice big rims and adjust the brake balance front to rear.

Then at the MI mega meet last weekend the input shaft on my 4t65e-hd broke. Sheared off right at the TCC O-ring groove. Combination of vehicle weight, shift kit, and power I think. The trans had started shuddering on the way up under load. But if something is going to break, I want to be the one that does it!

The cost it will take to upgrade the 4t65e for the current and likely future power level it will see is not at a significant margin different than a swap to a trans that is a little more stout and a lot more fun.

I'm picking up my 'new' used F40 manual transmission tomorrow and will be ordering the necessary parts for the swap over the next few weeks. There is enough of a road-map laid out by previous swaps that I shouldn't have any major hurdles. But I'm going to try to find an OEM solution to the C/V axles - hopefully corporate standards force a common spline x diameter for the center shaft on axles across similar platforms. This should increase power to the wheels as if I'd just pulleyed down again. And that might also happen in the process. 13's; here I come! (Broken F40, totally worth it!)

But for now, I will be scouring car-part and ebay looking for everything I need to pull this off. Part of me wants to rebuild everything and buy everything brand new. I'm at least going to crack open the trans and make sure nothing is damaged or needs to be replaced. But I'll try to get everything used first. Because I'm sure there is something else that needs to be upgraded along the way

I found my oil leak too. Gummy thread sealant on the oil pressure sender was the culprit. This also gives me a chance to remove the extra harness from the DS passthrough and fix some other things that were bugging me that I never finished before. And to make touch-ups to a spot of rust that I missed. And redo some paint, check how well the hockey puck mounts are holding up, make some custom PU motor and trans mounts, hood scoop V2.0..........

[SSEiMan01]

[yourgrandma]

Youre a menace.









I like it.

[95se]

so this means a stick shift bonnie?......

[MattStrike]

It means a 6-speed stick shift Bonnie.

[95se]

This should be interesting...bonnies gonna burn thru more tires

[SSEiMan01]

Tires are cheaper than transaxles.

[95se]

Very true burning rubbers more fun than breaking things

[MattStrike]

Very true burning rubbers more fun than breaking things

Is it too much to ask for both?

[95se]

Not at all both are more fun in my opinion!

[MattStrike]

Picked up my trans today. Surprise! 0 miles!









Test fitting, almost cleared but not quite. I'll be modifying the header and flange:


I'll have to notch the header or use the bolt through the block:


Looks like i have an A/C leak and an oil leak on my balancer seal:

[nos4blood70]

Woah! Where'd you get a new trans?

*dang* you work quickly.

[SSEiMan01]

I wasn't kidding when I said he'd have it done quickly. New trans eh? It has no idea what it's in for. It thinks it's going to some little old G6.

[yonkerse]

I'm so hooked to this thread already it's not even funny. You are ridiculous! Can't wait to see this complete! Will you hurry up already? haha

[ga93sle]

I'm so excited to see this come together, more excited about this than any mod I've seen on here in a while lol!!!! Makes me wish even more that the GP GXP had came with a 6-speed...

[nos4blood70]

I can't wait to go for a spin in it! You could drive it here to swap my trans next Matt.