PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

The gold car below is the first 1999 I bought for $1200. It was suppose to the donor car for my 88 LeSabre T-Type but it was in too nice of shape to junk it. My mother is now driving it.





Then, after about two years, I found this white one with a blown engine for $300. It's a 1999 also. This was also going to be the donor car for my LeSabre. BUT...the body and interior was in too nice of shape to junk so I set out to find an engine to install into the car so I could "flip" it to make some cash.





This is the next 99 I found just a few weeks after I bought the white one. I got it for $800 in running/driving condition. The car needs paint and the interior is trashed, not to mention numerous things didn't work on the car, mechanically and cosmetically. It's pretty much junk anyway...not worth fixing it up to resell. This is the car I stole the engine out of to install into the white car. Sooo, this is FINALLY the car that will be the donor car for my 1988 LeSabre T-Type.





Finally, this is the LeSabre that's getting the transplant. I've gotten the L67 engine built and ready to install into the Maroon SSEi first. After I get the engine running well I'll then yank the subframe and bolt it into the LeSabre and wire it up.

Engine has:
modified supercharger housing
modified LIM
ported heads
camshaft - 206/216 at .050" - Intake Lift .512" lift - Exhaust Lift .507" - 115 LSA
aftermarket pistons
polished factory rods
upgraded valve springs and retainers

Walk-around video of LeSabre---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHWq4KH07t4

Moar pics of the T! Awesome project!

Very nice T.

It's cool to see that you saved those first couple Bonnies too.

I always like that coupe. I still see one on the road every now and then. I has an 88 Bonneville SSE and I always wished they made a Pontiac version of the 2 door.

Interesting progression of cars.

I've never seen a "t-type".....moar pics please!!!!

I got the hot rod engine in the maroon bonnneville this past weekend. With all the mods, I'm going to have to get a computer re-flash and a smaller supercharger pulley. The stock pulley is only allowing 3-4psi of boost. I have no idea what size pulley to buy to get the boost up to 8-10 or 12psi. Any suggestions?



This is the 1988 LeSabre T-Type. This body style was used in NASCAR back in the 80's.

I installed the hood bulge myself to go with a Grand National theme and to make it look more sporty looking. General Motors actually built a 1986 LeSABRE Grand National...only 112 of them.


















This picture has been modified with a multicolor pin stripe and darkened up a lot for a computer wallpaper.

Another T-type getting the treatment it deserves! I'll have to get mine going here soon...

First, I've got to say that it's way easier than I thought especially if you have an entire donor car at your disposal.


Pulling the Bonneville's drivetrain consisted of the ENTIRE subframe, struts, spindles, battery cables rack and pinion....etc. Look at the picture and you can see how I removed it. I started yanking it out Friday around 3pm.





I also removed the LeSabre T's engine in the same manner. I had this out Friday night also. I also installed the L67 drivetrain back into the LeSabre Friday night and had about 70% of the mechanical work completed. I finally got home around 2:30am. Saturday morning I focused on getting it wired up and started. I also completed some more mechanical work like mating the Bonneville's down pipe to the existing LeSabre's exhaust system. I have yet to get the center torque axis mount bolted down to the fender. This will require some drilling and welding in some nuts in the body to secure the mount.





Here it is home again {Sunday evening) but not completely finished. I still have to get the cruise and the A/C wired up.





VIDEO---> Short YouTube Video.


When I done this swap, I also swapped out the entire A/C system (minus the wiring) from the Bonneville to the LeSabre. The evaporator core was swapped from the 99 SSEi to the LeSabre. I also swapped the A/C condenser. The Bonneville had a high efficient condenser so it will make the A/C cool better. Doing these two things also created two problems. The battery tray gets in the way of the A/C lines at the condenser. I'll have to remove the tray and install the tray like the Bonneville's to make the A/C lines fit again. Also, the SSEi's evaporator core was "slightly" different than the LeSabre's so I had to mod the evap case to make it fit. It wasn't too bad to do. I'll have to show pics later in the thread of what I done.

Basically, here are the trouble/incompatibilities areas I had starting with the worst mod that I consider having to do.

1. Wiring it all up. By far the most time consuming part of the entire swap. Luckily, the good people on LeSabre T dot com have already done this swap and have provided a wealth of info about what "wire goes to where". THANK YOU!
2. The front engine mount (near the water pump aka torque axis mount) has to have nuts welded in the LeSabres fender/body frame to get it bolted down.
3. The LeSabre's fuel lines will have to be cut and hosed clamped in place OR have custom fuel lines made to make them fit. I'm going to make custom adaptors to make the LeSabres' lines fit the SSEi's fuel rail.
4. Swapping the A/C lines from the Bonnneville will require the battery tray to be removed and re-installed in a different direction.
5. Swapping the A/C evaporator from the Bonneville will require a minor case mod to make it fit.
6. The coolant and the windshield washer bottles will fit in the LeSabre like a glove BUT the hood hinges hit them and the hood wont close.
7. The ground on the LeSabre's battery cable (the one that unplugs) will have to be reinstalled IF you use the Bonneville's battery cables..(like I did. I told you I swapped nearly everything :D )
8. Swapping the transmission cooler lines from the Bonneville will require small brass adaptors to make them fit into the LeSabre's radiator. My LeSabre had a new and a thicker radiator than the Bonneville so I kept it.
9. The soft noise/dust boot that covers the steering shaft universal joint will not fit the SSEi's rack-n-pinion BUT will still work fine. The SSEi's boot may work fine if swapped over to the LeSabre.



Here are some positives about the swap...

1. It's a fairly quick swap if you're swapping everything. Good!
2. The steering joint bolts up works fine.
3. The LeSabre's transmission cable and bracket will bolt up to the Bonnevilles 4T65E-HD trans. YOU MUST USE THE LeSABRE's SHIFT ARM...it's shorter than the Bonnevilles.
4. The LeSabre's original neutral safety switch will bolt right up to the 4T65E-HD transmission. You can still use all of the LeSabre's original starting circuits/connections to start the car.
5. The Bonnevilles transmission cooler line mounting brackets will bolt right up to the LeSabre as the LeSabre already has existing screw holes for the bolts.
6. The Bonnevilles throttle cable will fit perfectly into the LeSabre.
7. The LeSabres metal brake lines screw into the Bonnevilles brake hoses just fine. The passenger side metal line had to be rebent slightly to make it fit while the drivers side fit without mo

Brings back some good memories. I didn't take the whole subframe for mine, just motor & trans and axles and the knuckles and brakes. I had just replaced the shocks, ball joints, tie rod ends and rack&pinion not too long before.

I did the same with the A/C system, only had to do minor trimming to get the evap in. And I used modified LG3 motor mounts (still do in the SSEi) so I had a lot of room to work on that side. I used the '98 starting circuit and power distro block, used the VATS with a hidden removable resistor and power cut out for theft-deterrent.

Solution for the hood hinge hitting on the passenger side; use the '88-'89 washer bottle as an overflow - has a clearance for the hood hinge. Then I used a heat gun on the DS bottle to put a dent in it. It was only barely interfering with closing. So you will have two washer bottles. I'll see if I can find where I stashed them to take some photos.

Really like those SSEi's - glad you saved them! Those are my favorite era of Bonneville. Really like your T-Type and what you've done with it. Looks really sharp with those Mustang wheels on there - they fit the car really well.

great looking t-type. Love the whole matte black grand national theme. And the mustang wheels. One quick question though which wheels do you currently have on there? Those ones are the mercury marauder wheels right, they look great on there.

Do you still have the struts from the maroon car? Were they any good and the self leveling ones? Im trying to buy some for mine. Mines need the rear ones badly.

Those look like OEM 2010+ Mustang wheels to my eye.

Just go buy some new struts, they're not that expensive...

00Beast wrote:Those look like OEM 2010+ Mustang wheels to my eye.

Just go buy some new struts, they're not that expensive...

Nah, they're pretty pricey for me. My pockets not too deep. For each rear strut brand new, Im looking at around $140 + , and the front are like 160$ for each side. Soo around 500 - 600$ is kinda expensive for me. Ill either do them myself or pay a friend who will do them for the low low. So labor won't be a huge problem.

RockAuto has rear struts for $60-ish apiece, plus 20 shipping...

00Beast wrote:RockAuto has rear struts for $60-ish apiece, plus 20 shipping...

Cool. Thanks for the site! Never knew it existed.