'96 Century general project thread

[LeftVentricle]

I sent my junkyard LG8 upper to a machine shop to have it inspected for cracks, and if it checked out, cleaned. The EGR passage is a big concern, since it was pretty severely clogged on this manifold. That can cause an EGR-related check engine code to pop, which most people would probably throw a new EGR at, then be out that money when it doesn't cure the problem. I picked it up today, and was told it was fine, and it's quite clean now, including the EGR passage.

Also, I will be picking up my assistant for this swap from the airport tonight. I've hired my dad to help. Some of you may recall that I had him help me swap the transmission in this car about two years ago. This will be more or less the same procedure. While the drivetrain is out, I will be again replacing all the mounts, since at minimum, the rear trans mount is trashed again.

I ordered some 24 pound injectors from ACCEL, but will not be receiving them, due to back order. I will have to use my stock fuel rail, since the LX9 rail is returnless and not compatible with my car's stock fuel system. So I have to use stock-style injectors, which the ACCEL ones are. But after getting my order canceled twice, at ebay and Amazon, I will not be buying those. Instead, Mike at Milzy Motorsports will be sending me some 36 pound L67 injectors and some spacing brackets, since the L67s are a bit longer than the stock ones. This will also provide a bit of future-proofing, since I still want to beef this engine up a bit.

(I know this will probably be a point of contention, but I do not intend any offence to anyone here at 60v6 or WOT-Tech with my decision to make purchases from a competitor. I just feel that, for the sake of consistency, I should get everything related to this swap from the same source, since Mike is already well involved in my affairs in this job.)

[robertisaar]

most shops will either do it for nothing or for a pretty reasonable cost, but the giant spring compressors they tend to have make it a couple second job.

[Purple pit]

If it comes down to it I have a 3400 pipe, but I'm thinking that would be the wrong length. Could always measure it if needed. Got no use for it anyway.

LOL at least mine was a bit more safe. The small shop was the best suggestion. The chain store auto shops would not touch them.

Ah the fun of having an unpopular car. Well, most people know what you cars are. Still love/hate parts stores replies "A Beretta? Who makes that?".

[LeftVentricle]

Could you just use your old pipe?

Wish I could help. Had a hell of a time with the struts on the Beretta. It came down to having a person with a good amount of body weight to compress it just low enough to get the nut on. Been thinking about another set of compressors(for a total of four) to get the job done. With that said, no one else chimed in to say that they had the same problem or how they do it. Guess everyone just has one of the bench mounted compressors that cost a lot. Or they take the parts to a small shop to have them done. Not really an option for me on that one.

I don't know about my stock EGR pipe. I will check on that.

I got some joking suggestions over at Something Awful like "lots of zip ties" and use the weight of the car, with disclaimers to not actually do any of that.

I feel like if this were another Fiero or Camaro or W-body or Grand Am thread, it would be getting more attention. It's just some old man station wagon. And that's fine. I'm not documenting this on this site to have my ego stroked.

[Purple pit]

Could you just use your old pipe?

Wish I could help. Had a hell of a time with the struts on the Beretta. It came down to having a person with a good amount of body weight to compress it just low enough to get the nut on. Been thinking about another set of compressors(for a total of four) to get the job done. With that said, no one else chimed in to say that they had the same problem or how they do it. Guess everyone just has one of the bench mounted compressors that cost a lot. Or they take the parts to a small shop to have them done. Not really an option for me on that one.

[LeftVentricle]

If you get the WOT-Tech EGR adapter you can use your stock EGR and pipe. Because you are going to use your stock exhaust manifolds this should be a great help. I know it works, got the same adapter on my 3400 intake swap on the 3100.

WOT-Tech hasn't sold the 96-99 adapter for a number of years, as far as I know. I have the new style EGR anyway. I will have to figure something out, I suppose.

I fought with one of the springs for my struts for the better part of two hours on Sunday. Maybe it was the spring compressor set I rented from Autozone, but I wasn't able to get the spring scrunched down enough to put it on the strut and bolt on the mount. I looked at getting a "clamshell" style compressor, but every one I saw online said it was only useable on springs up to 7 inches in diameter, and mine are 8. Any suggestions?

[Purple pit]

If you get the WOT-Tech EGR adapter you can use your stock EGR and pipe. Because you are going to use your stock exhaust manifolds this should be a great help. I know it works, got the same adapter on my 3400 intake swap on the 3100.

[Purple pit]

Think I have another 3100 big port upper if that one doesn't work out. Sorry that I didn't bring that up sooner, but you did get the bolts that I don't have.

[LeftVentricle]

I picked up an LG8 upper intake from the yard. I will probably take it to a machine shop to be checked for cracks and have the EGR passage cleaned. I have no idea why I didn't get the EGR valve and stove pipe at the same time. I also put on the Goodwrench front valve cover. Can't even tell it's not a 3.1!

[Purple pit]

Got the PM and sent one back. I'm happy that you can use them!

[LeftVentricle]

Looks like those will work for my car! Thank you very much. I will send you a PM with my information.

[Purple pit]

Bought some GR-2 shocks for a friend at Rock Auto. Didn't know at the time that they sent the wrong ones. They are 343160. I think you can use them, but double check the number. If you can use them they will be sent to you for free. Don't need them and don't want them sitting around.

[Purple pit]

Just was thinking it was something that you felt was not needed. Though it would be very helpful, things are the way they are. Lets just say it's something for later down the road. These engines need all the help they can get when it comes to exhaust.

[LeftVentricle]

I intend no offence when I say this: The name of the game is "budget". There is no room in my budget for all the things that "would be better". I have a broken engine in my car, and this LX9 was more cost-effective and a better value than a stock replacement. Sure, I would love to be able to drop $4200 in WOT-Tech's coffers for intake-heads-cam, and stimulate my local economy by having a custom exhaust fabbed and the cam installed, but I can't. Thank you for your input.

I have removed parts from my new engine that I won't be using or aren't compatible with my car, like the upper intake, exhaust manifolds, EGR valve, fuel rail, idler pulley that's in the way of my power steering pump, the heater pipe that runs across the valve cover, and the like. Most of these parts will be offered for sale at a later date, if anyone is interested. I also test-fitted a 3400 upper I had laying around, and was satisfied with the result.

Parts unrelated to the engine swap are starting to trickle in. As I said earlier in the thread, the '96 and older U-body vans share most suspension components with my car, so I ordered bare van struts, variable-rate car springs, car mounts, and car spring seats. Also on the way are new bushings for the van sway bar I already have installed. New KYB Gas-A-Just shocks will round out the rear. When I need to haul or tow, I have some Monroe Load Assist shocks, which have a 25 lb helper spring. At some later time, I will also replace the rear springs with variable-rate springs, and see about control arm bushings for the front, as the budget will allow.

[Purple pit]

A good exhaust shop should be able to build a down pipe for you and put some bends in to match up to the stock exhaust. I know that you must keep the converter.