My 1988 5.0 and 1989 5.0 project ...

Jacob

Jacob

Forum Member
Well the chameleon color 89GT with 331 stroker was my project car for my 4 year old and I..Ive changed ALOT on it---> did a T5 (Z trans) to a mild built C4 swap (Redline clutches,2500RPM stall,trans cooler,B&M shifter)..Put a 3 core rad in it,93 Cobra tail lights,full clear head light set and some other things...Needs the rail below the strut tower replaced and a little rust fixed on both rear 1/4's ..Heres the last update video I did on the car 3 months ago

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Well as 2 months went by after the above video,I thought about selling it and finding something already done with a T5 or AOD..Just got in over my head when I went with the C4 becuse its my daily driver,gas milage went down the drain lol ..Planed on going to Tenn and staying with my brother for a few days and finding one that doesn't need any work with zero rust...Kept checking Craigslist and didn't see anything at all that I was interested in but kept looking at one ---> A 1988 LX 5.0 for $2500.00 and the guy said its rust free but the spoiler was cracked and fender was dented but had the spoiler along with all head lights..Needed a ALT and battery also..Well 2 days ago I searched Craigslist again and the guy dropped the price to $1800.00 because he was closing on a house..Took the battery/ALT out of mine and drove 1 1/2 hrs to look at it..Long story short,my ALT was clocked wrong so couldn't plug the wires in (right on the alt bracket)..Bought a brand new one and he kncked $50.00 off the price and I drove it home..Ran perfect the whole 1 1/2 hour drive..Not one rattle and drove PERFECT the whole way other than NO flippin heat and a header leak..Heres a video I took yesterday of the whole car---> The car is flippin CLEAN as hell ;) ..I also showed what I plan on doing which is swapping the engines,dropping the 331 stroker in it with frame ties/control arms..
 
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BTW,
Once I swap the engines,im selling the chameleon 1989 GT the way it is with the C4..Taking that $$ and getting a daily driver then putting the rest into the 88 LX..This is going to be a awesome summer car for the son/wife..I already got a fender coming that will be paint matched and looking for the front seats,hood repainted also..Im thinking she will sound bad ass and look sweet with the 93 Cobra tail lights,full clear head light set and maybe some Welds with front runners..Really not sure on the Welds but I do want a set of 17" Cobra rims or Ponys...I'll keep this updated as I go..I'll start on it once the salt is washed off the roads..
 
Thought you were putting your carbed 331 in that car? And IMO even if you leave the stock motor in that car converting it to MAF is pointless. SD cars run better out of the box then a MAF car.
 
I am pulling the 331 in it and said that in the video so not sure what you're ever talking about..I never said anything about going EFI or going masair..If I did go EFI,I would go mas-air but thats not what this is about.
Anyways,the sensor was already on the car when I got it.Thanks..
 
Again,not sure what you're talking about????You ask questions and I answered so nothing to be sensitive about..
 
Thanks DeFormula and yes,got a steal on the car..When I picked it up,she was clean as hell until the drive home..The past few days ive been 2nd guessing on doin the engine swap because the car is so nice but im going forward with it..Made the mistake years ago by not doing the same with a just over 50,000 mile 88GT that was mint/bone stock,not a single mod on it and still had all 4 cats ect.. ..Couldn't see myself taking a super clean car apart but this one isn't stock so won't feel too bad lol..

This is the engine im putting in,has around 3000 miles on it..
331 stroker/Eagle
TrickFlow Twisted Wedge Heads
E303 Cam
1.6 TRW Aluminum Roller Rockers
Edelbrock RPM AirGap intake
Holley 650 DP
Hardened Push Rods
Mallory HyFire 6AL Ignition Box
Mallory Distributor

Not sure if i'll use the shorty headers/H-pipe with 2 chamber FlowMasters or long tubes/H-pipe with DynoMax <---Both setups are dumped before axle but which ever way I go,the dumps are coming off and running a set of LX polished tips out the back..Been thinking about changing the cam and going with a TrickFlow stage 2 but not sure yet..

Going to be a summer car for the wife,son and me but more for my son and me..Just wanna make it look and sound sweet for cruising and car shows...

Picking the fender up today and taking it to get painted this week..Still hunting for the front seats but will get some red seat covers until I find them..

Leaving the built C4 in the GT and selling the whole car when I get the stock engine in and running..Will use $$ from that to buy weld in sub-frame connectors,upper/lower control arms and maybe a set of weld drag lights..Not sure on the welds but do want a set of ponys incase we wanna go on a trip..Wanna put A/C back in it also...Really wanna do alot but taking it one step at a time haha..
Really excited and can't wait for the snow to stop which I hope it does this coming weekend as we plan on pulling the engine out of the GT starting Friday..We'll see what happens this weekend...When its sitting in the driveway idling like this,i'll be happy haha..

 
Picked up my fender today and shes in perfect shape,no rust or dings..If someone can,please let me know how I should sand/prep it so its ready for paint?

 
Thanks black88coupe :thumbsup: ..

Well just a little update I guess..Friday was the last ride in the GT.Drove it to my buddys and started taking the fuel and ignition system out..All thats left if is draining all fluids and unbolting exhaust,drive shaft,trans and motor mounts :rockon: ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq5dhG2vWwg

 
Heres some good pics of the LX and I got some rear Weld Draglights for it..Gotta get some front runners and still trying to find the front red seats..Once the engine is out of the GT,i'll take the new fender in and have it paint code matched...Not going to worry about the scratches on the hood because im either going to trade it or sale it once I find a bolt on..Really don't wanna put the hood on the roof at car shows ect...



















 
The grey seats look like they kinda match the dash and don't look bad. If you were gonna yank the back seat anyway you could just leave it alone. I think you said you need the back seat for your kids though, so I guess they might as well match. The car looks great. Congrats again!
 
DeFormula said:
The grey seats look like they kinda match the dash and don't look bad. If you were gonna yank the back seat anyway you could just leave it alone. I think you said you need the back seat for your kids though, so I guess they might as well match. The car looks great. Congrats again!
Click to expand...

I think i'll keep these seats for now and toss some red seat covers on them until I find red ones..To be honest,im going to try finding these same ones in red..After driving this car then my 89GT,these seats feel really nice and sit up a little higher..
Yes,I need rear seats or my almost 5 year old will flip out big time lol..The first thing he does when he gets out of bed is looks out the door and makes sure the wife didn't take the car..This is what I had to deal with for 9hrs stright when she took the car for the first and last time..He will flip out if I take the back seats out lol ..

 
A buddy of mine has red seats like those out of a 95 they need a good cleaning but he said he would take $30 for both of them. Let me know f you are interested and PM me your email and I will send some pics.
 
The 331 stroker/C4 is out :banana: ..Guy is coming to get the roller this week and the C4 should be sold sometime this week..Once I pull the 302 out of the LX,im swapping the whole front accessories (underdrive pullys,brackets,belt ect..) and dropping the 331 in..Not sure what clutch is in the LX but if its stock,i'll have to get a good one..Im really thinking about getting a Tremec when the 302 and C4 sales..Also need upper/lower control arms,sub-frame connectors,battle boxes,Weld Draglight front runners and tires for the rears..Well thats the plan lol..













 
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