1985 Buick Electra - Phase 2: Upgrades

Discussion in 'Station Wagon Projects' started by Darcane, Jul 27, 2020.

  1. Darcane

    Darcane Well-Known Member

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  2. Darcane

    Darcane Well-Known Member

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    4L60E.jpg
    First (expensive) piece showed up. 4L60E from the Suburban has been rebuilt with upgraded parts and converted from 4WD to 2WD.
     
  3. OrthmannJ

    OrthmannJ Always looking for old ford crew cabs

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    This is going to be so awesome. I'm glad you started a thread to chronicle the process.
     
  4. Darcane

    Darcane Well-Known Member

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    No spare cash for parts, so it's been slow going. (Damn you, COVID!)

    Cleaning is cheap though! Started getting the engine cleaned up a bit:
    DirtyEngine.jpg

    New valve cover gaskets: CleanTop.jpg
    Looking better!

    My little brother has done quite a few swaps like this, so he sent me a care package:
    CarePackage.jpg

    Wiring harness, aftermarket intake and throttle body (cable operated). Reprogrammed ECU will show up in a week or two.
     
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  5. OrthmannJ

    OrthmannJ Always looking for old ford crew cabs

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    That's awesome! And mega :thumbs2: to little brother!
     
  6. Silvertwinkiehobo

    Silvertwinkiehobo "Everything that breaks starts with 'F.'"

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    Haha, try being on SSDI.... But you're lucky, that you have such a giving brother.
     
  7. Darcane

    Darcane Well-Known Member

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    If I were on SSDI, I'd be moving out of this state pronto...

    $400 more in parts just ordered and on their way. LS swaps are "Cheap". Hah!
     
  8. Silvertwinkiehobo

    Silvertwinkiehobo "Everything that breaks starts with 'F.'"

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    Why do you think I moved to Texas?
     
  9. OrthmannJ

    OrthmannJ Always looking for old ford crew cabs

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    :huh: it's good BBQ?
     
  10. Silvertwinkiehobo

    Silvertwinkiehobo "Everything that breaks starts with 'F.'"

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    Well, that, too. Joe's super lucky, because Ashley is a great cook. So yeah, smoked brisket or pork roast, chargrilled steaks and ribs, now that's what I'm talkin' about!
     
  11. Darcane

    Darcane Well-Known Member

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    I figured that had something to do with it. Long-term, I'm moving out of this state too. (Likely Utah, but not positive)

    So, next step is the oil pan. I purchased Holley 302-3 oil pan to give me the most clearance. It's $100 more than the GM Performance hot rod oil pan, and does NOT come with dipstick, dipstick tube, gasket, two oil pan bolts, and I have to modify the windage tray. The GM pan is supposedly a complete bolt on kit. If I wasn't highly concerned about clearance, I would have gone with the GM pan instead. Oh well.


    Flipped the engine over to realize it had a lot more coolant than expected. Oops.
    OilPan1.jpg

    WindageTray1.jpg

    Oil Pan off, there's the windage tray to remove and modify. I'll work on trimming that up while waiting for parts.
     
  12. HotRodRacer

    HotRodRacer Moderator Staff Member Moderator

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    OT but I like your '68 Coupe.
     
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  13. Silvertwinkiehobo

    Silvertwinkiehobo "Everything that breaks starts with 'F.'"

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    Ha, that happens even to the most professional of us.
     
  14. KevinVarnes

    KevinVarnes Well-Known Member

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    Are you going to replace the oil sump tube o-ring while you have it all apart?
     
  15. Darcane

    Darcane Well-Known Member

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    Yep.

    New oil pan is shorter, so the sump tube won't fit anyways. The new pan comes with a shorter sump tube and a fresh o-ring.
     

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