1966 GTO L92 / 6L80E / Street Challenge Project
#1
1966 GTO L92 / 6L80E / Street Challenge Project
We've got another new project starting in the V8TV shop - an L92 / 6L80E powered 1966 Pontiac GTO.
This 1966 GTO has seen better days, and this intro video explains the project details from start to finish, including the crazy timeline. It kinda goes like this: Install GM 6.2 liter L92 V8 and 6-speed 6L80E tranmission, install Air Ride Technologies Street Challenge air suspension system, upgrade the wheels, tires, and brakes. Drive on Hot Rod Power Tour. Disassemble entire car, replace quarter panels, repair holes in trunk floor, window ledges, fenders, and doors, paint, reassemble, and take to SEMA 2008. Whew!
As always, we'll be bringing you every step of the build on video.
Intro Video: http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/485/1/
This 1966 GTO has seen better days, and this intro video explains the project details from start to finish, including the crazy timeline. It kinda goes like this: Install GM 6.2 liter L92 V8 and 6-speed 6L80E tranmission, install Air Ride Technologies Street Challenge air suspension system, upgrade the wheels, tires, and brakes. Drive on Hot Rod Power Tour. Disassemble entire car, replace quarter panels, repair holes in trunk floor, window ledges, fenders, and doors, paint, reassemble, and take to SEMA 2008. Whew!
As always, we'll be bringing you every step of the build on video.
Intro Video: http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/485/1/
#4
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Very nice presentation. Talk with John at Speartech about the wire harness for the trans. Are you planning on running AC? What about the pedastal/engine mounts? How are you going to address the oilpan? Looks like a very do-able project for a profesional, my wife and I did ours (67 Camaro) in 3 months and it runs/drives great! I will definately look for it on the tour and at CarCraft!
#6
Thanks, guys. We're working with Speartech on the harnesses. We've got a Street & Performance pan and mounts, and a Speartech throttle pedal assembly. No AC for now, but we'll see after the Power Tour. We're pretty excited about the car.
I'm sure we'll have many questions for the crowd on this board! Thanks for the support!
- KO
I'm sure we'll have many questions for the crowd on this board! Thanks for the support!
- KO
#7
We yanked the original engine from the GTO's nose, and later found it to be a date-code correct 1966 389 block. The multiple coats of aerosol paint make it look more like a cosmetic resto than a mechanical rebuild, but we didn't tear it down to see. Now we're focusing on fitting the new 6.2.
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/491/1/
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/491/1/
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A shop CAT???? Kinda lost a few points there Kevin, everyone knows that dogs are the only animal smart enough to build a car, cats are just too lazy.
Awesome work, keep it coming. Should be looking at a test fit soon!
Edit:
Watched the vids of the Royal Sport Camaro. Absolutely first rate work. I am afraid that paint and bodywork to that level just isn't in the cards for any of my vehicles. Very informative videos.
Awesome work, keep it coming. Should be looking at a test fit soon!
Edit:
Watched the vids of the Royal Sport Camaro. Absolutely first rate work. I am afraid that paint and bodywork to that level just isn't in the cards for any of my vehicles. Very informative videos.
Last edited by 67rsss; 01-22-2008 at 02:50 PM.
#9
A shop CAT???? Kinda lost a few points there Kevin, everyone knows that dogs are the only animal smart enough to build a car, cats are just too lazy.
Awesome work, keep it coming. Should be looking at a test fit soon!
Edit:
Watched the vids of the Royal Sport Camaro. Absolutely first rate work. I am afraid that paint and bodywork to that level just isn't in the cards for any of my vehicles. Very informative videos.
Awesome work, keep it coming. Should be looking at a test fit soon!
Edit:
Watched the vids of the Royal Sport Camaro. Absolutely first rate work. I am afraid that paint and bodywork to that level just isn't in the cards for any of my vehicles. Very informative videos.
Thanks for the compliments on the Royal Sport Camaro - that was a big project... fun to look back on, but high pressure at the time!
#10
Tonight, we bolted the Street & Performance engine plates and oil pan to the L92 V8 and 6L80E six-speed automatic combination. We were pleasantly suprised to see that it almost fits the car without modification, but we will need to do some more test fitting to be sure.
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/492/43/
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/492/43/
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Kevin,
You may want to put the mounts back on correctly and plan on moving the AC compressor up. Considering that you are already looking at changing the accesory routing, this may be the simplest mounting option for placing it nicely. Several vendors (including S&P) offer kits to relocate the AC higher on the pass side, but all are spendy. You could go ahead and fab the brackets yoursefl as well. Note how tightly the compressor will be placed at the crossmember, you may have to alter the xmember a bit to get proper clearance depending on where you finally settle the engine. Just a thought...
You may want to put the mounts back on correctly and plan on moving the AC compressor up. Considering that you are already looking at changing the accesory routing, this may be the simplest mounting option for placing it nicely. Several vendors (including S&P) offer kits to relocate the AC higher on the pass side, but all are spendy. You could go ahead and fab the brackets yoursefl as well. Note how tightly the compressor will be placed at the crossmember, you may have to alter the xmember a bit to get proper clearance depending on where you finally settle the engine. Just a thought...
#12
Wow, this is a huge transmission.
Here's some shots of another test fit from under the car... the top of the trans is 1/4 inch from touching the floor of the car. The trans has to go up at least another 4.5 inches to bring the bottom of the pan to 1" below the frame. Then, the output shaft is up higher than usual, so the trans tunnel and the drive shaft tunnel have to be cut out to make room. Next comes possible issues with the engine / trans angle... the engine may have to go up in the front to allow for the trans to pitch down towards the rear axle, making the engine / hood clearance too tight. Hmmm...
Here's some shots of another test fit from under the car... the top of the trans is 1/4 inch from touching the floor of the car. The trans has to go up at least another 4.5 inches to bring the bottom of the pan to 1" below the frame. Then, the output shaft is up higher than usual, so the trans tunnel and the drive shaft tunnel have to be cut out to make room. Next comes possible issues with the engine / trans angle... the engine may have to go up in the front to allow for the trans to pitch down towards the rear axle, making the engine / hood clearance too tight. Hmmm...
#14
Thanks Bowtie!
We've test fitted, measured, scratched our heads, tested again, looked at the calendar, scratched our heads again... and we've determined that the 6L80E, while cool, is not going to fit this car in the timeframe required. The trans is just too big, and the amount of surgery needed is going to take a long time, and then it would take just as long to un-do if the trans didn't live up to expectations.
So we talked to Mark Bowler at Bowler Performance Transmissions about his upcoming project... a collaboration with Bowler, Twist Machine, and Gear Vendors to create an 8-speed 4L65E auto that can be paddle-shifted (is Shrifted a word?) up and down through 8 gears. Sounds cool to us, and it actually fits in the car! So the story changes a little, but moves 2 gears ahead!
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/502/43/
We've test fitted, measured, scratched our heads, tested again, looked at the calendar, scratched our heads again... and we've determined that the 6L80E, while cool, is not going to fit this car in the timeframe required. The trans is just too big, and the amount of surgery needed is going to take a long time, and then it would take just as long to un-do if the trans didn't live up to expectations.
So we talked to Mark Bowler at Bowler Performance Transmissions about his upcoming project... a collaboration with Bowler, Twist Machine, and Gear Vendors to create an 8-speed 4L65E auto that can be paddle-shifted (is Shrifted a word?) up and down through 8 gears. Sounds cool to us, and it actually fits in the car! So the story changes a little, but moves 2 gears ahead!
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/502/43/
#17
We received our new 4L65E transmission from Bowler Performance Transmissions the other day, and now the progress on the GTO continues...
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/542/43/
http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/542/43/
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https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-swaps/863138-73-77-bodies.html
I'm digging the V8TV website, by the way! It has what TV car shows lack...realism! Keep up the good work!
And if you want to take over my Buick project (so it actually gets done soon), let me know.