Well, look what I dug out tonight.
Do I start a new thread? or should I pick back up on this one?

Its depressing in a way. I once kept this car almost show room quality. Now its a hunk of crap.

Anyway. Been missing having something fun to thrash on after work and on the weekends. My plan was to have Amsoil fund this, but yea, going to shows events around here, I dont have beer so no one is to interested. Especially when its been tripke digits. Live and yuh learn.

I have some plans. The lady and I are going to get this going again.

And for you environmental freaks, the a/c is still hooked up. Hence why its all dangling in the pics. Only thing on the car that still works.
I do plan on bringing the recovery machine home from work to drain it so I can detail under the hood while I am gutting it.

 

I thought you lost that in the fire. That is a good start!

 

No sir. I lost the white 04 I had in the fire.
This car was supposed to go over there, until the stratus blew up.

This was my first car. I learned to drive a standard between this and an 04 Vue.
I still have all the original papers from when it was purchased in april of 03. Its literally as base as it get. Only add ons were the radio and floor mats.

Ive been weighing between restoring it back to 100% factory and going with the lsj turbo swap.
Thinking about it, the cobalt ss/tc had a coupe and sedan version. No reason I cant do similar. Only difference is I will not convert to electric windows and locks. I prefer the manual stuff.

 

Take pictures along the way and post them when you can, Billy. I love living vicariously through other peoples projects and money. I'm happy to hear that it wasn't in the fire.

 

Ill take plenty of pics.
No deadline on this, and I am going to spend the money where it needs to be spent, and cheap out (junk yard) on lesser important things.

Going to try and get the engine bay 100% gutted this weekend. Assuming I can get the a/c machine from work. Worst case I leave that connected and off to the side.

Need to check to see if the inner tie rods are still good. If not, ill replace the rack with new one. Control arms are new. Need to get some struts. I want coil overs, but 1100 is steep. So a good quality strut and good lowering springs may suffice. Step one is getting it back on wheels for me.

Then just to get the engine in, Ill need a clutch and flywheel. I know for sure I am going with a stock flywheel for an lsj. Havent picked a clutch yet.

 

Odd change of direction but need to get deals where I can.
can't find the sub frame bolts, so I'll make a junk yard trip this weekend (they're like $18 each new). I'll also get struts this weekend from the junk yard so I can at least roll the car in and out.
Anyway, buddy is selling me an almost new flywheel, with 1 low mileage clutch and 2 unknown mileage clutches (all have good material) 2 sets of coil packs, a coil pack harness, lsj throttle body, and charge pipes for $200.
I don't need the coils. And I don't remember if I need an lsj throttle body or le5 throttle body. But I'll throw whatever on ebay. He's not working right now and needs the money so I'll help out.

Be picking that up in Dallas in 2 weeks. Engine and trans will go in that week so I can free up some space in the storage building (it's 10x20 so it's tiiighhhhhtt)

Just need to figure out if I'm using the ion trans or the vue trans. Probably the ion so I don't have to swap bellhousings.

 

Got some subframe bolts today. Found some nice ones that didnt look/feel like they have ever been removed. They are technically TTY, but eh.
Did not get struts. I forgot, I have to look at my steering column. When trying to remove the shaft from the rack last year, the shaft ripped out from under the dash. So I need to see what that carnage looks like before I try to make it roll.
Also forgot that I need to get a new slave cylinder to install the trans. So, thatll happen next week also when I get the clutch and flywheel.

Been dealing with some elctrical/rad fan/ac issues with the van. So havent really been touching the car. If all goes well, ill have that figured out tonight or tomorrow.

 

Mhm. Yep. $75 score. I think I'll get a head gasket, studs, and valve seals coming this next paycheck 😉

Have a clutch kit ready for it. Should probably do the rear main while it's apart. I may actually have one. Also have some charge pipes I need to clean up. But yea, may see if I can find a deal on a timing chain while I'm looking so I can drop this thing in complete! Last biggest piece will be an external trigger wheel. I'll need to figure out a down pipe. Not a big deal, though. Don't need a down pipe to make sure it fires. And I think the catless ones for saabs are only like $40 anyway.

 

Under the knife she goes

 

Well, it's about frigging time. I'm looking forward to seeing how it turn out. Have fun with it, Billy.