[Witness]

If the control arms are still on the car? Freeze the new bushings before pressing them in.
I'd use some Superlube if not a better lube even then.
For the stock type control arm bushings? I'd polish them a bit before install.
They tend to be a bit rough from the manufacturing process.

 

[Witness]

Finishing up some stuff to get the transmission I want.
Going to be a RWD 4L60-E
Probably get one from a V8 as they are a dime a dozen.
Now I am putting a FWD engine in as a RWD. How will that bolting up work you might ask.
I'll grab the bell housing from a 3.8 V6 4L60-E and just swap them.

You might say "Just buy a 3.8 tranny!" Well. I've dealt with Scrap yards for years.
IF I walk in asking for that 3.8 tranny? they are gonna burn me good knowing I want it.
Asking for any old 4L60-E? I get a good price.
I hit a different yard and just want the bell housing? I'll get a better price since they will have wasted trannys they can't sell and anything is better then scrap.

 

[First opel 1981]

Finishing up some stuff to get the transmission I want.
Going to be a RWD 4L60-E
Probably get one from a V8 as they are a dime a dozen.
Now I am putting a FWD engine in as a RWD. How will that bolting up work you might ask.
I'll grab the bell housing from a 3.8 V6 4L60-E and just swap them.

You might say "Just buy a 3.8 tranny!" Well. I've dealt with Scrap yards for years.
IF I walk in asking for that 3.8 tranny? they are gonna burn me good knowing I want it.
Asking for any old 4L60-E? I get a good price.
I hit a different yard and just want the bell housing? I'll get a better price since they will have wasted trannys they can't sell and anything is better then scrap.

Pick n pull is your friend.
ALL parts have a fixed price. Doesn't matter what they came from.

 

[Witness]

No pick and pull in my area.
One thing I do have is years of past with several of the remaining yards.
My Father and I use to rebuild trannys for them.

 

[First opel 1981]

No pick and pull in my area.
One thing I do have is years of past with several of the remaining yards.
My Father and I use to rebuild trannys for them.

With no pick n pull, it's good to be connected.

 

[Witness]

I'm already talking to them to trade what's left of the Grand Am GT for other parts after I strip what I want.
The FWD tranny is worth more then a RWD tranny to them right now.
And since I don't need a good working tranny? They are happy to deal.
I have all the stuff to rebuild the tranny. I actually gathered that for a Tahoe that I never completed.

 

[LynnB]

Around here 4L60E transmissions are cheap. A few years ago I got a "goodwrench" reman unit that was only 6 months old out of a wrecked Suburban for $300. Used it in my 68 El Camino to replace the original powerglide, which required no mods to the tunnel. Can't imagine trying to cram that into a GT.
The stand alone controller ($600) and the speedo cable driver ($300) cost triple the initial investment. But it is fully programmable and works flawlessly.

 

[Witness]

I'm going to put the short final drive shaft from a 4 wheel drive unit in the trans.
The after market tail housing has no speedo hole but I'll use GPS for that.
The speedo in my work truck is 5 miles per hour off according to my GPS but I've learned to go by RPM on the tach now. At 1500 RPM in 5th gear I'm doing about 67 MPH.