GTV6 Overhaul and Conversion

5yearplan · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 09:43 PM

It's finally time for my Restoration. I'm sure some people will be offended that I am getting rid of the stock driveline, but the car wasn't in the best shape anyway, and I'd have more fun doing the extra work, than just restoring it. I am putting in a 2.8L v6 bored to just over 3.1L and twin turboed. It should make 300 to 350 Hp to the wheels (should

) I am planning on keeping the De dion in the back with a BMW independent rear suspension mounted to the chassis like the stock trans. For the suspension , I am planning on coilovers in the front, and Koni adjustable shocks, with progressive rate lower springs in the rear. I'm not sure about the interior, but the exterior will have all the bodywork repaired, and a slight body kit, slight tint, and brighter headlights. Anyway I'm off to a start, so here are some pictures.

Here is the car in stock form:

5yearplan · #2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 10:04 PM

The Engine bay getting cleared for engine removal.

The De Dion on the table and mostly taken apart. The lock nut holding the bearings in is held fast by the enemy known as rust.

Under the car without the De dion and trans

The trans broken down, but I can't seem to get the last bolt of the brake rotor off, as it is stripped now. I've been soaking it in penetrant and heating it, hitting it with a hammer, cursing, and even sweet talking it, but I'm running out of ideas.

mjr · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2007, 03:30 PM

wow, looks like you have a fair amount of work on your hands with all the corrosion underneath, whats the plan with the body?

5yearplan · #4 (**permalink**) 08-04-2007, 01:16 PM

Yeah, the corrosion is pretty severe, esp. in the front passenger floor pans. I am planning on fixing all of the corrosion, undercoating the bottom and wheels wells, then stripping the interior and probably putting in a full cage, dynomat, and then reupholstering it. I will be converting everything to painless and GM wiring, with a stand-alone, or piggy-back engine management. I haven't hammered out all of the specifics yet, but I'll make up my mind as I go.

junglejustice · #5 (**permalink**) 08-05-2007, 09:35 AM

Hey Boss,

Sounds like fun - good luck with it! (So, you have decided not to sell the car after all...?

)

Good for you! Any way - this part is unclear to me:

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5yearplan

...I am planning on keeping the De dion in the back with a BMW independent rear suspension mounted to the chassis like the stock trans.

5yearplan · #6 (**permalink**) 08-05-2007, 02:39 PM

I was planning on selling the car and picking up a GTV cheap and putting the full 535i driveline in it, but the GTV6 didn't sell, and now I'm driving the 535i so that project will have to wait. Since, no one wanted to buy the GTV6, and I ended up picking up an engine for almost free, so I decided to see what I can get away with and do a custom driveline. I am keeping the dedion, only instead of the alfa trans/diff in back I will be mounting a bmw diff (independent rear) like the alfa trans is mounted to the frame of the car. I will be doing an outboard brake conversion, and the trans will be in the front. It's actually a GM 2.8 v6 (with a T5 trans) that will be stroked and twin-turbo'd. Hopefully it won't be too hard to find a driveshaft and whatever other shafts that need to link up. I may have to make a custom adapter or get a custom driveshaft. We'll see after all the fun body and frame work is done.

5yearplan · #7 (**permalink**) 08-05-2007, 02:58 PM

Here is the engine ready to pull, We weren't able to pull it today as my friend had a previous engagement. But we got alot done in the less than 2 hours we had to work on it. The only thing left to do is loosen the motor mounts and the bellhousing mount underneath. I'm dreading that as the bolts are quite rusted. I sprayed an ample amount of penetrant on them and will see next time I'm at the garage.

timax · #8 (**permalink**) 08-10-2007, 04:57 AM

Man your bump stops are the only things not rusty. Why not save some money and buy something cheaper like a Ferrari ?

5yearplan · #9 (**permalink**) 08-10-2007, 07:10 AM

That would be too easy.

5yearplan · #10 (**permalink**) 08-17-2007, 05:55 PM

Finally the engine is out of the car. It wasn't too hard; It was actually harder to find time to work on the car. the driveshaft, shift linkage and most of the interior have been removed as well. The Dash wasn't hard either. Next are the headliner, trim, wiring and heater core, seats and carpeting. I have hit a rut getting the front headlights out and front fascia as I don't want to break anything. Hopefully I will get back to the car early next week.

5yearplan · #11 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 06:53 PM

I got most the rest of the interior out. The floor pans and rocker panels are worse than I thought. The good news is that I won't have to do all that work to get the sound deadening crap out of the front as I will be putting in new floor panels

cchan · #12 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 10:25 PM

Good luck on your restoration. My team specializes on body work. Hugo almost finished a project that the body was in similar condition so I know that it can be done. Are you going to do the body work yourself?

5yearplan · #13 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 06:49 PM

Yeah, I will start by building the roll cage, then cutting out the floor in sections. Luckily the underside, and rear of the car are not nearly as bad as the front.

giuliettaevo · #14 (**permalink**) 11-11-2007, 05:32 AM

I think nobody noticed you're sentence about the GM 2.8....

Since i havn't seen any reactions like "if you loose the Alfa engine it is no longer an Alfa..."

Like your plans though, just make the car like you want it! Personally i would go for an Alfa engine but i can onderstand why you would put in another brand. Over here in Europe you can get a complete 164 24v engine for 500 Euros while on the other side of the atlantic this might be a problem....

5yearplan · #15 (**permalink**) 11-11-2007, 08:13 AM

Honestly, that is the only reason I am not using an alfa engine. A good 24v setup is going to run me like 15 grand, whereas with a GM motor it's only looking like 5 grand. Otherwise I would use a fwd 24v setup in the rear and make it rear engine