Been doing some upgrades to the Vert!!!
Added ALL LED lights ... parking, turn, back-up, interior, glovebox, console dash, AC and wiper controls....EVERYTHING except the radio... but I found a nice Delco CD radio that I need to work on that I will try to add the LED's to.
Also got some LED fog/DRL lights to put on ... not done yet. and put in Composite headlights with LED's ... got'em in but not wired up yet.
Put it up on YouTube....
https://youtu.be/V3EDc0qSUA8
The video is not that great... I guess LED lights come out a little differently on my phone's camera... or the contrast is too much to handle...IDK...
but in person the background lighting in the dash and AC controls is a very nice blue hue.
I also had to get a special turn signal relay and flasher relay to make to turn signals flash... but since the turn indicators on the dash still don't see enough voltage for the turn signals they still stay lit... I will get that worked out....
Let me know what ya'll think!!!
Terry
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
Terry Lewis wrote:
Let me know what ya'll think!!!
Terry
LED's look really nice! Your car is in excellent shape.
Sounds cool where you live, like a forest.
What about the headlights?
~ Mike ~
I really like your white car with the blue interior and really like the digital dashes. I had one in a Blazer and liked it very much. Great car!
Looks like some nice updates.
Video was taken at my office .... there is a pond behind the building ... all kinds of noises come from there....LOL
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
The headlights are now composites with H4 bulbs with LED's around the perimeter... ran out of time...will get them wired up soon.... will do another photoshoot then.
Terry
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
Thanks for the comments!!!
Terry
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
Yesterday I had the day off, so took care of a few things...
First had to get a new Cat Conv put on...should have done it last year when I had the cat-back system put on.... the old one had started rattling, and it just got to where it rattled ALL the time... got it inspected = PASSED!! = and had him replace my crank sensor while he had it up on the air ... i know what happens to those sensors when they get old... plastic cracks and oil penetrates...rendering them useless leaving you stranded on the side of the interstate.....
came out a little dark... thought i had the flash on...
Then I organized all the parts I've collected to redo the entire suspension and all mounts, bushings, fuel pump, etc. Had to get rid of all those boxes that were 50% air packaging taking up way too much space in my garage.
(the tall box on the left is new steering rack for the X-11... the rest is for the Vert)
I did more investigating and had discussions with my buddy who is a 30+ year Trans Specialist at a GM dealership...
I will be doing the 440-T4 4-speed auto OD swap in the Vert!!!! will be easier than i thought it would be... only tapping 2 holes in bosses on the top of the tranny case, modifying 1 bracket for torque-strut, and finding the right pass side axle.
cleaning out all those boxes in the garage has cleared up room to allow me to start rebuilding the trans... my first auto trans rebuild project... but should not be an issue with my trans tech at my disposal. CAN'T WAIT!!!!
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
Terry Lewis wrote:
I did more investigating and had discussions with my buddy who is a 30+ year Trans Specialist at a GM dealership...
I will be doing the 440-T4 4-speed auto OD swap in the Vert!!!! will be easier than i thought it would be... only tapping 2 holes in bosses on the top of the tranny case, modifying 1 bracket for torque-strut, and finding the right pass side axle.
Do a write-up on this when you do it, I'm sure a lot of 1st & 2nd gen guys would be interested in doing this swap to keep the mpg's high with the new raised speed limits.
Here is some info on that automatic:
http://www.gmtuners.com/tech/440_4T60E_4T65E.htm
Quote:
"The 440-T4/4T60 was commonly used first in GM cars that had the 3.8/3800 V6 engines as well as the Cadillacs with V8’s, then later with the 2.8, 3.1, and 3300 V6. Some Cadillac applications used a viscous converter clutch (VCC) instead of the conventional torque converter clutch all other applications used. The Viscous clutches allowed some slippage all the time when applied and GM had several issues with this system. It is advisable to steer clear of the VCC versions of this transmission whenever possible to avoid these potential problems. It is also a good idea to find a 1991 or newer model of this transmission since these typically had the most “fixes” installed at the factory for some bugs and problems the earlier models had. Earlier models of this transmission can be used if the “known” bugs are addressed and fixed by your transmission rebuilder. According to my transmission builder, there was NEVER a heavy-duty version of any 440-T4/4T60 transmission produced."
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wow the leds look amazing, and they'll last forever! i was actually gonna do this on the wagon, except i was going to use old school amber wedge bulbs for my front lit speedo when i rebuild/repaint it. I wana flip it from mph to canada's kmh
Did a couple more things to the Vert this past weekend...
First I got the LED Halos wired up... They will turn on anytime the ignition is on .... using them as DRL's... I will also add a switch so I can turn them off if needed.
Those are just the Haloes...the headlights are not on...
Got Dual horns wired up... (they are lying on the ground in the first pic)...
Then I got my Hood Struts installed!! No more prop rod!
... I hate those things!
If you want to add these...you first need the base bracket off a late 80's Buick Skylark...
Then you need to replace the rear hood bolts with a strut stud from a 2000's Bonneville...
You only need to drill 2 holes...
The right most bolt in the pic needs hole drilled in the pass. fender.
The middle bolt needs hole drilled in the bracket...it is also the bolt for the fender brace to firewall...
All the other holes are already in the fenders...just use same 10mm bolts and nuts that they use to put the body together...(dont have pics of those specific bolts, but if anyone needs them I will take a pic and post them.) You may want to trim a little of the lip on the hood that rests against the rubber stop...it slightly scrapes along the side of the strut when closing.
And then of course you need 2 of these...
And here is a quick video... you may need to hit replay a couple of times to get it to play smooth...... I had issues of it skipping the first couple times...
Next is to get the switches installed in the dash for these and the LED fog lights I'm adding next weekend...
Let me know what you guys think!
Until later!!
Terry
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
Nice modifications Terry.
I wish to know if the strut stud realy hold the hood bracket firmely . It seem that there is no more than a little nut over there.
And i wish to know if whent the hood is completely open,the struts are at theirs sliding limit or if they are not .
Thanks. And again,good job.
Alain
Halos look good on the classic
ReD RaiN
Very nice! Love the hood strut idea!
Upgrades look great. Hood struts are a great addition that I never even thought of.
alain benoit wrote:Nice modifications Terry.
I wish to know if the strut stud realy hold the hood bracket firmely . It seem that there is no more than a little nut over there.
And i wish to know if whent the hood is completely open,the struts are at theirs sliding limit or if they are not .
Thanks. And again,good job.
Alain
Alain,
Finally got a better washer on the stud... the 1st one I used was too thin...
Metric Fender Washer M8 x 24 ... got a packet of 4 at Lowes.
Painted them up white to match...
Works great! nice and tight now..
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
I finely found a skyhawk and i by the cylinders and the fenders attachement at the scrap yard.
I only have to find the ball at the hood side.
I know were finding them....
Thanks again for the idea.
Alain
I've had to change directions on doing the 440-T4 trans swap.
Since I bought my 84 Buick Skylark T-Type last fall... and it has the same 3.33 T125-C trans as the RS Vert ( and the dreaded 3500 RPMs at 70mph!!)... I have decided to put the 440-T4 into the T-Type and the Beretta 5-speed I still have in to the RS. (I had planned on it going into my 81 X-11)
I had the 440-T4 in the 85 X-11 prior to the SC3800/4T65E-HD swap, so I have ALL the pcs required for the swap...mounts, cables, and axles setting in my garage. So that is a simple plug & play swap... no changes required to wiring harness...and has the mechanical speedo. Just need to get the 440-T4 rebuilt...(actually just got stuff set up to start on it!!)
The 5-speed from the Beretta GT I used to have is also a plug and play swap in to the RS.... mostly... a few wiring changes... add the clutch pedal (still have full assembly form Beretta (Shifter, cables, pedal, mounts, hose and slave cylinder) just need to get new axles as I used parts from the Beretta axles on the 85 X-11 trans swap.
The ONE big item I still need to find is the Center Console Cover with the Manual Trans Shifter Boot.
Does anyone have a spare that they would be willing to sell me?? Must be in good shape as this is a Show car.... and from a Convertible... the 2-door hardtop has the window switch on it and I cant use that.
Please include shipping to 27284.
I want to take this car to the GM Nationals at Carlisle, PA this June... and I need the trans swap completed by then. Any help in finding one will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks ALL!!!
87 RS Convertible - 2.8V6 - 3-Speed Auto, Digital Dash - Complete LED / HID Conversion - Alarm/Keyless Entry
Those shifter bezels are hard to come by. I have been looking for one that will fit the standard 1st gen interior like this
Hope to see you at the Chevy Nationals this year!
