JamesMonty's 85 GLH-Turbo project log

[jamesmonty]

I purchesed this GLH off eBay in 2008. It was a Southern car it's whole life, so rust is at a minimum. There is some slight front end damage that was fixed sometime in it's life, so there is a little more to be done in the future fixing it better.

So off to South Carolina from Cincinnati Dad and I went to pick it up. It was a little rougher than it looked in the pictures but what can I say, it was still worth what I got it for.

The car as it sat when I picked it up in South Carolina
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%201/4082_1.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%201/4.jpg

On the dolly back to Ohio! (yes the grill was yellow)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/omni1.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/omni2.jpg

When I picked it up the owner told me he used to have one when they were new. He was a big MG guy but he loved the little Omni. So when he found one for sale localy he bought it with the intentions of fixing it up. As many projects heath and time put it on the back burner for years till he finally sold it. When I got it it had sat for over 5 years. He told me he tried with no luck to get it to run, but it turned over fine. Within an hour of getting it home I got it to fire up! These cars won't run when the HEP is in 180deg from where it should be. I was thinking wow that was too easy, and it was. After it warmed up I reved it a little and the dip stick poped out. Did a quick compression check, 95-85-105-45. Just in case you don't know, thats bad. So off with the head and out with three cracked pistons. It sat for a few months while I gathered parts for a re-build. Plans were for a stock car to put around in. Then I found a wrecked 88 T2, 555, intercooled Shelby Z, for $300. I drove it home a poped the driveline out.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/SU1HMDAxODMuanBn.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/SU1HMDAxODEuanBn.jpg

So in the omni went a 100k stock t2 motor and 555 (witch i think might really be a 520 with a 555 badge since I found a 520 tag in the glove box).

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/SU1HMDAxOTguanBn.jpg

It took several month of gathering parts and money but it is finally together and running. If it wasn't for my recent job loss I would have it taged and insured and driving the streets. And I did change that ugly yellow grill for a NOS glh grill I got from Reeves last year at the mopar nats.

The car as it is now
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/UDUxNTAyODguSlBH.jpg

T2 motor out of a 88 Shelby Z
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/UDUxNTAyOTQuSlBH.jpg

Shifter cover from a minivan made to fit the Omni interior.
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/SU1HMDAwNjIuanBn.jpg


Over the next few month plans are to get it on the road and work out any bugs it may still have. Then the head will have to come off to fix a leaking exhaust manifold gasket. That should be a good time to throw on the 2 piece intake and the SS braided line kit on it.

What it has so far-

88 T2 motor
555 (or 520 don't know) tranny with Daytona shifter cables
88 Daytona radiator/intercooler
Talon blow off valve
All polybushings solid mounts
Walbro 255 in tank pump

[turbokid]

Wow thats awesome!
Keep up the updates. Thats a hella fun project

[jamesmonty]

Poor quality video of me having some fun on my first time out with it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V36ZvdrHTo4

Some more picts-

Beauty shots of underneath
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/IMGP0027.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/IMGP0028.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/IMGP0030.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/IMGP0031.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/IMGP0032.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/omni%202/IMGP0033.jpg

Current picts

The JDM angle
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/UDUxNTAyOTMuSlBH.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/b21uaTMuSlBH.jpg

My slave labor washing it
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/UDUxNTAyNzkuSlBH.jpg

[cordes]

That omni is really coming along. Nice work.

[omni_840]

nice job! I like the shifter console from a mini :nod:

[moparfwdsleeper]

Nice work James, loving the shifter column. I never thought about that when I had my GLH.

BTW, whip your slave; he missed a spot by the antenna

[Twisted Noodle]

But watch it.. he has a mean streak lol. Or maybe he was just picking on me because he almost as tall as I am..

[jamesmonty]

Nice work James, loving the shifter column. I never thought about that when I had my GLH.

BTW, whip your slave; he missed a spot by the antenna

A little part of your glh lives on in this car. After sitting so long the gas tank a filler were rusted bad. So Clayton hooked me up with the tank and filler from his old glh. And yes that slave is too mean to poke, and he is almost as tall as twisted noodle!

[mario03SRT]

James,

Good Job on the big swap! :D

Good to see another local SW Ohio TD on the streets. Now on to the G-Valve and a adj fuel regulator and a boost gage! How is the motor running? Are you running stock LM electronics?


Marion

[jamesmonty]

Already has a g-valve installed! Its just adjusted out till I can get some street time. Boost and a narrow band a/f are in place. I need to get a picture of them, but I think you can see them above the shifter. I guess I forgot to mention the electronics. It was swaped to 87 t2 with a daytona lm and underhood map.

[Vigo]

lookin good..
I like it. :)

[jamesmonty]

I picked up a set of old school 5-star rims at SDAC with drag radials on them.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/L01lZGlhIENhcmQvQmxhY2tCZXJyeS9w-2.jpg

What do you think? They hook better than the 20yr old dry rotted tires on the car now, but at 5psi I can still roast 'em!

Also I got 30 day temp tags for it yesterday. Since it has a out of state title you have to have the car inspected to get a ohio title. To get it inspected you need to drive it to the bmv. Can't drive it to the bmv with no plates so thats where the temp tags come in. Anyway the car had 4 miles on the trip meter starting yesterday and now it has 14! Drove it to get gas and then to the car wash. Picked the kids up and went for a little drive. I would have drove more but it has a miss at low idle that is starting to get worse. I think the blown exhaust manifold gasket is getting worse. So now to buy the manifold and head gasket and just get it done.

[Turbo3Iroc]

Looking good James, glad they worked out for you. :thumb:

[mario03SRT]

IT's ALIVE!!!!!:hail:

[WickedShelby88]

Glad to hear you got that car out and kicking. Sounds like a lot of fun! Even better when the kids can ride along.

[jamesmonty]

Off with it's head! Finally had a day off so the top end came off yesterday. All went well except for a broken exhaust manifold stud. So off to the machine shop it went today. The guy was not really to enthused about just drilling out the stud but would do it if the whole head was re-done. So I gave in and agreed to the head work. Should have it back by Friday and I have the weekend off to bolt it all back up. Also have a 2.5" down pipe in the mail to replace the stock 2.25" exhaust on the car now. I'm planing on doing a down and dirty side exit until I can make it out to my friends shop to have something welded up. here are some picts.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/SU1HMDAwODUtMjAwOTA4MTctMTk0MS5qcGc.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/SU1HMDAwODEtMjAwOTA4MTctMTk0MC5qcGc.jpg

Notice the blown gasket. Oh, and since no one wanted the two piece intake I had for sale it is going on. Also have a SS line kit to go with it.

[mario03SRT]

Off with it's head! Finally had a day off so the top end came off yesterday. All went well except for a broken exhaust manifold stud. So off to the machine shop it went today. The guy was not really to enthused about just drilling out the stud but would do it if the whole head was re-done. So I gave in and agreed to the head work. Should have it back by Friday and I have the weekend off to bolt it all back up. Also have a 2.5" down pipe in the mail to replace the stock 2.25" exhaust on the car now. I'm planing on doing a down and dirty side exit until I can make it out to my friends shop to have something welded up. here are some picts.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/SU1HMDAwODUtMjAwOTA4MTctMTk0MS5qcGc.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/SU1HMDAwODEtMjAwOTA4MTctMTk0MC5qcGc.jpg

Notice the blown gasket. Oh, and since no one wanted the two piece intake I had for sale it is going on. Also have a SS line kit to go with it.

Rock on Bro!

[jamesmonty]

After loosing a week with the head at the machine shop (that place was a joke!) I finally fixed the broken stud myself. Worked all day and I have the top end 80% together. It will take most of tomorrow to finish up. Hope to have it running by tomorrow afternoon.

[jamesmonty]

It's alive! again. Got the top end back on (by myself!) and everything hooked up, almost. Now I am running a 2-piece intake and a cast tbi valve cover, I need to completly re-do my PCV system. Might re-run my vac lines too since they don't fit the same as they did on the 1-piece intake. Also cut the stock 2.25 exhaust off and put a 2.5" down pipe on. Right now I just have the open downpipe and it sounds awesome! I have a couple 2.5" exhausts here at the house I cut off some other cars that I am going to "hillbilly fabricate" me a side exit out of. I just need to pick up a muffler and some clamps this week.

Here is the top end before I put it on-

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/SU1HMDAxMDUtMjAwOTA4MjItMjAyNC5qcGc.jpg


Here it is all put together-

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o119/jamesmonty2003/SU1HMDAxMTAtMjAwOTA4MjMtMTgzNy5qcGc.jpg


What all I added-

-2 piece intake
-SS line kit
-Large can waste gate actuator
-billet thermostat housing
-cast TBI valve cover
-2.5" down pipe

[badandy]

Rock and Roll James! I'm happy to see you able to get your project going:amen:

[WickedShelby88]

looks great. I like the TBI vc. Its always good when you can repair something and upgrade at the same time!

[trbowgn]

Looks real good James, I always liked the way the two pieces looked more than the one piece.

[1984rampage]

Notice any changes from going to the 2-piece intake? JW!

[cordes]

Nice James. I really like the way that looks.

[jamesmonty]

Thanks everyone! I have poured a lot of time and energy into this car and it is finally paying off. I fixed a few very small leaks today and toped off the fluids. Still need to fix the pcv system but I think I have it figured out. So I took it on a 10 mile test run and it ran great. It is much smoother and the slight miss I had was gone. I am sure that is from the fixed exhaust manifold gasket. As far as more power it is hard to tell since I had so little time with the other setup. It is hitting 10psi with the open downpipe where with the full exhaust it only hit 6psi (direct manifold pressure to wastegate for now). I only got on it once because it was so loud! I mean ear hurting loud. So I'm off to find a muffler and some pipe tomorrow so I can drive it to work soon.

[Aries_Turbo]

yeah dude, open downpipe is an ear bleeder for sure!

nice job.

brian

[jamesmonty]

Ear bleeder is correct! I have it all quiet now. Now to get the title all wraped up and it back on the road.

[Reeves]

Awesome job man! Glad to hear it's all back together again!

[jamesmonty]

ARGH! Just before Turbopaloza It decided to stop running. Still trying to figure it out. Going to poke around on it some today. Good new is that we are moving soon and it will have a garage to spend the winter in instead of outside.

[turbokid]

I hate when that happens :(

[cordes]

ARGH! Just before Turbopaloza It decided to stop running. Still trying to figure it out. Going to poke around on it some today. Good new is that we are moving soon and it will have a garage to spend the winter in instead of outside.

Glad to hear that you will have a garage for it. There are few things better which have happened to me than to have gained a garage.

[jamesmonty]

Update! After sitting since November It is alive again. The cam timing had jumped and that was the problem with it not starting. Then it wouldn't boost or go past 2k rpm. I guess the long winter sitting killed the fuel pump. New fuel pump and all is good. Now to fix the charging system.

[Reeves]

Update! After sitting since November It is alive again. The cam timing had jumped and that was the problem with it not starting. Then it wouldn't boost or go past 2k rpm. I guess the long winter sitting killed the fuel pump. New fuel pump and all is good. Now to fix the charging system.

Big CONGRATS man! Glad you got er fixed! :thumb:

[jamesmonty]

Big CONGRATS man! Glad you got er fixed! :thumb:

Thanks! It's not 100% just yet but I hope to start driving it around local to see if there are anymore issues. I would like to drive it to spring fling but I am not that brave yet!

[cordes]

Thanks! It's not 100% just yet but I hope to start driving it around local to see if there are anymore issues. I would like to drive it to spring fling but I am not that brave yet!

I hope you took it.

[jamesmonty]

I hope you took it.

Sorry but I didn't. It was just to far to go with the battery not charging. BUt I have the next two days off and I hope to fix that problem.

[jamesmonty]

Problem solved! Seems that the "spare" power module I had in it has a bad voltage regulator. I put in the original 85 pm and now it's charging fine. So with that fixed I went on a little cruise today around town. Ran with out a flaw! Think I am going to pick the kids up from school in it. I know my son will be excited but I am sure my daughter will be severely embarrassed.

Next few things on the list-
* new rubber. What size for 15x7 fiero rims?
* fix speedo or find a good cluster, cable, and sender.
* find what the heck is leaking! Got in it today to find a nice puddle of water in the passenger floor. Never had a leak and it has been outside for the 2 or so years I have had it.
* replace window scrapers with good set I bought last year.
* tunes! Swapped out the stocker for a stock radio out of the 89 horizon I had only to find the 89 radio didn't work either. Some new speakers and the 10" sub I have just sitting in the garage.
* paint? well at least fix a few issues with the body.
* enjoy the dang thing! It's been a long time in the works so It is nice to finally drive the thing.

[Reeves]

Glad to hear you got it going and are enjoying it!

For tires, 225/50/15's are about the widest that fit when on crab rims.....but if the Fiero tires have a different backspacing and stick out farther, you may be able to get a little more rubber under it. I kind of doubt it though, as your next size is usually 245 and that *barely* fit on my Shelby Z. I had to *massage* the back a little.

I may be able to help you with the gauge cluster if that is the culprit. Also, you can remove the speedo cable extension and run without it. That may also be the culprit.

[cordes]

Either a 205/50r15 or a 225/50r15 would do well on 7" rims. I don't know how well the 225s would fit on all four corners though?

[jamesmonty]

I drove it to work two days last week and it sat all weekend due to the rain. Go out today and the battery is dead!? Quick jump with my DD saturn and all is good. Went for a 10-20 minute cruise to re-charge it and it still is running flawless. Did some in town stop and go traffic and it didn't overheat or stall! Now to find what is draining the battery.

Next few things on the list- **updated**
* new rubber. What size for 15x7 fiero rims?
* fix speedo or find a good cluster, cable, and sender.
* find what the heck is leaking! Got in it today to find a nice puddle of water in the passenger floor. Never had a leak and it has been outside for the 2 or so years I have had it.
* replace window scrapers with good set I bought last year.
* tunes! Swapped out the stocker for a stock radio out of the 89 horizon I had only to find the 89 radio didn't work either. Some new speakers and the 10" sub I have just sitting in the garage.
* paint? well at least fix a few issues with the body.
* enjoy the dang thing! It's been a long time in the works so It is nice to finally drive the thing.
*New rear shocks. Put some cheap monroe shocks on it and they are way to soft.
*Install rear view mirror.
*Seat covers. The back seat (upper) and the passenger seats are thrashed and I just noticed a split in the drivers side.
*2-door L-body seat brackets. I'm 6'3" and working the clutch is a little tight on the knee.
*new steering wheel? This is not 100% necessary but the stocker is not in really good shape.
*Power steering? Again not 100% sure on that but it might be nice to have.