V1 Iwanttogofast's #336 City Goblin - 07 SS/SC Donor

[jayrolls]

I had about 6 more hours into teardown yesterday. I am to the point of dropping the drivetrain, but I need to wait until next weekend to do that because I want extra eyes watching everything to avoid any issues. I've been on my own so far, but I have help coming for the powertrain removal.

I have come to the conclusion that I bought a turd. Not just because of the rust issues, but I have seen so many things that make me rub my forehead in frustration. The car has been in at least one accident (very possibly two) PRIOR to the salvage accident that took it out of commission. Stuff is zip tied all over the place because of damage and/or broken fasteners. The connectors under the fuse block have tabs busted off and are taped together with electrical tape - which tells me at the very least that the fuse block has been out before. I have reason to believe that the powertrain has been dropped before, as well. I have a turd, but will continue to do my best to make chicken soup out of chicken s#!+...

I think a lot of us can relate to that. I have had to buy a lot of parts that I didn’t expect to because of rust and other items just not being worth putting in. Just remember it will all be worth it once you get it done.

 

[Gtstorey]

Sounds about like my donor. I have only reused a few parts off the donor. Wiring, computer and subframe is about it.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

When all is done with my build - sometime before this decade is out - I will have only the instrument cluster, ECM, BCM and wire harness from my donor in my Goblin. Everything else will either be replaced with a DF, GM, aftermarket or a DS fabrication part (spending lots of $$$ because I want to ).

Replacing those necessary parts - hubs, tie rods, control arm bushings, etc. - even on a desert car with no rust is a must do.

Edit: forgot to include the donor pedals and clutch MC.

 

[Iwanttogofast]

Today has been a good day. Engine and trans are out. Interior is almost complete, except for the dash. I found that the previous owner had a ZZP header and midpipe on the car, as well as the full 304SS Borla exhaust. More parts to sell...

I'm on a break right now for a couple of hours, but will be headed back out later to try to get more done.

Does anyone have any pointers on getting the bolt out for the passenger side seat belt mechanism? There is NO room to get a socket on it. ?

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Grinder or an OxyAcet torch. That's only if you are planning to use the stock seatbelts - otherwise don't bother.

 

[Iwanttogofast]

I am planning on using the seat belt mechanism, so I've got to get it out. I didn't want to use a torch that close to the belt material and mechanism. I thought about a cutoff wheel to either cut the head of the bolt, or remove the mechanism by cutting all around it and removing the bolt once it's out. I wonder how dealership mechanics removed that passenger side bolt for warranty jobs(?). There is no room to get anything with any leverage in there!!

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Use the torch to heat the bolt, since it likely has a thread locker on it. Cut/grind the bolt head off if that doesn't work.

 

[Scott #321]

I used a r50 socket on a 3ft breaker bar but mine eas a sedan and clearance was no issue.

 

[Iwanttogofast]

Here's my best pal and shop dog, Yeti. Actually, he's more of a couch potato than a shop dog, but he likes to come to the shop with me when I'm working.

Come to think of it... I take advice from a Desert Sasquatch, and a Yeti keeps me company while I work.

 

[Iwanttogofast]

My kit was delivered on Tuesday and my chassis went to the powder coater the same day. Thomarios in Copley is doing it for me. Anyone in NE Ohio - I highly recommend these guys!! I've never dealt with them before, but it's a top-notch facility. Very professional and very easy to deal with. You wouldn't believe the size of their oven, and some of the high-end stuff that I saw there for powder coating. But, you'd never know that I was only there to get a single chassis powder coated. They treated me like a highly valued customer.



Also, the one part off of my donor that I really wasn't too thrilled about reusing was my subframe. Badly rusted - flaky and pitting. A guy at work hooked me up with a guy who races Cobalts and said that he'd probably have some nice ones. I went after work this morning. 1-1/2 hours each way, but well worth it. $75 for a super clean subframe. It's almost new. Left is the original, right is the "new" one. It'll be better than new after blasting and powder coating.

 

[Iwanttogofast]

I spent a few hours today on removing the dash and main harness. That dash was much heavier than I expected - probably at least 70# and awkward to remove (for those of you that haven't done it yet). It's done, though and I think I'm done with the donor. I don't think that I'm going to bother dropping the tank. I'll be ordering a new fuel pump module. I have somebody willing to pick up the donor shell, but it has to be cut into 6 pieces first - since I will not be parting with the title. I've already ordered the Diablo 9" recip saw blades made for auto dismantling. Not sure the best way to chop up(?), so I'm happy to take suggestions on the easiest / best places to cut.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Get the parking brake tubes - the ones with the red and black plastic on them - and the cables if they are in good shape. These are needed if you plan to install the parking brake. If you don't there is always someone on the forum in need of the tubes.

 

[Iwanttogofast]

Get the parking brake tubes - the ones with the red and black plastic on them - and the cables if they are in good shape. These are needed if you plan to install the parking brake. If you don't there is always someone on the forum in need of the tubes.

Oh, man. I didn't think I needed those. I bent the hell out of them to get the parking brake lever removed and the harness out. I would have been more careful. Nothing in the video about that...

 

[Zoom Zoom]

I spent a few hours today on removing the dash and main harness. That dash was much heavier than I expected - probably at least 70# and awkward to remove (for those of you that haven't done it yet). It's done, though and I think I'm done with the donor. I don't think that I'm going to bother dropping the tank. I'll be ordering a new fuel pump module. I have somebody willing to pick up the donor shell, but it has to be cut into 6 pieces first - since I will not be parting with the title. I've already ordered the Diablo 9" recip saw blades made for auto dismantling. Not sure the best way to chop up(?), so I'm happy to take suggestions on the easiest / best places to cut.

View attachment 27900View attachment 27901View attachment 27902

Will you need the seal for the fuel pump or does new pump come with one

 

[Rttoys]

Will you need the seal for the fuel pump or does new pump come with one

And the fuel pump connector

 

[Iwanttogofast]

Hmmmm... I have had other Goblin builders tell me that they didn't bother with any of the rear teardown (fuel pump, hubs, etc.) and just replaced with new. I'll definitely be dropping the tank tomorrow and salvaging the parking brake tubes and cables. I literally just found today that there is a donor parts list in the forum. I don't know how I never saw that before, or why none of the videos that I've watched so far mentions anything about that list. That is a pretty important thing to have from day one with the donor teardown. Up to today, I've only been keeping what they say to keep in the videos...

 

[Rttoys]

Ya. There really needs to be a prequel to building setup of some sort.

 

[Iwanttogofast]

Ya. There really needs to be a prequel to building setup of some sort.

For sure. They really need to add something to video #1, or at least have a prequel video before video #1 in the order that discusses the list or explains all that needs to be kept. This needs to be advised before teardown even begins and is far too important not to include somewhere.

 

[Rttoys]

So, DF is like Star Wars. You have the videos to build the car, but years later they come out with info you really need to know to understand everything properly and fill in all the gaps.

 

[Zoom Zoom]

Hmmmm... I have had other Goblin builders tell me that they didn't bother with any of the rear teardown (fuel pump, hubs, etc.) and just replaced with new. I'll definitely be dropping the tank tomorrow and salvaging the parking brake tubes and cables. I literally just found today that there is a donor parts list in the forum. I don't know how I never saw that before, or why none of the videos that I've watched so far mentions anything about that list. That is a pretty important thing to have from day one with the donor teardown. Up to today, I've only been keeping what they say to keep in the videos...

A lot of people want stuff we think is junk but somebody usually wants to buy it. List it if it doesn’t sell then throw in trash !
I know my first donor I tore up a lot of stuff taking it out because I was just going to throw it away .
Then I seen on forum guys were selling about everything they took off. So on my second donor taking my time and making money this time around. I cut my exhaust up into 4 pieces and cut the catalytic converter Out but it was hollow, then a guy asked if I had the exhaust and he asked what I wanted for it and I asked him what was fair to us both and he said 100 so what I was going to throw away he bought. Passengers door panel 100 and 75 for shifter base. And he drove 4 hours each way to get stuff