Re: 76 Laguna parked in 2002

by Limey SE Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:29 pm

g3chevy / Mr Pontiac wrote:Man! That is one nice looking engine bay!

Man I agree on that 100% Looks very nice .... What fans did you end up using for I fear I am going electric also

by jpowen49 Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:10 pm

Thank you Limey SE.
My old radiator had already been repaired several times in its life . It was bad after sitting 20 years.
It`s hard to believe I could buy an aluminum radiator with shroud and fans cheaper than a copper radiator . I looked on ebay 73-77 chevelle and found one like this. The fans are 12". I painted it black.

76 Laguna parked in 2002 - Page 2 Shoppi10

by Limey SE Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:17 pm

Oh I gotya I thought you added Fans my Radiator I found on Marketplace NIB for like 50 Bucks no fans, I have to add them Can see it in Pics here

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by jpowen49 Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:33 pm

I bet that 454 goes so fast it don`t need no stinkin fan.

by Limey SE Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:46 pm

jpowen49 wrote:I bet that 454 goes so fast it don`t need no stinkin fan.

It dont go anywhere right Now LOL I havent fired it yet from Building it up LOL

You can check my Build thread here under Rusty LOL

by g3chevy / Mr Pontiac Thu Jan 12, 2023 10:25 pm

Ha! Good ole Sears shocks. I think mine were the old spiral shocks that were supposedly original to car. These KYB shocks made a huge improvement.

by zucchi Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:40 am

g3chevy / Mr Pontiac wrote:Ha! Good ole Sears shocks. I think mine were the old spiral shocks that were supposedly original to car. These KYB shocks made a huge improvement.

I went from conventional shocks to KYBs many many years ago and agree, they're an improvement. Just over two-years ago, I went from KYB to Belltech. No regrets. Had to source slightly longer mounting bolts because the mounting tabs on the shocks are thicker than stock or KYB.

by Mcarlo77 Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:24 am

I've still got the original GM blue spiral shocks on the Monte (50k miles)...lol

by jpowen49 Sat Jan 14, 2023 10:08 pm

Fixed my transmission leak today. Replaced the pan and gasket as well as the shift shaft and seal. Also replaced the drive shaft seal and yoke and both u joints. Replaced the speedometer bullet and gear along with the modulator valve.

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by 76Chevelle2Tone Sat Jan 14, 2023 10:37 pm

I ordered a Moroso trans gasket myself but mine got lost by the USPS. I guess you recommend it? I read somewhere it might take longer bolts to seal because of the metal center. Was that your experience? Where was your trans leaking from since you replaced so many parts?

by g3chevy / Mr Pontiac Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:10 pm

That is a cool trans pan. Never seen one like that or that pan gasket. Let us know how it holds up.

by jpowen49 Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:43 pm

76Chevelle2Tone wrote:I ordered a Moroso trans gasket myself but mine got lost by the USPS. I guess you recommend it? I read somewhere it might take longer bolts to seal because of the metal center. Was that your experience? Where was your trans leaking from since you replaced so many parts?

The rear seal was leaking because the yoke had rusted and pitted from sitting 20 years. It was also leaking at the speedometer bullet O ring. I buggered it up trying to get it out and replaced the plastic gear because it s 48 years old.
Replaced the modulator valve and vacuum hose because of age. I replaced the shift shaft and seal because I had just replace the seal and it still leaked. I bought the moroso pan gasket, called them and asked for torque specs. 80 to 100 inch pounds but it wouldn`t work with a stock pan. Has to be a pan with machined flat surface. I replaced the u joints because they were original and non serviceable. The new pan came with bolts.

by 76Chevelle2Tone Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:54 pm

I read that the Moroso gasket could work with stock pans but might require longer bolts but your account differs from that so now I don't know. What kind of special pan did you get for the Moroso?

by jpowen49 Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:17 am

Just going by what the moroso tech told me. The moroso gasket has a thin layer of metal in the center and if tightened down over a ridge it will shear the metal. " It will leak like a sieve "
I couldn`t pay what moroso wanted for there aluminum pan.
I found a fabricated pan from a guy ebay, hotrodchrome. Good price and really looks good.
Won`t know how it works out until I get her back on the road.

by jpowen49 Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:03 pm

It will be awhile before I need it but I need help with a headliner. Mine is a 76
but not sure what I need. Any advice, tips,links, pictures would be of great help. I`m afraid I made a big mistake when I took it out and threw it away. It was covered with mold and mildew. Thanks in advance.

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by Mcarlo77 Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:33 pm

In the Search window, type in "Headliner" and several relevant threads appear that will help guide you. Seems Rockauto is the place to go.

by jpowen49 Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:55 am

Thank you Mcarlo77. I looked at rockauto and they have one listed for the 76 laguna. Has anyone that bought a headliner from rockauto had to sew any parts from the old headliner to the new one?
I ordered a headliner from OPGI that was listed to fit a 73-77 chevelle but came with (5) 1/8 strait rods . I ordered one from Echlers , waited 6 months for it to arrive , same thing. I will call them but you can never talk to a person that knows s--- about what they sell.

by Limey SE Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:20 am

I have one from a Buddy that got it from Wrong Auto and you guessed it YOU HAVE TO SEW the Clip's back on from Old one

by 76Chevelle2Tone Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:36 am

jpowen49 wrote:Thank you Mcarlo77. I looked at rockauto and they have one listed for the 76 laguna. Has anyone that bought a headliner from rockauto had to sew any parts from the old headliner to the new one?
I ordered a headliner from OPGI that was listed to fit a 73-77 chevelle but came with (5) 1/8 strait rods . I ordered one from Echlers , waited 6 months for it to arrive , same thing. I will call them but you can never talk to a person that knows s--- about what they sell.

I realize this is a DIY oriented site but the skillset to do upholstery etc is quite different from the mechanical skillset. Is it possible to hire someone to do the sewing etc ?

by g3chevy / Mr Pontiac Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:01 am

I used the headliner kit from OPGI that came with the rods and clips which are different from the plastic "T hanger" assembly sewn in by the factory. This kit installed nicely and looks completely factory when finished. So I wouldn't be afraid to use those kits. Just be aware many of the aftermarket headliners sold (especially on Ebay) don't come with the rods (bows) and clips needed for installation.

by Limey SE Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:04 am

g3chevy / Mr Pontiac wrote:I used the headliner kit from OPGI that came with the rods and clips which are different from the plastic "T hanger" assembly sewn in by the factory. This kit installed nicely and looks completely factory when finished. So I wouldn't be afraid to use those kits. Just be aware many of the aftermarket headliners sold (especially on Ebay) don't come with the rods (bows) and clips needed for installation.

So your saying the rods will slide in the Pockets instead of having to guess where to sew them on ??

by g3chevy / Mr Pontiac Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:12 am

Limey SE wrote:
g3chevy / Mr Pontiac wrote:I used the headliner kit from OPGI that came with the rods and clips which are different from the plastic "T hanger" assembly sewn in by the factory. This kit installed nicely and looks completely factory when finished. So I wouldn't be afraid to use those kits. Just be aware many of the aftermarket headliners sold (especially on Ebay) don't come with the rods (bows) and clips needed for installation.

So your saying the rods will slide in the Pockets instead of having to guess where to sew them on ??

Actually the rods snap onto clips like these pictured below and these clips have a "T" head that mounts to the slots of the inner roof structure.

76 Laguna parked in 2002 - Page 2 Headli10

by Limey SE Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:41 am

So where does one aquire the rods??

by jpowen49 Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:55 am

Would the rods slide into the sewn in pockets and then snap the clips to the rod at the right spacing. I would need 35 snap clips.

by g3chevy / Mr Pontiac Wed Jan 18, 2023 10:54 am

Limey SE wrote:So where does one aquire the rods??

That's why I mentioned OPGI. Their kit includes the rods and clips. So the installation looks completely factory. In my video at about the 1:25 minute mark, you'll catch a glimpse of this OPGI heading kit I installed about 10 years back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP_xSlGHqAg&t=82s

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76 Laguna parked in 2002