Seems like this project has dragged on forever. My brother got his LEsabre'* transmission rebuilt, got the car reassembled, engine had a hard miss. Changed plugs, wires and swapped coils. Miss is almost gone, but I know a 3800 CAN run smoother.

I might add that we do have the code 39, decided to wait on a new timing chain and interruptor until we got a chance to see if the trans would hold together. That might be contributing to the occasional miss. Also could be the gas is old and will smooth out when we get a tank of fresh gas.

And lastly! Pics were taken and saved to his computer, and we hopefully will be able to post and share pics of the fun! I have tried to get him to join here, but he isnt a "big luxury car" guy, this was a car he got as a deal for some labor and had nothing to lose on. He viewed it as a learning opportunity. So far we have only driven it 2 blocks and werent able to get beyond 25 mph on residential streets, but the shifts felt ok. Our consensus is to save the $$$ and let the pros do it next time. He still has a mild interest in learning what makes a trans go and how to make it go better and next project is tearing down a burnt up TH350 and learn what we can

Sounds like you're having fun with the car as a learning project.

It also sounds like you probably do have bad gas in there. I highly suggest you get that gas out of there as soon as possible. It can really gum up the works and cause extra work for you down the road (so to speak).

Do a quick on google for "bad gas" or "old gas" to inform yourself.

Yeah I was gonna say, most cars get a little mad when the gas gets condensation in it and the octane gets all messed up, just get some new fuel in there and see if that changes anything.

not in any order, but this is my first time posting pics.
All back home..


Empty engine compartment.


Getting ready to reinstall


I'm in the blue shirt, transmission is on the floor


Does my brother look happy? I'm guessing not, since he had been up for 2 days solid. Work and then playing with the car.


Washer and dryer make a nice workbench


Hope he remembers where all that goes, especially the duct tape.


Caffiene intake increased at this point.


Can hear the echo here.

Hopeful at this point that its all back together OK.

And you guys did it without any special tools or prior knowledge? That'* awesome man.. really making me want to crack into my blown one.

OSG, he bought the Haynes book from Autozone. Had to borrow a couple of tools, had some special ones anyways between me, him and Dad, ended up taking one whole clutch pack to a trans shop to be taken apart and reassembled. I wasnt there but they did charge him a nominal fee for the time and ended up giving him TONS of advice, including a thinly veiled job offer LOL.

So for the most part, home garage, cherry picker, some beggin and borrowing and it at least goes into 1st and second LOL. He still has to update the tags and buy some insurance before we can test it much further.

When we took it apart, it only had first gear, so we already have improvement. Gonna be an in town car only anyhow.

This thread is pretty inspiring, but too bad I'd just tear it up again