#1 - As long as the intake manifold gaskets are monitored, and replaced as needed it can likely go 500k+ miles..... shift kit can help save the weak transmission.. The Main Reason I got my '96 Regal last year was the 3800.. A true Granny's car with 65k miles .. Pristine, rust free from so-cal.. got it for $1000 on Marketplace 😬
@@dennismattson8383 My 04 Monte SS sat for nearly a year due too a hurricane, changed the oil, and trans filter and she's runs like she never sat, I just need to change my subframe bushings but I can't find the help I truly need
I definitely understand. I've been buying, racing, restoring and completely rebuilding W-bodies for 18 years now. I also really love Ws and the 3800. Love your GTP btw NOT a turd by any means and could easily see this being someone elses favorite platform as it's mine as well
Yeah honestly they are already super hard to find in good shape. There was a time where their values were at an all time low so they ended up getting scooped up by people just looking for cheap wheels, they then got driven into the ground and abused by those people until they broke then they would just get thrown away. That's why they are so hard to find now which is a damn shame.
@@piersonthecarguy9396 24:00 this happened on the ford Panther platform too. I wish they made a sendan with bench seats again. That’s why I like it too the w body.
To me, the 5.3 Liter LS4 V-8 powered GM W-cars during 2008-2009 model year were the best performing cars. They were powerful and the factory dual exhaust had that throaty grunt especially if you upgrade the exhaust and install a cold air intake. That LS4 V-8 was rated at 303 horsepower with decent fuel economy at 16 city 24 hwy. Those LS4 V-8 W-cars pull hard. They can go 0-60 in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 150 m.p.h. They were: 2008-2009 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 2008-2009 Chevrolet Impala SS 2008-2009 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP 2008-2009 Buick Lacrosse Super
Good Lord, thank God for Dorman...rear axle trailing arms are thicker than stock, because of course G frigging M went thin on the original part...and the frigging plastic coolant elbows on the front (passenger) side of the engine fail...so get the metal ones from Dorman, and silicone them in for good measure
Yeah unfortunately parts like that for older cars are getting increasingly hard to get. I would recommend either Ebay or a Junkyard. There should be a few other W-Bodies that have an interchangeable part.
Pro tip: when changing the rear bank of spark plugs, install a cargo strap from the rear engine lift points to the front upper cross rail...remove the bolts for the front upper cross rail engine upper mounts...ratchet the engine forward...remove the overflow tank...plenty of room, relatively speaking, to change the rear plugs...use yellow spark plug wires, as the critters on my farm HATE yellow plug wires, but LOVE blue or gray...
For underbody and unibody frame rail preservation, do this: zinc phosphate etch, sold at Home Depot as concrete etch. Blow out or pressure wash the inside of all of the unibody frame rails, then spray with phosphate etch. Let dry. Then get Miracle Paunt from Bill Hirsch. He specializes in Packard restoration. Miracle Paint is a moisture activated polyurethane paint that is the cat's meow. Use a Harbor Freight pressure sprayer that is a quart steel can with a fan nozzle that you fill up, then stick in the frame rail holes, and spray. You will never have rust again
I own a 2002 Regal LS, 3800 naturally aspirated. Smooth and comfortable, lots of power, handles great. Upstate NY car. WATCH for unibody rust at the arch at the front wheels, where the upper radiator frame rail curves down to the underbody frame rail. Very ugly. Fighting with how to repair. Love the smooth and powerful ride, so I am trying to save her.
I got a 2006 Chevy Impala super sport picked up the guy said it could move on its own rolled about 50 ft and had to be towed the rest of the way I've got no gears at all when you're moving through the gears you can hear the RPMs die down a little I've had people tell me to check the fluid flu it's good I've had people tell me to listen to the transmission to see if you can hear clunks metals hitting and I don't hear nothing shift solenoids have been changed out
Yes. Unfortunately like I said in the video, the V8 Model W-Bodies are known for transmission problems. The reason for this is because even the V8 W-Bodies contain the 4T65E based Transmission, which is the same transmission that is found in the standard V6 Models. Definitely a bad move on GMs Part, since they cheaped out and shoved the regular V6 Trans in there. The transmissions are already pretty weak when they aren't taken care of, so once you add the extra torque of a V8 to the mix, it's a recipe for disaster. Fortunately there are shops and places online where you can get beefed up versions of these transmissions, then you shouldn't ever have another issue with them.
The V8 W-Body's were notorious for their transmissions failing as if made from spaghetti, BUT- only when the life was beaten out of them. If they were driven moderately nice, and had routine maintenance- you'll know it just based on the condition of the transmission. Being that the w-bodies were so ubiquitous, they were always decent throw-away cars. Families bought them, drove the piss out of them, and then disposed of them. So today they're even BETTER disposable cars; most were nicely equipped, the V6 & V8 powered cars could be fun to drive even, and today being worth next to nothing- you don't feel bad beating the shit out of them. I had a Thrasher tuned 99 GTP, pulley swapped, methanol water injection, etc back in 2007. In that configuration the car would run consistent 13.40's @ 102 like a clock- pass after pass. It was my work beater that I drove mostly problem-free well into 300k miles before I sold it to one of my buddies. The dogshit Fisher-Price interior was falling apart, but my friend put another 40k miles on it before it got t-boned and totalled out.
And what do you like dumbass electric?? Ok keep doing more damage producing fossil fuels , lithium, burning plastic ect manufacturing batteries making more pollution than an internal combustion engine will make through it's life. Also in 8 or so years if lucky value to replace exceeds 75% parts value so totaled. Have fun with your electric libtarded bs and we will stick with what has worked for over 100 years. GM W-body collector, racer, restorer and rebuild for 18 years speaking and 31 years as a mechanic and detailer. I have loved these since new and STILL do. Now the platform is old and stood the test of time. Looking at my beautiful 04 dale Jr supercharged Monte SS as I write this that I will own till I die
W bodies are criminally underrated
Never been a car guy but I just found about these and I'm hooked. The 3800 is such an inviting engine
I have a 04 SS Indy and I love it. I have a shift kit on it and adding an aluminum trans pan this Friday. She runs so well!
Sweet an Indy Impala? Very rare and very cool!! I subbed you btw I'd love to see that Indy Impala😍😍
If it has a 3800 motor it will run forever.. The best engine GM ever made.
Agreed! Best engine GM ever made and one of my personal favorite engines of all time.
#1 - As long as the intake manifold gaskets are monitored, and replaced as needed it can likely go 500k+ miles..... shift kit can help save the weak transmission.. The Main Reason I got my '96 Regal last year was the 3800..
A true Granny's car with 65k miles .. Pristine, rust free from so-cal.. got it for $1000 on Marketplace 😬
@@dennismattson8383 My 04 Monte SS sat for nearly a year due too a hurricane, changed the oil, and trans filter and she's runs like she never sat, I just need to change my subframe bushings but I can't find the help I truly need
2nd best....
You mentioned snow...I worked in NW PA, and put studded tires on the front...ABSOLUTELY unstoppable!
I definitely understand. I've been buying, racing, restoring and completely rebuilding W-bodies for 18 years now. I also really love Ws and the 3800. Love your GTP btw NOT a turd by any means and could easily see this being someone elses favorite platform as it's mine as well
Most Inportant:
A) don’t wreck a mint W body car.
One day I wanna buy one and idk how soon that day will be so keep some on the market for me 😂
Yeah honestly they are already super hard to find in good shape. There was a time where their values were at an all time low so they ended up getting scooped up by people just looking for cheap wheels, they then got driven into the ground and abused by those people until they broke then they would just get thrown away. That's why they are so hard to find now which is a damn shame.
@@piersonthecarguy9396
24:00 this happened on the ford Panther platform too. I wish they made a sendan with bench seats again. That’s why I like it too the w body.
I buy one every winter to keep my real car out of the salt. Then I dismantle it in the spring.
Year 4 coming up
To me, the 5.3 Liter LS4 V-8 powered GM W-cars during 2008-2009 model year were the best performing cars. They were powerful and the factory dual exhaust had that throaty grunt especially if you upgrade the exhaust and install a cold air intake. That LS4 V-8 was rated at 303 horsepower with decent fuel economy at 16 city 24 hwy. Those LS4 V-8 W-cars pull hard. They can go 0-60 in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 150 m.p.h. They were:
2008-2009 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
2008-2009 Chevrolet Impala SS
2008-2009 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP
2008-2009 Buick Lacrosse Super
Good Lord, thank God for Dorman...rear axle trailing arms are thicker than stock, because of course G frigging M went thin on the original part...and the frigging plastic coolant elbows on the front (passenger) side of the engine fail...so get the metal ones from Dorman, and silicone them in for good measure
I got a W body 1988 Buick regal and I can’t seem to find a hood latch
Yeah unfortunately parts like that for older cars are getting increasingly hard to get. I would recommend either Ebay or a Junkyard. There should be a few other W-Bodies that have an interchangeable part.
Given safety standards requires the rocker panels be solid and they are a lift point.....I'd say rockers are important hahaha
My first car was a 2000 Grand Prix coupe. Would love to pick one up again as a project.
They make great project cars! That's what mine is and they just have so much potential and are so fun and easy to work on.
Pro tip: when changing the rear bank of spark plugs, install a cargo strap from the rear engine lift points to the front upper cross rail...remove the bolts for the front upper cross rail engine upper mounts...ratchet the engine forward...remove the overflow tank...plenty of room, relatively speaking, to change the rear plugs...use yellow spark plug wires, as the critters on my farm HATE yellow plug wires, but LOVE blue or gray...
And if you have a random ABS light come up, check the stupid wires...some GD groundhog has probably made a snack of your wiring...
great in depth video, checking out a 2005 gtp supercharger today!
For underbody and unibody frame rail preservation, do this: zinc phosphate etch, sold at Home Depot as concrete etch. Blow out or pressure wash the inside of all of the unibody frame rails, then spray with phosphate etch. Let dry. Then get Miracle Paunt from Bill Hirsch. He specializes in Packard restoration. Miracle Paint is a moisture activated polyurethane paint that is the cat's meow. Use a Harbor Freight pressure sprayer that is a quart steel can with a fan nozzle that you fill up, then stick in the frame rail holes, and spray. You will never have rust again
I own a 2002 Regal LS, 3800 naturally aspirated. Smooth and comfortable, lots of power, handles great. Upstate NY car. WATCH for unibody rust at the arch at the front wheels, where the upper radiator frame rail curves down to the underbody frame rail. Very ugly. Fighting with how to repair. Love the smooth and powerful ride, so I am trying to save her.
NEEEEEEEEED the part number or the description of the water dam...fighting a blower motor no work issue
I got a 2006 Chevy Impala super sport picked up the guy said it could move on its own rolled about 50 ft and had to be towed the rest of the way I've got no gears at all when you're moving through the gears you can hear the RPMs die down a little I've had people tell me to check the fluid flu it's good I've had people tell me to listen to the transmission to see if you can hear clunks metals hitting and I don't hear nothing shift solenoids have been changed out
Yes. Unfortunately like I said in the video, the V8 Model W-Bodies are known for transmission problems. The reason for this is because even the V8 W-Bodies contain the 4T65E based Transmission, which is the same transmission that is found in the standard V6 Models. Definitely a bad move on GMs Part, since they cheaped out and shoved the regular V6 Trans in there. The transmissions are already pretty weak when they aren't taken care of, so once you add the extra torque of a V8 to the mix, it's a recipe for disaster. Fortunately there are shops and places online where you can get beefed up versions of these transmissions, then you shouldn't ever have another issue with them.
The V8 W-Body's were notorious for their transmissions failing as if made from spaghetti, BUT- only when the life was beaten out of them. If they were driven moderately nice, and had routine maintenance- you'll know it just based on the condition of the transmission. Being that the w-bodies were so ubiquitous, they were always decent throw-away cars. Families bought them, drove the piss out of them, and then disposed of them. So today they're even BETTER disposable cars; most were nicely equipped, the V6 & V8 powered cars could be fun to drive even, and today being worth next to nothing- you don't feel bad beating the shit out of them. I had a Thrasher tuned 99 GTP, pulley swapped, methanol water injection, etc back in 2007. In that configuration the car would run consistent 13.40's @ 102 like a clock- pass after pass. It was my work beater that I drove mostly problem-free well into 300k miles before I sold it to one of my buddies. The dogshit Fisher-Price interior was falling apart, but my friend put another 40k miles on it before it got t-boned and totalled out.
Where did you get the part from for the cowl
Internal combustion engine JUNK
And what do you like dumbass electric?? Ok keep doing more damage producing fossil fuels , lithium, burning plastic ect manufacturing batteries making more pollution than an internal combustion engine will make through it's life. Also in 8 or so years if lucky value to replace exceeds 75% parts value so totaled. Have fun with your electric libtarded bs and we will stick with what has worked for over 100 years. GM W-body collector, racer, restorer and rebuild for 18 years speaking and 31 years as a mechanic and detailer. I have loved these since new and STILL do. Now the platform is old and stood the test of time. Looking at my beautiful 04 dale Jr supercharged Monte SS as I write this that I will own till I die