CTS aka Britney Spears

[SuperBuickGuy]

back to my original plan, apparently the movement is normal (have a guru I can ask)
so the new motor - plugs are original and look good

I put a bit of machine oil down each cylinder to try to minimize damage since this motor hasn't run in at least 10 years.
cleaned the cross member then removed the old rack

installed new rack


I ordered the 'wrong' steering rack, the old one had some kind of sensor in it - since this car came with or without, I'll either program the light to stay off or remove whatever it's sensing

​​​​​​​tomorrow new parts and see if I can get this ready to go in....

[SuperBuickGuy]

new parts

even new oil filter

with fancy plug installation tool
​​​​​​​
some assembly done

but a ways to go

[SuperBuickGuy]

Putting it in has proven about as much a pain as removing it. For those considering this... the harness that runs to the speedo... put that on before the motor goes in...

anyway
big hole


clutch installed

now would be the time to drape that wire

yeah, it's not
another view

nice and sketchy way of centering the motor (was within an inch)


getting there


and most of the reason I'm posting this is because no one has posted up a motor r&r on a CTS. Given their price point at the competition, I imagine we'll see more of these out eating cones

[SuperBuickGuy]

Getting there

Lab approved, but 7 month old labs don't know anything

[SuperBuickGuy]

getting closer
now with brakes

and oil - also spun it up to build oil pressure.

Paul worked on the rear bumper cover....

​​​​​​​I made the old one fit in the garbage can

[SuperBuickGuy]

Runs great.
but let's back up.... two of three fuse boxes are in front of the rear seat, under the carpet. Which is where you find the fuel pump relay


did some research today to figure out how to bypass so that I could get the fuel out
yeah, these relays

hmmm... blurry...oops
but it runs


and it has a leak in the worst spot for a coolant leak.... however, I'll fix that but other then that, it sounds good and is almost ready to go to the shop to fix the other stuff (radio doesn't work, windows don't go down)
​​​​​​​in that vein, I leave the sun roof open when I only have one key.... good thing. smh, that could have been bad

[SuperBuickGuy]

$18 coolant seal... yeah 18...with that said, all the auto part stores have that middle seal - and claim its for the 3.6, it's not, it's for the 2.8... so the only option was GM

installed back there

that's the end of the motor replacement


Need to align it then start figuring out its issues.... like the windows not going down.... it needs wheels/tires. One of the wheels is different then the rest and not one tire is the same manufacturer.
That said, a/c works and it should clean up nicely.... then drive the wheels off it.