Et prædo triticum, my 99 GLS

[aleros_eat_rice]

I came up with the nickname " et prædo triticum ", which is Latin for "Destroyer of grain". Get it?
Anyway, here's the pic(s) of my Alero.
Pic1 (https://imageshack.com/i/2hecqgj)
Apologies for only posting a url. I can't figure out how to post a link with thumbnail or anything like that from my phone.

[[ion] C2]

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1120x631q90/89/ecqg.jpg

it's a 255,000 mile stock 4-door grocery getter

don't go calling it the rice destroyer yet lol

[aleros_eat_rice]

Its made lunch of ricers before. I would ask what makes you say "grocery getter", but I forgot about the cart lol.

How about a vote for highest mileage Alero on the forums? Unless someone has more miles than me.

[Babyblue]

We have the exact same color and year...But mine will have a 3500 and a f-40.

[[ion] C2]

Its made lunch of ricers before. I would ask what makes you say "grocery getter", but I forgot about the cart lol.
Your car runs mid to high 16 second quarter mile times. Who cares that you beat a shitbox F&F wannabe? Your car's slow but their car was slower. http://xceedspeed.com/forums/images/smilies/dunno.gif
How about a vote for highest mileage Alero on the forums? Unless someone has more miles than me.
Mine was at 251,000 when I switched bodies. There was still someone with higher mileage I think on here...

[aleros_eat_rice]

Before too long, mine will have the 3500 top in it. So, they'll be somewhat related.

[03glgold]

One of the members is still in contact with the owner of his old one and it is at 400k

[aleros_eat_rice]

How about current ownership? Whose current Alero has more miles? Still, awesome that an Alero broke 400k.

Will post more tomorrow, when it's light out.

[Redog]

I had a 16 second Alero once and thought it was the shit. I was so cool street racing and smoking those 18 second Civics all day long.

Then I grew up..

As it sits right now, it runs a 14.5 1/4 mile. No it's not the fastest car out there, but dropping 1.5-2 seconds in the 1/4 mile in a NA car is impressive nonetheless.

One thing here and there isn't going to make your car super fast. On here, We have a cammed 3400, a few turbo'ed, and one with a 3800s/c swap. The beautiful thing about all of them, including mine, is they look stock except for an exhaust and a set of rims. Also when you do your own work, it's not only cheaper, but you make make it more "yours"

You know the Olds rocket on my calipers? I've been asked twice "Yo, where did you get them?" and since the kids asking where dumber than dogshit when it comes to cars, I told themk "I made them" and didn't bother telling them that I just custom painted them myself :coolio:

Your car is not fast, stick with us, ask questions, and it can be ;)

[aleros_eat_rice]

I plan to make it fast. Like in my sig, with that stuff.

[Papa Rad17]

I had a 16 second Alero once and thought it was the shit. I was so cool street racing and smoking those 18 second Civics all day long.

Then I grew up..

As it sits right now, it runs a 14.5 1/4 mile. No it's not the fastest car out there, but dropping 1.5-2 seconds in the 1/4 mile in a NA car is impressive nonetheless.

One thing here and there isn't going to make your car super fast. On here, We have a cammed 3400, a few turbo'ed, and one with a 3800s/c swap. The beautiful thing about all of them, including mine, is they look stock except for an exhaust and a set of rims. Also when you do your own work, it's not only cheaper, but you make make it more "yours"

You know the Olds rocket on my calipers? I've been asked twice "Yo, where did you get them?" and since the kids asking where dumber than dogshit when it comes to cars, I told themk "I made them" and didn't bother telling them that I just custom painted them myself :coolio:

Your car is not fast, stick with us, ask questions, and it can be ;)
Couldnt have been said more beautifully.
When I joined on here I got low enough to get me ebay conefilter with an electric fan in it... but like it had been said. I grew up, spent hours scowering the forum and built up a nice little ho. Until I went chopping down teliphone poles with. but all being said and done my next car did not get filed with childish things and instead more simple, practical, and powerful mods.

[Babyblue]

Couldnt have been said more beautifully.
When I joined on here I got low enough to get me ebay conefilter with an electric fan in it... but like it had been said. I grew up, spent hours scowering the forum and built up a nice little ho. Until I went chopping down teliphone poles with. but all being said and done my next car did not get filed with childish things and instead more simple, practical, and powerful mods.

That's why I went straight to milzys!

[jawa]

i have a lx9 full swap in mine and my best time ever was a 15.8

[[ion] C2]

so basically don't do the LX9 swap and just boost what you have lol

[jawa]

ion you dirty dog i spy projectors

[Shiwnath]

i have a lx9 full swap in mine and my best time ever was a 15.8

Get that mofo tuned! You should be running 15.2's no problem!

[aleros_eat_rice]

Still doing the top swap.
Imageshack isn't working with my phone correctly. I'll post pics when I go to the library today.

[jawa]

it is tuned, that run was on my old slipping tranny

[sleepyalero]

ion you dirty dog i spy projectors

Thats old news.

[aleros_eat_rice]

Finally.
Pic 2, just sitting (http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q560/CloudsOfNapalm/2014-03-16_09-54-24_464.jpg)
Pic 3, stock 3400 (for now) (http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q560/CloudsOfNapalm/2014-03-16_09-56-53_11.jpg)
Pic 4, Miles, miles, miles. (http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q560/CloudsOfNapalm/2014-03-16_09-56-27_251.jpg)
Pic 5, stock radio (http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q560/CloudsOfNapalm/2014-03-16_10-05-30_695.jpg)

[Babyblue]

clean your engine bay!!!!!

[MMGT1]

Here is what your 3400 can do NA:
http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz159/MMGT1/OPC%20At%20St%20Thomas%202009/th_210.jpg (http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz159/MMGT1/OPC%20At%20St%20Thomas%202009/210.mp4)

And here is what you can do with a bit of boost! Stock long block with 10psi boost on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvHyjq512dE

[aleros_eat_rice]

I'm already aware of what a boosted LA1 can do. As my sig says, eventually a turbo or supercharger. The top swap is more in the near future.

I have found an N platform turbo kit on milzy for like $4500 or so. But for that price, I may as well just get a stock s/c LSS. Part of my reasoning with the top swap is slightly improved mileage, and a bit of a performance increase.
I don't expect to race Grand Nationals, or anything.

Or, my friends Lambo. That's just... no.

[Redog]

You sound like a nice kid and all, but honestly, reading your posts make my head hurt.

It just doesn't seem like you have an idea of what direction you want to go.

You're going to spend $20,000 to have what $5000 would have cost you

[aleros_eat_rice]

What do you mean, $20k? The ported top swap shouldn't be more than about $1000 to $1500, and I can do the work myself.
The turbo kit is something later down the line. I've got a good idea where I want to go, I'm just getting all my ducks in a row. I figured this forum would be ripe with people knowledgeable on the subject of modding an Alero, and it hasn't disappointed.

I guess you could say I've got the map and the will, just need the shovel and the pickaxe.

[[ion] C2]

Thats old news.

ya don't you read my project thread (http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37541) lol

[Redog]

C2;652781']ya don't you read my project thread (http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37541) lol

Which is a very good example of what NOT to do, and do it right the first time :eek:

[[ion] C2]

Which is a very good example of what NOT to do, and do it right the first time :eek:

how is it what not to do?

i took a crappy looking black alero and turned it into an excellent quality all around nice car with new paint, new wheels, new tires, projector headlights, excellent clutch, all new sound, full 3" stainless exhaust, and an engine that will pull the car into the 11s

[03glgold]

What do you mean, $20k? The ported top swap shouldn't be more than about $1000 to $1500, and I can do the work myself.
The turbo kit is something later down the line. I've got a good idea where I want to go, I'm just getting all my ducks in a row. I figured this forum would be ripe with people knowledgeable on the subject of modding an Alero, and it hasn't disappointed.

I guess you could say I've got the map and the will, just need the shovel and the pickaxe.
He is talking about spending money buying parts that wont work with what you are going for, or since you are unsured buying parts and putting them on then changing later...you would be better to pick your build and make a list of all the parts that will go on it and buy it piece by piece...you can buy some of the support mods that will work on their own first but make sure you have the path you want...changing your mind once you start will cost considerable extra money so be absolutely sure what you want

[Redog]

C2;652805']how is it what not to do?

i took a crappy looking black alero and turned it into an excellent quality all around nice car with new paint, new wheels, new tires, projector headlights, excellent clutch, all new sound, full 3" stainless exhaust, and an engine that will pull the car into the 11s

I was refering to the 4 times you replaced the head gasket

[aleros_eat_rice]

Parts that won't work are why I'm here. I'm here to try and figure out what will work, and what won't. The LX9 top swap looks like my best bet, for what I'm looking for. I would like to find a supercharger or turbo at some point, but I'll settle for the top swap for now. There are a few options, either way.

Or I could go COMPLETELY INSANE and try an L47/4T80E swap!
Jk.

[kwhauck]

And it would be slow.....

[03gxeco]

And it would be slow.....

^^^ this

[aleros_eat_rice]

Finally got a bit of time to clean it up a bit. I started out just meaning to clean up the plenum and valve cover, but then I decided "why not?"
Pic 6 "spring" cleaning (http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q560/CloudsOfNapalm/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05-17_19-56-40_226.jpg)
I know it isn't perfect, but it is better than before. I say "spring" because we went from winter freeze to summer heat with little to no spring to be seen.

[Babyblue]

Looks a lot better then before! keep it up!

[Nas Escobar]

You should paint your valve covers silver or something... make the engine pop.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I was thinking about taking the valve covers and plenum off, power washing them and painting them black with gold or silver trim. Like painting the raised lettering on the plenum gold and the rest of it black, and the lips of the covers gold and the rest black.

Going for black w/ gold trim, because my old neighbor has a 1976 442 with that paint scheme, and I always thought it ws cool.

As far as boosting goes (in response to the 3400 gagt turbo video), I can get the cheapo $500 turbo kit, and then a Caterpillar 3406 turbo, as I doubt the turbo unit that comes with the kit is very dependable. So, I could spend around $1200 or so, and have a halfway decent turbo setup. Or, I could get the 3406 turbo, plumbing and other hardware and build my own kit, maybe even for less.
This (http://m.ebay.com/itm/270970334376?nav=SEARCH) is the cheap turbo kit.

[Nas Escobar]

I wouldn't mess with that. You're better off going to the junkyard and pulling a turbo set up out of a Saab or some other turbo'd car. Everything there would be proven. The only risk is damaged goods.

I think the right thing to do though is searching the 60degreev6 forum. You'll probably find an el cheapo way to boost the 3400. I know some people just take the stuff from other cars and mix and match.

[aleros_eat_rice]

That's why I thought of the Cat turbo. Caterpillar is proven tough, and since they arw designed for use in industial applications, they are made to last.

But I see what you're getting at. The touble is finding a stocck turbo car at a junkyard local to me. They sometimes strip turbos and s/c's off as soon as they come in. I will check it out, though.

They have a Buick Riviera stock s/c, and I checked under the hood. The blower was gone. I asked about it, and they said they pulled it out to sell separately.

[aleros_eat_rice]

What Saab turbo would fit?

I started thinking about it, and (if I get the Cat turbo) I should get the 3066 instead of the 3406. Its a smaller turbo, but wouldn't draw as much oil. Plus, its cheaper.

This is the 3066 (http://m.ebay.com/itm/261478497999?nav=SEARCH)

[Redog]

The question is: did you build up the motor to handle the boost? You have over 200K on the car and youre going boost?

[aleros_eat_rice]

No, I wouldn't think of boosting the stock motor with that many miles. There's a few other things I need to do before boosting. In a perfect world, I would get the MMS 3400 race block and drop it in before boosting. Which isn't a bad idea, I just need to start saving for that as well.

I have been researching outside of the internet, too. I've found shops that could make the plumbing, fab shops who could make flanges and whatnot if I need it when I get there.

[Nas Escobar]

That's why I thought of the Cat turbo. Caterpillar is proven tough, and since they arw designed for use in industial applications, they are made to last.

But I see what you're getting at. The touble is finding a stocck turbo car at a junkyard local to me. They sometimes strip turbos and s/c's off as soon as they come in. I will check it out, though.

They have a Buick Riviera stock s/c, and I checked under the hood. The blower was gone. I asked about it, and they said they pulled it out to sell separately.

You live in Virginia... an asshattery of a state that chooses to call itself a "commonwealth" yet there is no wealth in common... in fact there's more discrepancy that similarity. I used to live in the Northern section and it was hard as fuck to find a job, let alone assistance to get my foot in a job. Now I'm in DC and they're helping me get an internship to learn a trade, but that's beyond the point. My point is that in Virginia, they will do anything they can to fuck you over. Last time I checked, they automatically crush anything older than 15 years. That's why I can never find anything in Virginia's junkyards.

If you're willing, you can make a road trip to Baltimore, there's actually a couple of yards that don't mess with the cars. Old, new, etc it's all there. The yards I go to don't take out turbos and superchargers for their own benefit. You can also give Brandywine out in Prince George's county MD a call, but they're more along the lines of taking the engine out, so no turbos there. :(

If you feel it's too far, you can also try Pick A Part in Fredericksburg, although I personally hate them for being so inconsistent with their turnout time and general irresponsibility. There's also Chesterfield in Richmond but meh... kinda hard to find Saab parts there.

Also, I can't really tell you which Saab turbo fits. I specifically had said that's a search on the 60degreev6 forum. All you have to do is put .com on that phrase and it will come up. Read around there, ask but don't get too excited or you might get a re run of your first days here. lol

What shops are you talking to? Are they chain stuff like meinekee or real speed shops. I've heard there's a speed shop out in Virginia Beach that's good with GM stuff, but never heard the name.

[aleros_eat_rice]

There are several pro shops out here. There was one in Yorktown that showed promise, but turns out they only do v8 motors.

[Nas Escobar]

That's kinda wack... but oh well, their problem in 5 10 years when most people want to be tuning FWD V6 stuff.

The real crazy part is going to be tuning Hyundais. :cry:

[aleros_eat_rice]

When they told me that, I thought about asking "what about the Aurora 4.0 v8?"

[negolien]

Only difference between you guys and ricers is it's a GM. Ohh sweet you can get to the next red light fastest...:emotlol:

[Nas Escobar]

When they told me that, I thought about asking "what about the Aurora 4.0 v8?"

You should have thought of the most asinine FWD engine to tune and ask them if they would do it...

Ask em if they can tune a 5.3 2006 Impala SS or a 99 Cadillac Deville with the Northstar engine.

[aleros_eat_rice]

The pain is real. Not too bad, but real.

[Nas Escobar]

WHat's wrong with it?

[aleros_eat_rice]

At the gas pumps. Again.

Prices have been going down, lately. So it doesn't hurt as bad.

[Babyblue]

Tint those windows!!!5% looks really good with this color!

[Nas Escobar]

Tint those windows!!!5% looks really good with this color!

Virginia only allows 35%

It's a joke of a tint.