2017 LaCrosse Build thread (GS tribute)

[Ghosthawk]

Back from vacation and looking forward to getting back to work on the car. Unfortunately, I still haven't heard back from the hydro-dip guy but I know he's been having some health issues. I got the new G2 caliper paint so hopefully the new brakes will go on soon.

 

[Ghosthawk]

The good news is the hydro-dip guy finally got in touch with me and has started work on my stuff.

The bad news is my brother had neck surgery to repair a vertebrae but something went wrong post-op and he is now paralyzed from the chest down. He's been in ICU for a week now as they still try and figure out what went wrong, but needless to say that has been the dominant subject on our minds.

Praying he will improve soon.

 

[richardnewton]

Hope your brother's situation sorts itself out soon.

 

[Ghosthawk]

Sorry to report my brother's condition declined and he elected to be removed from life support. The family gathered Sunday evening and we said our goodbyes. The funeral is Thursday. he will be sorely missed.

 

[EDSELRANGER]

Just noticed this sad development. Very sorry for your loss.

 

[richardnewton]

Terribly sorry about that @Ghosthawk

 

[Ghosthawk]

Thanks guys, but life moves on, and my brother was a big fan of my work so my tribute carries a little more personal meaning now. Also, once I get the car "finished" I want to do a Route 66 road trip. One of his daughters lives in southern Utah and he made the run out to see them at least once a year. It feels like a good thing to do.
In other news, the hydro-dipped parts should be finished and shipped this week, and while the tab stung a bit I know the quality of the work will be top notch. I also read where Virginia International Raceway Holiday Laps for Charity have been scheduled for Nov 11, so I want to be ready for that. Would be nice to have everything installed for that photo op at Victory Lane 🙂

 

[Ghosthawk]

In the Good News Dept, my hydrodipping guy sent a few pics of the finished pieces getting ready to ship. I'm very excited to get this stuff installed!



He did a great job making my fabricated spoiler pedestals look clean and finished!

In the Bad News dept, I had the windows tinted yesterday (35% all around...legal limit here in VA) and on my way home, some turkey in his big pickup truck parked on the right curb decided to open his door into oncoming traffic (that would be me) and his door proceeded to whack the passenger outside mirror (@#%&!!!)



The guy apologized and we exchanged info so now starts the insurance dance...Lordy I hate this crap. Needless to say my mod work is going to be delayed.

 

[Ghosthawk]

More bad news...parts delays and back-ups have lagged the body shops so the earliest I can get the car in for repair is Nov 14! Looks my stuff is on the back burner for a good while....bloody hell

 

[richardnewton]

We replaced a few mirrors on our 2013 LaCrosse. The build quality of the OEM mirrors was incredible, so I would avoid third-party models here.

If OEM is not available or the insurance company complains, get a used mirror. These are the versions I see listed on car-part.com

memory package (opt A45), blind spot alert (opt UKC), LH
memory package (opt A45), blind spot alert (opt UKC), RH
memory package (opt A45), w/o blind spot alert; LH
memory package (opt A45), w/o blind spot alert; RH
w/o memory package; LH
w/o memory package; RH

 

[Ghosthawk]

More pics of the hydrodipped parts on the way...

Trunk badge and fender ports


Sport grille and fog light bezels

I'm strongly considering removing the front bumper cover before I put the car in the body shop. That way I can have most of this stuff installed when I get it back. I also have some LED fog light bulbs that should brighten up the output.
Has anyone else installed LED fogs? Any flickering problems?

 

[Ghosthawk]

While Sgaile is laid up I've been doing some brainstorming once I get the car back.

One mod I had considered from the beginning was to paint the exhaust finishers and install a set of rectangular fog light I have in the garage inside of them. I could even tint the lens for a more subtle look but I like the idea of much brighter reverse lights.

 

[Ghosthawk]

PaintShopPro is a wonderful tool for helping to visualize these ideas

Here is a chop with the LED reverse lights


Here's another with the tips modified into a pair of air diffusers


In both cases the exhaust would have to be re-routed and I was looking at the old T/A style in modern stainless double wall design


Then again, I could modify the tips to just be a trim piece (cut the bottom out and smooth the edges) and then go with some quad tips for a more conventional approach.

Rectangular quad tips


Round quad tips


The drawback with ether of these last two choices will be keeping the tips clean. However, I've noticed on some late model Chevys (Traverse & Camaro) the round tips have their inner wall perforated like a resonator. I'd don't know if that helps but those tips don't seem to collect as much (very little actually) of the sooty black residue. Worth looking into.

Now the more I look at these pics while posting, no Buick that I know of ever had the splitter T/A style pipes (despite the fact I think they would look great on a Skylark or Riviera) so I'm leaning heavily toward one of the last two choices.

 

[richardnewton]

The drawback with ether of these last two choices will be keeping the tips clean. However, I've noticed on some late model Chevys (Traverse & Camaro) the round tips have their inner wall perforated like a resonator. I'd don't know if that helps but those tips don't seem to collect as much (very little actually) of the sooty black residue. Worth looking into.

Now the more I look at these pics while posting, no Buick that I know of ever had the splitter T/A style pipes (despite the fact I think they would look great on a Skylark or Riviera) so I'm leaning heavily toward one of the last two choices.

I like the last 2 choices too. The rounder ones are more in line with the gentle curves of the car IMHO.

The side outlet looks like a TransAm old school. But I don't think it goes with the wonderfully designed LaCrosse lines.

 

[Ghosthawk]

Unfortunately, another setback! The body shop informed me they were too far behind schedule to take my car on the original appointment of Nov 14 so its now been pushed back to Dec 13.

This is turning into a nightmare.

 

[Ghosthawk]

Again, while the car is laid up my brain is running amok. In my youth, swapping on a custom steering wheel was no biggie, but today its a whole other ball of wax. I'm not complaining because I love all the controls at your fingertips. I also love some of the race inspired wheels we've seen of late, and one of my faves is the new C8 Corvette wheel. Upon closer examination I was surprised to find the mounting and clockspring pin plug look identical on the Vette unit and the Buick. This has set my brain a-flutter on the concept of swapping a C8 wheel onto my LaCrosse, and I think it would go well with my Gran Sport inspired theme. A new acrylic center badge could easily overlay the airbag logo and the "Z" button would have to be altered somehow (first learning what it might control in the new set-up)
I'm sure I'll have to consult smarter people than myself to see if this is actually a plug-n-play swap or if the control modules would simply reject it out of hand. More research is needed. In the meantime, I couldn't resist a little PaintShop fun for the look.

 

[Ghosthawk]

Does anyone know the best source for GM wiring diagrams? I searched online but most sources now require a subscription. I kinda get why since most paperback shop manuals have become dinosaurs, but I would like to know the best source for complete information before I spend the money.
I'm specifically looking for the steering wheel controls diagrams...the kind that tell you which pin/color wire controls which function.
Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[agaric]

Subscription Options - RepairProcedures.com - Providing electronic service information for 1995 to current GM vehicles

Service manuals, electrical schematics and bulletins for 1995 to current GM vehicles.

www.repairprocedures.com

 

[richardnewton]

Your local library might have an online subscription to a professional auto tech service. Before the pandemic, that was available on the physical computers in the library. Alas, the funds have been reallocated to other social purposes.

 

[Ghosthawk]

The more I keep digging in on the research the more it looks like this Vette wheel swap is very do-able. The mounting bolts and shaft diameter are the same, the connector is the same, I'll just need to see which pin/wire controls what function. I found several nice examples on eBay, even one with natural stitching which I think will go well with my future plans to bring a blend of the Brandy color interior pieces into the current all black interior.
Maybe this delay on repair has its upside!