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Bumping this up, if it helps anyone. To change the LQ1 alternator, the subframe doesn't have to be lowered, but the CV Axle and shield do have to be removed. Doing this lets you have a "landing" spot for the alternator. I took the wheel bearing off on mine because it was easier than messing with the lower control arm. Plus you risk damaging the boot if you use a pickle fork to pop the lower ball joint off. The other advantage is that it gives you visibility to the alternator through the spring perch, which you don't get with the wheel bearing bolted on. Remove 4 15mm bolts and it's out. The major thing here are tools. A flex head ratcheting wrench works wonders on that 10mm bolt that attaches the alternator to that back bracket and it's easier to use a ratcheting wrench on the two 13mm bolts that hold the alternator up. Shallow sockets are too small and deep sockets are too large so if you can find a mid length socket for the 13mm's it's pretty easy to get the bolts off (It's easier to loosen them up with a ratchet and then work them out with the ratcheting wrench). The top bolt is barely visible, especially if you're working on the floor but it can be loosened without lowering the subframe. The lower bolt (the long bolt) will hit the frame but doesn't need to fully come out like it does on a traditional alternator swap. There's a groove where it sits and it will rock out. Then if you want, you can take it off and it slides above the heater tube (or I think it's the heater tube, that annoying tube that sits by the frame). There's a spacer on the engine side so be aware of that or you'll lose it in the abyss of the ground. Honestly, 30 years after that engine was designed; there's alternators in worse positions. This isn't the worst job on the LQ1, I'm pretty sure that title goes to the timing belt.

All 60E's will have the same basic gearing, what can change is the sprocket ratio & final drive ratio depending on what engine is in front of the trans. A small torque 3.1 will not have the same final drive as a larger torque 3.8. There's a very good chance that a '96 3100 L82 Lumina & a 98 3100 L82 Monte/Lumina will have the same final drive output.

thats a good looking car...so glad you decided to put some time in to revive it. the interior looked so bad I may have given up. any chance of finding a used engine to drop in there or can that one be easily rebuilt? looking thru craigslists ads there aren't a lot of these for sale anymore...definitely a rare breed. good luck

I think it looks great compared to what it looked like when you got it! Those seats look in pretty good shape, I don't see any cracks or wear. This is really a good example of bringing a car back from the dead. No matter what it looks like or how far gone people might think a car is, you can do wonders by doing some little things that make a big difference. Hopefully your work will inspire others to not give up on a car just because of how dirty it looks! It's amazing what some simple cleaning can do for an interior!

So I spent a little time out in the garage tonight. I pulled the old crusty battery that has sat in the car all these years and replaced it with a new one ( which was also used to power the winch we pulled it onto the trailer with. This let me test some electrical components. All 4 window motors are working. The motor for the top works, though it is a bit sluggish ( i’m Sure it doesn’t help that there is extra weight in the roof framework, in the form of old mud dauber nests.) I was able to get the top all the way down, though the motor struggles to go back up ( this could be as a result of a partially drained battery. My old charger bit the dust, so I will need to get another one. Of course, having the top down has some advantages. It is much easier to see the mess that is the interior. I started the process of vacuuming out debris, tomorrow I should have some upholstery cleaner to work on the seats. I also took a few more photos to document what I am working with.

Nice save, looks pretty solid for an Ohio car. Fortunately, the door glass is the same as a 1988-94 coupe

I need the rear sway bar off of all of those please!