Thread: Hey Guys! Great Site. Is my GP "worth" modifying?

I've been driving for a year now, and I still have my first car, a '99 GP GT coupe. My father bought it with a blown engine (connecting rod burst through the block) and overhauled it. He then added a '07 Impala 3.8 motor, and yeah, it runs pretty good. I haven't done anything to it yet, but I was about to start, since I got a job a month ago and I'm finally making some money.

Here is the "problem". While the '07 motor has around 25K miles on it, the chassis, tranny, differential, etc. all have 165K miles on them. Not very good. So far nothings gone wrong (except bad oil pressure switch), so I'm glad about that, but, should I invest money into a car that's standing on its last legs? Even though my dad has his own garage, he won't buy me a new tranny. He would help me pay for it and charge no labor, but I'd be dishing out some dough.

Do any of you guys have GPs with mileage this high, or am I alone? I was just about to place an order on ebay for some stuff that will add
aesthetic appeal to my car, like a GTP badge, new grille and smoked tail-light covers. Also, I was going to debadge some of the "3.8L V6" badges and Pontiac logo badges. The GTP badge I'm getting is for the grille.

So, guys, should I invest money into engine components (roller cams, headers, high flow mufflers and cats, CAI, etc.) even though I'm riding on a high mileage car? Or should I wait a year or so, and trade it out, which is what I'm thinking of doing. Insurance will be cheaper, as I'm 19 now, so I was thinking to get a VR4 or a late 90s WS6. Plus, I've always wanted a stick, lol.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Originally Posted by Sandman

Since you only have a GT NA mods aren't really worth it. Search for doing a top swap, but with the GT tranny and those miles I'd be worried about blowing your tranny up fast. A fluid change is a good idea as well.

Since you want to get something different down the road I'd just fix up what you have for now to learn the basics then get a project that you really want.

Thanks for the reply! And I understand what're you're saying. I like GPs and all, but I don't want to invest major dough if my tranny is going to go. My dad is a mechanic, and he made sure all the fluids were good. I check oil and everything else every now and then. What is a "top swap"?

I'm afraid something is going to break soon. I feel like I'm pushing this car too much at times, doing too many peel outs, haha. But I think I'm still going to do some small stuff, like the smoked lights and debadging. Should look a little nicer with those.

Oh, I see. My dad was talking about getting the stock blower & pulley from a '99 GT, but only if we can find one in a junkyard somewhere. You'd be surprised with what stuff you can find in a junk yard, lol.

Right now I don't think I have enough money for something like a top swap, but it sounds like a cool idea IF my car didn't have incredibly high mileage.

Originally Posted by 4THGENCAMAROFAN

Do you live where it snows? If you do I would skip moding the the GP and do basic maintence stuff and save up for the WS6....also specify late 90's. An LT1 or an LS1 could be mid-late 90's or late 90's

Probably a '98 or '99 because I want the LS1. Where I live, it doesn't snow much at all, lol. At least not in the last 19 years when I've been alive.

4000 each year here. clean record


You HAVE to have collision.

Its collateral you dont have. Aka theft and fire.

P.S. WS6 is one of the ugliest cars out there. Right up with the aztek.

Originally Posted by matt5112

4000 each year here. clean record


You HAVE to have collision.

Its collateral you dont have. Aka theft and fire.

P.S. WS6 is one of the ugliest cars out there. Right up with the aztek.

Ah, you're right, my bad. I was thinking of collateral. My dad removed that since it was way too expensive with that, lol.

But hey, that's your opinion about the WS6. In my eyes it's one of the most beautiful cars out there, and one of the best cars Pontiac ever built (behind the '69 GTO of course).

Look for a T/A closer to like 100K...if you can find one in nice condition that's not a WS6 i would still get it...you can always buy a ram air hood later.
FWIW I found a T/A a couple days ago for 6 grand I think it was...i don't know where your at but if you look in the southern states they usually have them decently priced...and they stay nice cuz theres no salt on the roads down there.

Yeah, maybe. I've seen regular Firebird V8s for around 5K that had decent mileage. I'll look into it, but maybe after I earn some more money, lol.

Theres a grand prix that looks better than the WS6.

What is annoying is that it seems everyone here owns a grand prix because they apparently wanted a WS6.

Originally Posted by matt5112

Theres a grand prix that looks better than the WS6.

What is annoying is that it seems everyone here owns a grand prix because they apparently wanted a WS6.

Haha, because it's true! Just kidding, but seriously, the WS6 is a sweet car. Not only for the looks, but just because a GP motor looks like nothing next to a WS6's 5.7L V8.

Get a formula then.

I'll look into that, too. My dad has a dealer liscense, so he gets into those "dealer only" auctions that sell cars for under black book prices. I'll look around there when I get some more money.

Originally Posted by 4THGENCAMAROFAN

If it makes you feel any better I wanted an LS1,wether it be a WS6 or a Z28 way before I wanted a GTP.

Did you end up getting one?