Thread: Hey! New owner of an 04' GP GTP. Just a few questions...

Hey everyone, I'm excited to be here, and begin learning a lot. I come from the Saturn game a long while (and will always have a love for it). I've also owned SEVERAL cars in between, including a Regal GS, Lumina Z34, and a few others...I'm fairly familiar with W-body's too - Scottydog can attest to this on Regalgs.org. I bought my 2004 GTP (non Comp G) recently with 187,xxx miles for $1,500 bucks. Needs some front end suspension work but rear towers/suspension are rather clean. I may be the first person ever to have undergone the project of cutting out rear rusty towers in my Regal for replacement. I'll try to get some pictures up later of the Grand Prix.

Anyhow, I'll get on to the questions so I'm not wasting to much time for anyone.

1. DIC = Driver's Information Console. I've done some research and it seems that there are 3 buttons, and 5 buttons. Here is the kicker...I thought all GTP's were 5 button right? Mine is 3. I did watch a video, and the guy claims that ONLY the Comp G package got the 5 button for 2004. My car is a NON Comp G package. Is the mileage correct at 187k? I can tell the actual bezel itself has been pulled, because there is a scent deodorizer can behind the vent that I can see.

2. When I first got the car, the transmission shifted fine, but a little to slow for my taste. I changed the fluid/filter right away, and now 1-2 and 2-3 are much firmer. 3rd and 4th gear both engage smoothly, with the overdrive gear giving that little "flare" up about 100 RPM's before engaging. This, I'm used to and had the same shifting feel from my Regal before. However, I've read up on the Transgo shift kits and I've heard and seen a lot of results from them. I'm not looking to "fix" anything in the transmission...it's not broken. Just trying to speed/firm up those 1-2 and 2-3 shifts is all. Fluid (after the first change) isn't quite pink yet either, so I would like to get in there and change it out one more time regardless. I know it was changed before I got the car at least once, because a bolt was missing from the transmission pan.

Thanks in advance for all of the help!

So just to clarify my question further then, the actual 04' model GTP's did not all come with 5 button DIC's? Only Comp G packages did, as the standard GTP's COULD come with 3 buttons?

Excellent! Thank you for clearing that up for me, as it was starting to worry me that the mileage may not be correct, lol. There is currently no boost meter in the car because of the 3 button dilemma though, lol.

Moving on to question #2. Do most people recommend the Transgo shift kit? Or Should I be looking into some other kit? Last time I did the transmission fluid/filter change, I used CarQuest (advance Auto Parts) Dex/Merc transmission fluid. Hopefully that's the right stuff to be using.

A manual boost gauge is easy on 04+

Instructions - http://www.grandprix.net/upgrades/boostgauge.html

This one's cheap. Came with everything in the package to install including 6" of vac line. (You'll still need a vacuum tee. I had to make one.) http://www.jegs.com/i/Sunpro/885/FST...FY82aQodBTwJlQ

There's a big square grommet under the passenger carpet, can't miss it. Run the vac line through there, hook up light. Done.

Also, there's a 5 button upgrade in How-to section.

Welcome.

Thank you for the warm welcome! At this time, I'm not as much worried about putting a boost gauge in the car, as I am just getting general maintenance, and the suspension back up to par.

I've got a buddy that does cheap work and is willing to do my front pads/rotors, wheel bearings, and control arms for around $150, and that includes helping me with spark plugs and a coolant flush also.

Swap out those plastic coolant elbows with metal ones if you're gonna refill. Cheap and easy, but there's some with cheap o-rings that are problematic.

Mine are holding so far, don't have much info on the replacements.

The last owner (fortunately) already did the metal coolant elbows, however, the coolant reservoir tank was cut on the bottom from the serpentine belt. Considering the reservoir is not bolted down (no nuts) to the strut tower. I'll make sure to stop and get some soon though. Will need a new reservoir too, since this one leaks...very slowly. I was worried it was the LIM's before, but at 187k, it's likely they have been changed, right? Coolant is light green.

What else should I know about the car? Seems like a really nice car for the money, and quite comfortable as well. Gets down pretty nicely too!

It does have an oil leak, from what looks to be the oil pan gasket. Control arm bushings are starting to clunk over small bumps, but struts are look/feel good. The passenger's side wheel bearing is humming right now and if I turn the wheel to the right while driving, it stops. Lastly, the brakes/rotors likely need to be done, because the car has some squeaking when I turn the steering wheel either to the left, or right.

Alright, so looking over a few kits, I've decided that the TransGo kit is likely the best for the price.

Which one should I be purchasing? Money is a bit tight, but I'm willing to spend more to make sure I get the right parts the first time. I will buying the fluid local, since I get it discounted. Filter is already changed.

First one:

https://www.amazon.com/Transgo-Shift...nsgo+Shift+Kit

Or second one:

https://www.amazon.com/Wellington-Pa...nsgo+Shift+Kit

Thanks bud! Nice to see you on the flip side of the Regal forums, lol.

I'll order that now.

Already cleaned the TB with carb and choke a few days after purchase. I'm not sure entirely on how to "check" the LIM gaskets. I did find two control arms new on Amazon with a ten year warranty for like $65 bucks, lol.

Here is that link:

https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Axle-...ix+control+arm

Moving on to the next issue, it seems as if the wheel bearings can also be bought online, in pairs. Rather cheap too:

https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Choice-...wheel+bearings

I just bought the Transgo kit. Looks to be about a week on shipping.

Just put the Transgo kit in. Car shifts awesome now! Now onto the suspension and spark plugs/coolant flush.

Hey Denny, just for the record you should probably use the dexron vi. The dex/merc you used is dexron iii. I believe 6 started being factory full around 2003-2004.

You can get that in the carquest bottles too.