Thread: FNG from MI checking in

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  1. #1 FNG from MI checking in 
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    I'm the FNG here, name's Nick, and I'm the proud new owner of a '98 Grand Prix GTP. It's nothing special, really. Just a black sedan with 30% tint all around and factory polished aluminum wheels. All stock, tan leather, HUD, CD player w/ EQ, PW, PL, etc.

    The car needs some work, the hood has paint issues, the clear peeled, then the paint beneath started fading, and now it looks like the hood has snow on it, even though it doesn't. lol The same thing has already started on the top of the spoiler, and it's got some rust beneath the gas door and on the lower back edge of the trunk lid. The front and rear bumpers look odd, like they are a dark grey, against the black of the car's body. I'm going to wash it tomorrow and take it to the body shop and get an estimate for rust repair, and repainting the LR quarter panel, trunk, spoiler, hood, and bumpers. Probably ridiculously high, enough so that I'll do it myself, but I want to know what I stand to save by doing the work on my own.


    As far as parts, I really only need a handful of things. . . The trim on the bottom of the back door peeled up, and someone opened the door. The trim caught on the back of the front door, peeled it up more, and broke the front edge of it. I'm going to replace that trim piece, it needs new pads and rotors in front, and I need a remote for the keyless entry, since the car didn't come with one. I have a pair of keyless remotes for '01-'04 GM's (Grand Ams, Impalas, Cadillacs, Silverados, Sierras, etc.), but they aren't for the Grand Prix. I'm going to sell them on EBay to get some money to buy the correct units. lol

    I will post up some pictures of the car to show the damage tomorrow, I'm going to get started kind of early getting her cleaned up, as well as getting plates and insurance on her. The hour and a half drive home from the seller's house was fun, I can't believe I averaged 30mpg in that car, I sold my Jeep to buy it, and I would have used more than twice as much gas for the trip. lol
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  2. #2 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
    GrandPrix Junkie PurpleGuy's Avatar
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    Welcome.....you have a Camaro? lol
    Get us some pix too....and 30MPG is normal lol...on a short roadtrip i got 31MPG at 70 MPH with 5 people total in the car.
    2001 Regal GS, PLOG, 3" DP, 1.9's/L76 springs. 21* of timing on a 3.4"
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  3. #3 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4THGENCAMAROFAN View Post
    Welcome.....you have a Camaro? lol
    Get us some pix too....and 30MPG is normal lol...on a short roadtrip i got 31MPG at 70 MPH with 5 people total in the car.
    I've been into F-Bodies since High School. I had a '94 V6 Camaro my Senior year, blew the clutch hydraulics out in it, it sat for a while, then developed some engine problems, and we sent it to the junkyard. I bought a '93 Formula Firebird with the LT1/700R4 during college, it developed some engine problems last fall, and I bought a '94 Camaro Z28 LT1/T56 last month as a "fixer upper", it was wrecked. That's on the back burner for now, I'm thinking of selling them all in an effort to make myself more mobile.

    I'm looking for a better job, and in doing so, I've put in my applications and resumes all over the country. If I get an offer that pays more than I make now, I'll be packing up the GTP and relocating. I live in MI now, but I'm being considered for positions in VA, FL, GA, and NY. You gotta go where the jobs are, or else you really have no hope of surviving in this economy.


    Quick question, I was thinking of installing a 3.5 pulley, is that going to have any adverse affects on my gas mileage? I don't think it would, considering most of the time when I'm driving, I'm not getting into the boost anyway, but I thought I'd ask before I pulled the trigger on it. . .
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  4. #4 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
    GrandPrix Junkie PurpleGuy's Avatar
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    no fuel mileage wont be affected as long as you dont get into boost a lot....but you need supporting mods for a 3.5" pulley first.
    2001 Regal GS, PLOG, 3" DP, 1.9's/L76 springs. 21* of timing on a 3.4"
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  5. #5 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4THGENCAMAROFAN View Post
    no fuel mileage wont be affected as long as you dont get into boost a lot....but you need supporting mods for a 3.5" pulley first.
    Such as? This is my first 3.8 car, and my first SC'ed car, so I'm new to this. . . I'd imagine it just needs a better exhaust setup (minus the u-bend), air intake of some sort, and cooler spark plugs. Anything else?
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  6. #6 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
    GrandPrix Junkie PurpleGuy's Avatar
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    The cat back is fine down to like a 3.2ish i think. I'm getting speed daddy headers, they're knock offs of SSACs's(i think lol). Also need an intake of some sort, colder plugs, tune....ill get ya a link...give me a min.
    2001 Regal GS, PLOG, 3" DP, 1.9's/L76 springs. 21* of timing on a 3.4"
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  7. #7 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    2001 Regal GS, PLOG, 3" DP, 1.9's/L76 springs. 21* of timing on a 3.4"
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  8. #8 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Thanks for the link, I started reading that thread a little bit last night, but didn't get through all of it. There's a lot of good info there!
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  9. #9 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    tons of great info...just stick by what it says and you shouldnt have any probelms with knock.
    2001 Regal GS, PLOG, 3" DP, 1.9's/L76 springs. 21* of timing on a 3.4"
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  10. #10 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
    Becca Boo MizzBecca's Avatar
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    Where in Michigan? And I can see you're an LT1 guy... I guess I'll let it slide, this time. post any pics of your f-bodies too, I'm interested.
    I drive a POS
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  11. #11 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Quote Originally Posted by PLUS36 View Post
    Where in Michigan? And I can see you're an LT1 guy... I guess I'll let it slide, this time. post any pics of your f-bodies too, I'm interested.
    I'm in Adrian, MI. As for the LT1 comment, I'll let it slide this ONE time. Don't let it happen again. lol


    Here's the '93 Formula, pic taken last summer. It photographs well, the car isn't nearly as nice looking in person as it is in pictures.


    Here's the '94 Z28, I picked it up for $1500, the previous owner lost control on an icy road and parked it sideways in a ditch at 55mph. Bent the a-pillar on the driver's side, crushed the driver's side rocker, and wrinkled the passenger rear quarter panel. 5 minutes with a 2x4 and a sledge hammer knocked the door sill down far enough that the door would open and close easily. I've been offered $2500 for it as it sits. . . I'm probably going to sell it.


    This is the '88 Wrangler I sold to buy the GTP, I loved this thing, but the gas mileage was killing me.


    Here's the GTP. I already picked up the tape to reattach the rear pass. door molding and the GTP emblem that was sitting in the glove box when I brought it home. . .
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  12. #12 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
    Becca Boo MizzBecca's Avatar
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    The T/A is sexy, the Camaro is MEH, (not a fan of LT1 sorry ) the jeep is _____ (i have no comment to that, i'm not a fan of those either) and the GTP=clearly sexy. got any current plans on the gtp?


    Oh yeah and I'm in Allen Park, MI lol
    I drive a POS
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  13. #13 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    I completely neglected to realize that I only introduced my car. . . Didn't say a word about myself. lol

    I'll be 23 in about 2 weeks, I served in the U.S. Army, went to college for a couple years, and came home last spring to be with my Mom and my Sister after my Dad passed away. I've been into cars for as long as I can remember, I used to be able to pick out the make and model (as well as approximate year) of a car by the shape of it's headlights or taillights alone at night, I think I was around 6 when I started doing that. Dad was an Auto Body/Paint Tech by trade, he taught me everything I know. I'm going to be doing the paint and body work on the GTP myself, to save money, but also because I just don't trust other people with my vehicles.

    I'm also a pretty avid motorcyclist, I got into bikes a few years ago, and took a break from them while I was stationed in Korea serving in the Army. I bought an '01 GSXR 600 last summer, fixed it up (it was laid down, I replaced all the fairings on it), and sold it in late summer for more than 3x what I paid for it. I also had an '83 Suzuki GS750ES, but it was pretty much a piece, and I wound up selling it for about twice what I paid for it.

    I picked up a "project bike" (that's putting it lightly) that is in about a thousand different pieces in my garage right now, in need of a new motor, wiring harness, brakes, basically everything but the frame. It was a '75 Honda CB750, I picked it up for $50 to turn into a chopper, so even if it doesn't make it that far, it was worth it just to have something to tinker around with.

    Lets see. . . My Dad and I were working on a project car when he passed away (it was still unfinished, he died while I was away in the Army), a 1970 Monte Carlo "SS" Clone. It's powered by a 454 BBC bored to 468, 12.5:1 CR, Offenhauser closed chamber heads, Edelbrock intake, and a Holley 850 "double pump" carb, with 3" Flowmaster true dual exhaust with an H-Pipe. The trans is a built TH350. The conservative estimates we've heard from people who are "in the know" about engines range from 600-750HP at the crank. I think it's probably a little lower than that, but I don't really know a whole lot about it, I've only built a few engines.

    No matter, the Monte is my Baby. It's the one car that no matter how hard times become, or how desperate I am, I will NEVER sell it. It represents 15 years of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. I remember when I was 5 years old and Dad used to let me "help" work on the Monte out in the garage. I remember years later, I was 14, and I spent an entire Friday night pulling the trans out of the car with Dad, then we drove it to Southfield to the trans mechanic's shop to be rebuilt. I remember when I was 16, and he let me drive it for the first time, the day after we got it back from the mechanic after the break-in was completed. I remember the days, weeks, months we spent rebuilding that BBC after the machine work was done. The sanding, grinding, and painting we did on the car.

    Too many memories with that car. It's irreplaceable, and honestly, once it's finished, it will see the road maybe 25-50 miles a year. I drove it a grand total of about 35 miles last year. 4 miles to the tire shop to get new front tires, 14 miles when I drove it to Dad's funeral, 7 miles to pick my sister up from school in it once, and 10 miles to/from work one day, and around town that afternoon. It gets 2mpg, and due to the high compression, has to be run on 110 Leaded "Turbo Blue" race gas. I used about 18 gallons of gas in the car last year, driving 35 miles. At $6.99/gallon, that's an EXPENSIVE car to drive.

    Here's a picture.
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  14. #14 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    I'm in love
    I drive a POS
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  15. #15 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Quote Originally Posted by PLUS36 View Post
    The T/A is sexy, the Camaro is MEH, (not a fan of LT1 sorry ) the jeep is _____ (i have no comment to that, i'm not a fan of those either) and the GTP=clearly sexy. got any current plans on the gtp?


    Oh yeah and I'm in Allen Park, MI lol
    The Camaro has 117k miles, runs like a top, could use a new clutch, and the body damage isn't bad.

    The Formula doesn't run, has 168k miles, and has seen its fair share of abuse. It's rusted through on both quarter panels (right in front of the rear wheels), both front fenders are cracked, the clear coat is faded and peeling on the fenders, it's been keyed, needs a new headliner, and it's starting to show all of it's little "quirks".

    As for the GTP, I'm going to turn it into a nice DD, do the paint work (obviously), maybe a couple mods to get more power and better gas mileage, upgrade the stereo system (I'm thinking a pair of shallow-mount 10" subs in a stealth box right behind the back seat and a nice 4-channel amp to power the interior speakers), possibly a nice set of aftermarket 16" wheels, DEFINITELY a nice set of aftermarket headlights/turn signals, and replacing the taillights with either stockers that aren't full of moisture, or a nice set of aftermarket lights. I will be tinting the tails, and depending on the headlights I go with, I may be doing something with them. I'm thinking halo projectors with black housings would look good, with some clear-faced halo foglights to match. . . I'm going for a simple, clean look.
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  16. #16 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
    Becca Boo MizzBecca's Avatar
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    Sounds like you got your head on straight. Can't wait to see when all the mods are done. You close to Royal Oak? Sorry I have no idea where Adrian is lol.
    I drive a POS
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  17. #17 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Quote Originally Posted by PLUS36 View Post
    I'm in love
    With what, my Monte Carlo? Wait til you see the rest. . .



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  18. #18 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Quote Originally Posted by PLUS36 View Post
    Sounds like you got your head on straight. Can't wait to see when all the mods are done. You close to Royal Oak? Sorry I have no idea where Adrian is lol.
    I got ya Becca
    Let me google that for you

    03 GTP...Its got pulleys and stuff.
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  19. #19 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
    Becca Boo MizzBecca's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KeithGTP03 View Post




    You're my new favorite member.

    And you should definitely make it out to Woodward if you haven't already. I'm there every weekend when the weather is nicer.
    I drive a POS
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  20. #20 Re: FNG from MI checking in 
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    Quote Originally Posted by PLUS36 View Post
    Sounds like you got your head on straight. Can't wait to see when all the mods are done. You close to Royal Oak? Sorry I have no idea where Adrian is lol.
    Adrian is about 45 minutes SW of Ann Arbor. I usually make it out to Woodward in Royal Oak about 2-3 times a year in the Firebird, but since I'm selling off the toys, I'll be out there in the GTP a few times this year.

    Where on WW do you hang out? I'm usually with a group of F-Body folks at Auto Europe, we have permission from the owner to use the lot there after hours, I think it's at WW & 16 mile.
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