So I'm starting this thread as a way to keep track of all that I've done to this car. I love it and like working on it so it'll be nice to have everything in one place to see the progress I plan on making. I am not a mechanic and had very little knowledge or experience before I owned this GP, so it has been quite the learning experience for me. Also I'll probably be posting my thoughts and ideas for future mods so feel free to let your thoughts on my thoughts known, I won't be too offended if you think I'm stupid.
Anyway, here's the story. I used to drive this beauty -> http://i.imgur.com/3iOFh3m.jpg?1 - http://i.imgur.com/rlu4W6v.jpg
Ok, so not beautiful at all really. I bought it salvaged-rebuilt, it didn't drive very straight and probably needed all new suspension, it had a giant gash on one wheel (not to mention that most of the wheels were out of round anyway according to the most recent tire guy I saw), a ridiculous paint job, and worst of all: I bought it that way for $3500. I was a stupid 18 year old... But it only had 46k miles on it and by the time I finished driving it to both coasts (OR->NY->OK->OR) the exhaust leak I had been sitting on finally got too bad for me and I sold it for a whole $800. Which got me a down payment for my uncle's car, the first car he ever bought brand new, a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix.
http://i.imgur.com/Wyd2McV.jpg - http://i.imgur.com/6AtyrSZ.jpg
Probably going to be the nicest car I've ever owned, and it only had 86k miles and brand new rims (only 1k miles ago).
When my aunt and uncle quit driving "the Pontiac," as our family calls it, they parked it at her mother's house so she could drive it when she needed to. She didn't really drive it though and the Pontiac would sit for months at a time. So 8 days after purchasing the car it died on me while I was at the grocery store. Put in a new battery and still wouldn't budge. Had it towed and replaced the starter and it fired right up. I was excited because that broke the ice on working on my new car, even though I was pretty mad that it was so inconvenient.
Next I found this forum and immediately knew what needed to be done... http://i.imgur.com/GiR9XXC.jpg
I also didn't care for the stock stereo and missed having Bluetooth, although the steering wheel controls were nice, so I spent about $150 and installed a head unit all by myself, steering controls and all. Pretty proud of it really. http://i.imgur.com/eU1gTgX.jpg
I noticed that there was an oil leak around the same time. My uncle promised me he'd get the Pontiac in tip top shape before we signed the paper work, so he would take care of the leak (1qt every ~1k miles). Got it diagnosed at a GM dealership as dried gaskets from being parked so long. Problem was they wanted 1,550 dollars to do it. Forget that, we'll see if I can get it cheaper. Not long after that though, and the LIM gasket got so bad that this happened-> http://i.imgur.com/r9ltwBW.jpg
This is my only car. I drive it every day. I needed to get the gasket fixed. So I did it myself. http://i.imgur.com/eMYcZzU.jpg
While pulling parts, the tensioner pipe broke inside the water pump. Fortunately the end of the pipe finally came out after enough prying but it was quite the ordeal. But I did get a new tensioner so that's cool I guess.
1 month into ownership and I feel like I know this car better than I did my previous car of 6 years.
The oil pan gasket is the next thing to get fixed since it still leaks and was the only gasket GM told me I needed that I haven't fixed yet. I don't own a cherry picker though and don't want an engine dropping on my head so I will concede to letting a professional do that, especially if uncle's paying
Taking in that fresh Oregon air -> http://i.imgur.com/1fIqg21.jpg
As far as what I'm planning to do with this in the future:
I really want a top swap, but need to save money, so I'll getting used parts as I see them cheaply. Probably not soon soon, but I really want it. So we'll see..
A top swap would mean I need headers, so there's that. I'll get headers.
Which all means I need a tune...
Any top swap info is always appreciated. Right now I'm considering grabbing a parts car off craigslist for under 500 and salvage whatever I can for supercharger stuff.
I need new speakers. These speakers have no bass and I'm all about that bass.
I'll probably do a TransGo shift kit soon. I'm approaching 90k and it's probably never had a tranny flush. So that'll probably be my next thing.
If you got this far, thanks for reading! Like I said at the beginning, I mostly wrote this for myself anyway.
