My Black '97 Grand Prix SE 3800

[TheNewKid]

hey guys, been following this forum for a few weeks now, decided to do a post. So this is my second car (only 17) i picked it up for $900 from a guy that his mom drove the kids to and from school in, it has 174,XXX miles on it all the leather is in great condition except for a quarter sized tear on the drivers seat, the first thing i did was debadge the trunk (saw it enough times on here ) but i guess it raised the paint up so i used goo gone and all of the sticky stuff is gone but you can still see an outline of grand prix :/ any ideas? ill debadge the rest after i figure out how to get rid of the outlines. also the bumper is really faded so i need some advice on how to repaint it! its black so i figure i cant mess it up that bad! so sorry for the ****ty pics i used my phone, ill update later with better pics when i have the time but for now....











Heres the list of things i need/want to fix/add
(will keep it updated as i go along *part time worker, have to pay for insurance and gas so it'll take awhile!* Any suggestions welcome, or cheap alternatives!)

-Replace motor mount (broken but drive-able)
-Remove snapped bolt from cylinder head (made it a B**ch to get home had to custom make a steel bracket with an anchor so the belt wouldn't keep falling off)
-Fix Fuel Gauge (reads backwards supposedly, but hasn't given me any trouble as of yet, i think ha)
-Pop three baseball sized dents on passenger rear quarter panel
-New Rims (hate the ones on there, have some old ones? ill buy them!)
-After Market stereo (with the PAC-SWI adapter so steering controls still work)
-All new speakers
-a single 12 sub in the rear seat compartment
-Blacked out headlights and taillights
-fix the window washing fluid vacuum line
-35% tint on all windows (darkest where allowed in NC :'( black car+black leather=flippin hot!!!!!!)
-Lens cap for passenger marker lights (gonna be replaced once i get new headlights, but would still want one if you guys have an old one!)
-Remove the dealer sticker from the trunk
-nicer floor mats
-LED bar under HVAC controls
-Fix windows (only drivers side works, and its motor is dying i think)

Please feel free to add! excited to be here! thanks!

[gtpeddie]

rubbing compound on the back, maybe wet sand a lil bit and then use the compound. use lacquer thinner to get the glue off. im 17 too and not a bad first car!

[TheNewKid]

rubbing compound? which kind? and are you talkin about the grand prix badge leftovers? or the dealership sticker? would think lacquer thinner would mess up paint?

[gtpeddie]

lacquer thinner wont mess up the paint, use the thinner first to get the left over glue off the back deck lid where the Grand Prix badge was then get some 3M rubbing compound of some sort and rub it out on a soft or micro fiber rag if you don't have access to a buffer. if that doesn't work try wet sanding, and then rubbing compound should work use 1500-2500 grit as i would use.

[TheNewKid]

alright ill try that tomorrow thanks!

[gtpeddie]

you can also use the thinner for the glue from the dealer ship sticker too, if your scared lacquer thinner will mess up your paint then try paint thinner (not as strong) yes there is a difference. and you could try wax and grease remover as your first step if you wish that might also work.

[DanPrixGTP]

You should turn this into a gt. Get a new rear bumper off of a GT or GTP

[bigburban]

looks nice. welcome to the forum!

[TheNewKid]

You should turn this into a gt. Get a new rear bumper off of a GT or GTP

i like that body style more what else could i do? and where would i find one?

[TheNewKid]

lacquer thinner wont mess up the paint, use the thinner first to get the left over glue off the back deck lid where the Grand Prix badge was then get some 3M rubbing compound of some sort and rub it out on a soft or micro fiber rag if you don't have access to a buffer. if that doesn't work try wet sanding, and then rubbing compound should work use 1500-2500 grit as i would use.

the paint thinner didnt work, so i guess im gonna go buy a wet sand block, and what kind of sand paper should i use? and what about that rubbing compound?

[dsmuts]

use 1000 grit wet sand then 2000 grit then buff it really good.

[TheNewKid]

some turtle wax rubbing compound worked great! got it off perfectly it looked like completely new paint, but it all blended better after a clean wash and a day of sun, still pondering takin the other badges off i just want new wheels soon, if any one has some stock or take offs they'd be willing to sell let me know!