Thread: 02 GTP Broke but tryin

Hey, my name is Aaron, I'm 19, former Navy, and I love to learn new things. So this is what i've got:
A 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP with 179k on it, bought near Christmas as a present from my mom and grandma (present for doing well in school)

This is what it looked like before I got it.
Front:


Rear: (I don't have this picture without the filter)


Interior:









But it came with these, not the pretty tires that are shown above:


On a positive note, it drives great and the interior is fairly nice
Previous owner installed HID kits for the headlights and fog lights, but when I'd turn the headlights on they'd start to smoke! And I have yet to get the fog lights to work, although I haven't put much effort towards it.

Backstory: I have had this car since 12/29/14, and the electrical issues were plenty. The radio didn't work, the driver door speaker cut in and out, the driver side window was slower than a snail, the headlights would literally start SMOKING when turned on

My first fix? The friggin headlights, but i didn't have the time to build some nice retrofits (not that i knew those even existed) and i didn't want just stock headlights, i wanted something flashy, so i bought some Spyder headlights. (Ew.) (double Ew.)

Having gotten this car over Christmas leave, i didn't quite have time to fix a lot of issues immediately, but i've been working at it!

January: Between the many feet of snow and the base rules I didn't really get any time to spend with the car
February: Cleaned up the interior and got the radio working as it should.
March: the driver side window regulator died, so i went online and searched up a replacement part. At the time I didn't know anything about these cars, so I just ordered the first thing that looked about right. I was wrong. I ordered a coupe regulator (and still have it oddly enough), but I soon realized my mistake and ordered the right part, even though I wouldn't get to install it until I got home.
April: A lot went on and the car wasn't really of focus, I got Honorably Discharged from the Navy and construction at home kept me occupied
May and June were the months of major repairs. On my trip home from Chicago to Detroit I lost 4th gear a few times.

Here's what's been fixed:

Valve Cover gasket, blown O-ring in the tranny, and a lot of tranny fluid and oil. $600+ (I don't have the tools or the place for this, let alone the knowledge).

A/C condenser replaced before the hot summer came, and I got an A/C compressor as well since that's what was originally noticed as a problem. Just have to learn how to replace it and get around to doing it.

New front right wheel hub I got my ABS and TCS back!

Replaced rear brake pads, friend is teaching me the basics when he's not at work.

2k miles later, the front driver side tire was showing wires on the inside (didn't notice until i was messing with my fog lights from under the car) So i decided i could use some new front tires, they were at about 5-10% anyways so why not. We had the mechanic look at it and he said I needed a tie rod and a ball bearing. He ordered everything yesterday and I just wish Labor wasn't so expensive.
$600 for 2 Cooper 205/65R/16 (because rears are still very nice and the front should match the backs), ball bearing, tie rod, and an alignment.
If i had the tools and the time i'd probably have done most of these myself, but given the circumstance I had to get these repairs done via local mechanic.

Now for some current pictures, at 190k:

(Hood rust visible) (has since received more dents and scratches and plenty of poorly used touch up paint)


(Sun fading badly on rear bumper as well as scraped up underside)

Thoughts?

List of problems I have with the car:

Exterior:

*Rusted out rocker panels.
*Back bumper has some bad sun-fading and scrapes from bouncing off the pavement .
*Dented and scratched hood (thank god my friend does body work)
*RUSTED OUT ROCKER PANELS.

Interior:

*Far too loud due to road noise. Peel N' Seal is very required.
*A-pillar is cracked in 2 places from previous owner.
*Driver's side window switchboard could do with replacing
*Black door panel strips need to be replaced on both front doors.
*Trimming, next to the door/ on the floor, needs to be removed via drilling the current screws and replacing them (and probably the trim piece itself).

Electronic:

*Spyder headlights suck and I want retrofits. Can't see sh*t. (Shake really badly too)
*Fog lights aren't even set up, and plug is corroded.
*Condensation in tail lights.
*Interceptor Scan gauge isn't working properly (probably needs to be hooked into a different fuse).
*Lighting definitely needs improvement.
*HUD dimming out occasionally.
*Needs more cigarette lighter power outputs (preferably mounted under the dash).

Under the hood:

*Mild ticking until it gets warm after start up. (Has since gone away)

Suspension:

*Figure out what settings I like the KYB AGX set to.

My thoughts are fix it or sell it. Serious, you gotta decide if you're in or out. The money is already badly upside-down on it. You're way past the value just with the new repairs already done. If you like the car, get to work. If theres a time and place where you can do that. If you don't like it, unload it saying as little as possible and stop the bleeding so to speak.

02 doesn't have a button for perf shift, the computer selects it for you though, based on throttle input.

Some guy on here used to own that car.


And I hope to god you arent really going to install 205/65/16 tires on that thing, those are no where near the right size tire for the car. You need 225/60/16's for nothing for those wheels.

Welcome to the forum! Have a feeling this thread will be entertaining, so...sub'd.

First picture I seen I was like, Whoa! I like those wheels! Then I read on I honestly don't think you were robbed with the prices you paid. Seems reasonable. But obviously much cheaper to do the repairs yourself. Get your wrenches out, read as much as you can here, and fix 'er up...or sell it like said. Honestly its kinda sad you dumped as much in it as you have, because you could have had a lot more car with less money. But if you are gonna be turning the wrench yourself, and you are in it for the experience...have at it! If you plan on paying for all the repairs, just sell it. Way too much going on to pay for someone else to fix. My .02.

Originally Posted by koRnhead

Those tires are the wrong size. 100% wrong for what you're running for rims.

Good job on the front there.

Been said already.

For the OP: I'd honestly ditch it. Get the tires on it and sell it to some dumb high school kid for a stupid amount of money.

Then find a good shape, not rusted out, one...and go with that. Modded cars are the devil, because 95% of the time, you're getting someone elses headache.

It's got potential


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I think so, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to do so much with it. Obviously there are gonna be things you want to do with any car you get. The problem is having time and money to do so.

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Went to a small car show in the next city over
Sh*tty video and a pretty good song, enjoy!

https://youtu.be/QDyKWkF1cOg

And here's a video of my GP in a walkthrough/overview
https://youtu.be/81u1B4Hs_BQ

Some new photos:

Ordered the rear driver side window regulator, can't wait to have a working window again!

Regulator is waiting for me at home, I can't wait to fix my damn window xD

Started the Friday (college class got cancelled) by going to lunch with my girlfriend, and after dropping her off at work I went home, nice Friday afternoon, what else is there to do?
I replaced my window regulator, put my door back together and that's done (about time)

But then I opened my trunk to put my tools away, and I could hear the dreaded sound of water in my spoilor. So I pulled the spoiler off and I was amazed by all the sh*t I found under there!







So I went through and cleaned off the trunk lid, cleaned the underside of the spoiler, and used some touchup paint just to recolor and protect the trunk lid.

But I had a little fun while I was using my Civic as a table: