Thread: A Black 1997 GTP Coupe By SevenTOne

This is my second 97 GTP coupe. I scored it real cheap and it had a bunch of problems aside from the seized engine.

This is the day I brought it to the my shop in 2013. I found it on craigslist for $1000 bucks and got the guy down to $850.
List of things to fix:

1. engine seized
2. The clear coat is popping all over
3. rockers are rusty
4. the seats were torn up
5. brakes did not work
6. windows didn't work
7. blower motor only worked on high only blew on the floor
8. Stereo gone and speakers toast
9. heated seat switch broken
10. tail lights de-laminated
11. head lights cloudy and broken
12. fog lights melted
13. abs and traction light on
14. airbag light on
15. windshield cracked
16. stupid ugly old lady wheels with dry rotted tires
17. had not run for more than a year
18. has a few dents and dings

I was going to get it to pull the transmission for my other 97 that had failed.
Looking it over plans changed and this car had less rust and the strut towers were not compromised.

The first step was to get it fired up. I had some old guy come out and give me a hand an he tried a few things and gave up.
He told me I needed a new engine. I gave him a case of beer. I decided the engine out of my old 97 was going in.

Looks pretty clean, I'd love to see how far you take this car in it's reconditioning

Family shot

black torque stars is the old 97 the one with the bullets is the old rusted out 98 was my dd after the trans went in the first 97.

I wish I had as many GP's that match my original, I can't even find one for sale or for parts within 50 miles!
(Sedan in black sapphire metallic)

Originally Posted by AaroGaming

I wish I had as many GP's that match my original, I can't even find one for sale or for parts within 50 miles!
(Sedan in black sapphire metallic)

I love that color and you are right it is a hard one to find. Especially a coupe. I wanted to find one for my daughter.

After I got it up and running I Got the brakes working put on some new pads and turned the rotors. I changed all the fluids and fuel filter.
Installed a new battery, window regulators and a blower motor resistor. Found a broken vacuum line and fixed the problem of it only blowing on the floor. I swapped most of the interior and the bullet wheels from the rusty 98 and transferred the plates over to the 97. I gave the 98 to my son to drive to school. Work pretty much stopped on it for a while cause my wife's VW needed the funds.
here is a picture with the old 97 and the bug.
It was a sweet looking ride with a turbo, But way over engineered and a pain to work on. it had to go and got replaced with a red 2001 GTP coupe in 2014.

I miss my black 97 GTP Coupe.

Summer of 2014 I upgraded the brakes to dual piston 2005 Monte Carlo SS calipers with drilled and slotted rotors.
I also added a aux input to a factory stereo i had lying around.
Winter came and i did not do much but put the torque stars with some new tires on it.

Spring of 2015 I started collecting parts to rebuild the suspension.
New Parts:
Lower control arms
Moog Struts and springs
dorman sway bars
dorman rear control arms
moog lateral links
moog sway bar end links


it was a full weekend of all nighters but worth the hard work.

When i put on all the suspension parts I also cleaned up a bunch of rust, repainted and undercoated everything.
I am going to remove the B&G Springs on my old 97 this winter and have them powder coated red Maybe I will put them on in the springtime. These moog springs just seem to high for my taste.

Originally Posted by Slick2500

I miss my black 97 GTP Coupe.

i know the feeling. when the trans went in the old 97 i had to drive a white g6 sedan and thought i was going thru a midlife crisis. I was so depressed.
I could not find a 97 gtp trans anywhere. I bought a 98 GTP coupe to get by but it was not a good buy.
My advice to anyone buying a used car don't do it on a cold rainy day.

I got some decent used Michelin tires for the bullets and got them back on. I moved the Torque Stars over to the 01 red GTP.


I scored a black SLP hood from Black99GTX in the for sale section. Thanks Again I drove my friends slow a$$ s10 up to get it and put it on at 2 in the morning when i got back.

Picked up some red and black emblem overlays from reflectiveconcepts.com got those on there.

I also entered into my first car show.

I had the best Grand Prix at the show. It was the only Grand Prix at the show. lol

I found some honeycomb mesh and popped it in the hole i made in the air box for the SLP hood to function.

I also went to the salvage yard and got a trunk lid. Then I scored a 40th anv/SE spoiler on Ebay and welded up the stock spoiler holes in the lid.
I need to get it to a body shop and painted so i can get it on there.

Yeah I did a crappy job welding the holes.

Well that's it up to date. I am sure i forgot things i have done so far.I have more in the works.
I have some SD headers and down pipe and some stainless tubing on the way.
I am Thinking about a Cam or rockers and a 3.4 pulley.

Things i just remembered:
reptile tuned ecm, Awesome! Thanks Reptile Get one here
Spectre drop in air filter
Taylor wires
Otto racing front strut brace
black ccfl halo headlights from ebay
blue glass pilot fog lights

The car looks good! I like it / them. Black coupes FTMFW!

Originally Posted by seventone

i know the feeling. when the trans went in the old 97 i had to drive a white g6 sedan and thought i was going thru a midlife crisis. I was so depressed.
I could not find a 97 gtp trans anywhere. I bought a 98 GTP coupe to get by but it was not a good buy.
My advice to anyone buying a used car don't do it on a cold rainy day.

You do realize that the 97-02 transmissions are all the same minus the cooler lines that changed to a quick release in 99, and all that needs to be done there is either change fittings or change the lines.

Sent from A Galaxy Far Far Away

I knew about the cooler lines.
The electrical plug on the 97 is different as well isn't it?
finding a hd trans that was good is hard.

As far as I know all 4T65-E's have the same plug. The 97 GTs and SEs used the 4T60E and I think that used a different plug.

Originally Posted by idrivejunk

The car looks good! I like it / them. Black coupes FTMFW!

Thanks!