jamessr

I originally bought my car red. It needed a paint job so I decided to go black. The company did a great job, however after $2000 in paint,$400 in rims and $700 in tires later, I'm not liking the way its coming out. The GTA hood was on thier before I purchased the car, I'm considering changing it. Anyone have some advice on what direction I can take my car? I'm also considering selling it and getting another 3rd gen altogether. Any advice you can offer is greatly appriciated.
Thanks

white91formula

iTrader: (4)

your tires dont look wide enough for the rims... what size are they ?

considered getting black gta rims ?

what dont you like about it ?

rwdtech

you should have stayed with the red and tan interior. thats my favorite combo

of course its too late for that, so maybe you should get some aftermarket wheels for more attention and get some tint. The car already looks really nice and perfect. i dont see why u are loosing intrest in it.

ram air hoods look good on the 91-92 birds also. it depends on what u like...i happen to like sticking with the stock apperance; some people like hoods, wheels, etc

thinking about selling that interior?

Bull

iTrader: (5)

RA II hood, '91-'92 style aerowing, and Ronals would all add up to your having one sick looking machine. Oh, and '91-'92 TA tails, too!

meefy

iTrader: (3)

I think it looks great! I would do the 2 piece taillights and yea bigger tires. Go for the GTA clone look. Save you money and buy the go fast goodies!

P.S. Cape May is a great place!! I love it there!

speed88

Put on a '91 or '92 T/A wing, as well as taillights and remove the Firebird emblems off the fenders and you will have one sweet ride. A better set of tires would change the appearance as well. 245/50/16's is what came on T/A's and GTA's.

Purple 92 SS

dunno.. i'd tint it for sure.. maybe swap out the wheels, and put the rest into suspension and motor.
-steve

16KS

it looks really nice in my opinion, i think the black gta rims would look better tho, nice car overall

gcgarner

Right On!!!

Poject '86

I think your car looks mint the way it is. Except for the tires as white 91 formula.

84matrat

i would lose the wing in a heartbeat.. possibly a wing that rises higher would make due.. other than that different (and bigger) wheels would suit well.

Raiderfan

Quick fix, tint the windows and lower it.
Maybe some low profile tires if you have the $.

twobirds

Hmmm 91-92z high rise spoiler,91-92 t/a tail lights other than that go fast stuff.IMO

jamessr

Damn I just got those tires too in April. $700
So I may not make that mod right away, I am tho looking for another wing and TA tail lights

Bull

iTrader: (5)

James, I am debating selling my '92 TA tails, but have not committed to it, yet. Just be prepared to spend a lot for them, no matter who you buy them from. Although I have heard of one or two people getting junkyard deals on them, they most often go for bigger bucks.

Personally, I think the Ronals would make the greatest single impact.

BTW, I like the clean, modestly sized exhaust exiting from the back of the car. I don't think our cars look good with giant tips back there.

Orinackra

I'd say ronals, and a 4th gen spoiler. I'd keep the hood, or maybe get a formula hood, I dont think I've see a car in that combo yet, I think it would look pretty sweet.

rwdtech

right on right on!!! do you have a tan interior?? if you do, u HAVE to show me pics!

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

Some basic appearance suggestions:

Remove emblems, remove/relocate antenna, tint windows, get some bigger chrome exhaust tips. Get trans am taillights, any thirdgen year - you chose, or get blackouts, or paint vht nightshades on, or get trans am taillights and blackouts.

Sounds like your sick of stock parts. If what I mentioned above still doesn't satify you and you have a thick wallet, go for RA2 hood/4th gen style spoiler combo and some 17s.

jamessr

Well I went to a salvage yard today. I found a Trans AM spoiler off an 88. After looking at it and doing some research I figured out I'm either going to have to punch new holes in my hatch or get a new hatch altogether. The spoiler does need some work, so I'm not rushing it. I also got some differnt rear lamps, they came off a 89 TA. They're not the 2 piece set up but he only wanted $10 for em, wire harness included. So I'll look into that tomorrow and maybe include some pictures.

Thanks for all the quality advice!!

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

I'd stay away from stock trans am spoilers from 85-90. I think they were made of foam. The foam rots away or the spoilers have spiderweb cracks all over them. I dont know if there is a good way to repair them either.

Bull

iTrader: (5)

$10 for the 3 piece TA tails is an awesome deal! Nice work.

I would be careful about that spoiler, too. Those earlier TA spoilers are made of rubber, with a metal skin underneath. Over time, the rubber cracks and shrinks, and the metal underneath rusts, causing a giant mess that really can't be fixed. You might want to look into a fiberglass reproduction or a later '91-'92 style, as they were fiberglass from the factory.

Firebat beat me to some of my points while I was slowly typing and chatting on the phone.

jamessr

Well the spolier is made of foam, and does have a few spider webs. That can't be sanded, primed and painted? I mean if its too much trouble, I'll junk it, and consider it a lessoned learned. I'll post a pic of it tomorrow for your opinions. However I won't be able to buy an aftermarket one till March of next year.
Thats when I get another reinstallment of my enlistment bonus

Bull

iTrader: (5)

My understanding is that the vast majority of those rubber/foam spoilers eventually end up disintegrating because it is such a poor design. If yours only has minor cracking/imperfections, then yes, I am sure you can get it looking nice and it'll last for a while. But, if the car sees a lot of time in the sun/heat/rain, then it'll eventually take its toll.

Aren't the fiberglass reproductions in the neighborhood of $3-400? You can spend less by getting a stock TA/Formula '91-'92 fiberglass spoiler for around $200, maybe a bit more.

In any event, your car is looking good, even if you don't do any more upgrades at all.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

i agree with everything he/she just said

Bull

iTrader: (5)

Thanks, but...he/she?! Take a look at this mug!!


----------
Seriously, though, when I get another thirdgen (the Formula I actually gave to my wife, and she doesn't want certain mods done to it) that list is exactly what I'll be doing to mine! The Formula does already have some of those items.

Poject '86

It's not just the rain and the heat. The spoiler expands and contract too much during the summer and the winter, which makes the paint crack. I wouldn't bother with the rubber spoiler if I were you. Just my

91greenbird

iTrader: (4)

91-92 trans am tailights, black gta wheels, and a 91-92 formula/gta wrap around spoiler would look great!

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

sorry i didn't even take the time to see who posted it, all i saw was WHAT you posted. i know you're not a girl

Bull

iTrader: (5)

Naw, that's ok, I was just playin'. I hadn't even posted my sig graphic in the original post.

GodSpeedGTA

iTrader: (1)

diff tails and youre set ...that is one clean looking bird PLZ dont listen to anyone saying BLACK wheels...keep the gold it looks classic and amazing...do the one piece or save some money and get the grid lights which look JUST as good...its a beauty man dont sell her or give up

jamessr

**Update**

I did change out my tail lights, the center piece was cracked so I used a different one, that was gold and not red. All in all I'm happy with the results, but I'll try and save up for a 2 piece set up.




Before

91greenbird

iTrader: (4)

if that thing had a wrap around 91-92 style wing id trade my iroc for it

jamessr

Next March I plan on getting the 4th gen spolier.





www.myspace.com/nickjcolletti

Bull

iTrader: (5)

Those tails look awesome on the car. Sweet score.

I personally think the 4th gen spoilers don't flow very well with the lines of our cars. 4th gen Bird rears are super-rounded, whereas our Birds have a flat rear. I'd rock the '91-'92 spoiler. But, it's a matter of personal taste, so if you prefer the 4th gen piece, rock on!

Burntz

the new taillights look amazing, as for the wheels, id keep them gold like they are, but yes when you get around to it, bigger tires. I have gold rims on my black camaro and i love them

91greenbird

iTrader: (4)

i agree 100%

1988CamaroSC

iTrader: (2)

tint the windows 5% limo black, my maro is going in monday for tinting, 169 dollars for the hatch and side windows with 5%, keep the spoiler, the new lights look much better, maybe a ram air II hood or just keep the current one, and if you decide to get ride of it, drop me a PM. thats a sweet car.

Orinackra

the new tails look pretty good!

1bdbrd

iTrader: (1)

i saw you said you wanted a 4th gen spoiler. i just so happen to have one that i gave to my buddy when he bought my 91. he doesnt want it and is actually just going to throw it away. when i recieved it from hawks i didnt see there was some damage on the bottom that could probably be easily fixed but he just wants to get rid of it. Pm me if you want it and we might be able to work something out.

thirdgenbird

hey man, i would definatly take all the emblems off and paint the center portion between the tail lights. you could also look into going spoilerless. i know when i got the mecham wing seeing my car without the stock spoiler made me concider going without. i would also consider polishing the rims or painting them silver. tint and lowering also helps any car. on my 91 i hid the exaust tips in favor of the clean look. sorry for the long post but i think that there are many things that you can do for cheap/free that would make that car look stunning. if you have msn give me a shout out. you have a great car and i would hate to see you give up on it.

jamessr

I take offense to that remark.....

Bull

iTrader: (5)

Hey, the rims look real clean and shiny to me.

I also took another look at your pics, before and after, with the old and new tails. The TA tails did a lot all by themselves. The car is a very, very clean and sleek looking ride.

Mongoose

iTrader: (2)

Maybe when money becomes available spend some on the suspension and lower it. Maybe going to a larger wheel/tire combo if you absolutely don't like the GTA wheels.Definitely tint those windows. Here's mine:
----------
.

84'Firebird

iTrader: (1)

Add the front bumper of a 82-84 firebird, there the best looking

jamessr

I like those bumpers too, however I prefer the banshee nose cone better.
Window tint is next thing to do. My driver side power window just went out so I wanna trouble shoot that before I do a tint job.

vipershark11

iTrader: (6)

actually chrome 5 spoke rims with a nice 2-3inch cowl hood looks nice on this car as steve on here has with the license plate evil t/a he has a 91-92 trans am with that combo and i love the way it looks and his it black just like yours.

Dizturbed One

the new tails look good, i'd leave them

no need to mess with something that is good already, you could put money into other parts that would have more effect

i think if you traded the gold lace wheels for some black lace wheels (you could probably do that for close to free, maybe even make money), tinted the windows, and put some dropsprings on, it would really give the car a cleaner look and meaner stance.

that way you don't have to mess with your new paintjob until you get some more cash, and it would all be relatively cheap for the time being... save things like spoiler and hood for when you got some cash for the paint match too.

when you're a little financially better off for it, THEN i'd go with a Ram Air II hood and wraparound spoiler. Dont get the Ram Air I please, everytime I see one of those on the road I want to puke, lol

p.s. if your window motor is out, make sure you search and find the "easy" way to do it, rather than following the tech article. it's 10x faster, easier, and safer, i just did it two days ago.

thirdgenbird

i am really sorry. i did not mean to be offensive. i just perfer silver rims to gold. i was in no way trying to make a hit atgenst you. i love those rims and yours look in great shape. you made a good buy i just perfer a diffent color on black cars. once agian i am really sorry.

thirdgenbird

i think maybe there was a misunderstanding here, the lip of your wheels look great i was refering to possibly stripping the paint off the spokes and polishing it to match the lip of the rim. i hope this clears things up and im not further making a fool of myself. there is alot of potential in your car and i cant wait to hear from you and see what you decided to do.

83camaroMN

Yep I agree,