transam305

i was just wondering how did you paint your passanger and driver side vents red because i kind find away to take them out of the car to paint them so did you just tape everything off and paint or did you take them out to paint them i'd really like to know thanks and by the way your car is bad a$$!

blackstripes

use a flathead screwdriver to get them out, there is a little thingy that you can lift up and remove them with ease.

transam305

the two big ones on the side? not the ones on the dash by the gauges but the two big ones on the side you know which ones i'm talking about? they just pop out?

cg91ta

I've had mine out. They are mounted almost the same as the front's, with speed nuts. There are access holes in the underside of the hood. Carefully remove them as if you break the shaft it's game over. The inside edge of the heat extractor is tucked under a lip, so the speed nuts are only on the outside.

HTH!

transam305

i'm talking about the vents on the interior not on the out side or is that what your talking about?

blackstripes

I'm talking about the 2 large vents of the interior on the far left and right of the dash, there is a little clippy thing (I have no idea what the hell to call it) either on the top or the bottom, I can't remember which. Just lift it up and they should come right out. Try using a flashlight if you can't see what I am talking about. I am refering to my '92, and I would imagine that most 3rd gens are the same. I've taken all my vents out a few times to clean them in soap and water.
-Pat

transam305

oh okay i see what your talking about thx.

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

She'll probably reply sometime today (we just got back from the Birmingham World of Wheels...she won her class). I'm pretty sure she handpainted the edge of the vents with touchup paint (probably Duplicolor), without removing them.

redraif

Busy at work and I just got over here, sorry. I have PMed you buy the way, but I will reply here as well...

Ok to your question...I only painted the edges and knew taking out the vents would not really make it any easier, that and I actually I did not want to take my dash apart. I knew masking would be a beast, so I actually hand painted them with plasticote touch up paint. You have to go pretty fast with alot of paint on your brush to keep out the appearance of brush stroaks.

Basically you have to layer it a bunch of times and make it arounf quick enough that where you started has not dried yet. Hence a bunch on your brush. The apint has to slightly bulge, like it is on the verge of running. It smoothes out w/ no brush strokes that way. If I were you I would get something to practice on first. I had done alot of paint of decals like this before I tried the vent edges. I say plasticote versus duplicolor because the duplicolor dries too fast . I would also recommend a small art paint brush, not the one that comes with the paint.

Here are the only pics I could find, no close ups...

redraif

Drivers side:

transam305

see i want to do the vent itself not just the edge i'll get pics tonight of my vents as of current to show you what i mean hopefully i'll get them tonight no garentees only because i'm remodling my house right now so things like my digital camara are tending to come up missing from the last place i put it. so i will try and find it to clear things up for you guys.

redraif

If you want to color the actual vents (louvered things) You are going to need to taske them out and clean them really well with soap (Dawn) and water then a wax and grease remover. Wear rubber gloves to keep off finger oils. You will probably need an adhesion promoter since you are spraying on a plastic. Dulicolor makes one now. You will probably need to scuff the plastic with some sandpaper or a scotchbrite pad (read can). Spray on a light base coat and then hit it with color. Just be careful how thick you shoot it or the vents will drag and scratch and look horrible, or not move at all. remember you have to get all sides of the louvers cause depending on how they are turned, you will be able to see the whole fin. I have seen some bad vent spray jobs at shows. This was the main reason I avoided shooting mine. Its not an easy task. I hope this is what you needed to know!

transam305

actually i need to know how to take them out do they just pop out or do i have to take my whole dash apart to get them out?

Da91Bird

Redraif,

Do you think you might have gone a touch overboard?

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

She's out sick today, so I'll answer for her. By the standards of the F-body community, yes...but honestly, the F-body community is a little **** retentive about what is and what isn't "acceptable". She didn't build the car to please others; she built it the way she wanted it, without conforming to any preconceived notions about what can or can't be done to a car. Its funny to me that F-body people are often critical of the car, at least on message boards, but it wins nearly every show it is entered in. Last year it won its class at the Trans Am Nationals, two Super Chevy events, the gathering, and countless others. Last weekend it won its class at the Birmingham World of Wheels...where they classed it as "conservative hardtop"! Not everyone is going to like it, but not everyone is going to like every car, so its no big deal.

IROC57TPI

Hey Redraif, whats that you got mounted in the overhead console where that stupid planner used to be? I want to mount switches or lights up there but i'm not sure. Got any closer pics?

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

Most are for the neons...some are unused right now, I think. You might not want to put too many switches in the overhead, because the wiring bulk makes it extremely difficult to put the overhead back in. She won't be able to post until tomorrow (assuming she's feeling better...has the flu), but she probably has more pictures, somewhere. You can check her site if you want:

http://www.cardomain.com/id/redraif

Da91Bird

It's ugly to me, but that's not what counts. As long as she smiles when she looks at it - or drives it or thinks about it - then it's all good.

redraif

Here ya go!

redraif

And here is the mess that went into hooking it up. I have some smaller switches I'm going to swap in soon. Now I have some neons, strobes, and the hated string lights (now departed). I plan to move my Nitros priming switch up there with a different color switch, as well as my exterior neons and KITT light. Granted this is down the road when the interior wiring gets a make over for the new engine!

As far as it being too much...well give me a few monthes and you will really hate it...the grey is being swapped for black and there with be more red accents, like red & black PMD seats! I'm having my spare set recovered with a set of covers from Hawks 3rd gen parts. This vinyl is awesome. Hard to tell its not leather it is so nice!

redraif

Here is a close up of the switch panel from the back before I installed it... with the new switches being a touch smaller, room should be less of and issue, but I still might remove more of that plastic from the console. I did not want to completely destroy it. Believe it or not...At this point I can actually convert it back. Though I actually have some plans for it that will mean converting it all the way, so I may have to bite the bullet and go for it. My center console bit the big one too (glove box will not open & the sides of course have already peeled back and been repaired, so it may be open season for it as well) A new one is close to $300.00. i'm still deciding...

Da91Bird

:sillylol: I may not like your car, but I seriously like you just for that statement. I love your attitude. And, if I ever see your car around town, I promise to ooh and aah respectfully!

redraif

Well seeing your from Atl too...That might just happen. :sillylol: I must say I appreciate your tact, I really do!

Seriously though, I'm in a Camaro and Firebird club here in Atl if you are ever interested. I'm the extreme one in their group, so no worries. We are trying to get more 3rd gens in the group. We are being ruled by 4ths right now! So far, 3rd gen wise, we have mine and Joe's (LT1Guy) birds & some friends of mine, Kari & David's, Camaro's. I believe Doug just got a Camaro and 2 other guys have Camaros. So we could use some bird to balance!

Its www.atlantacfa.com we meet the 2nd Satudays of the month at Terry Cullen Chevrolet in Morrow, GA. No obligation, just come hang out. Everyone gets there about Noon to 12:30 to kick the tires! At 1P is the meeting, then we go grab a bite to eat after! These are really a great group of people with some really nice cars, we would love to have more people come by!

We just got the new version of the site going, so I don't think the gallery is up yet.

Da91Bird

Lately I have been spending my Saturdays wrenching instead of driving. I have rebuilt the heads and installed a full exhaust. Now the damn thing is running richer than a Saudi prince so I'm going to get a new set of injectors this weekend. I'm planning on installing the 1" lowering springs and TT 2's that I have sitting in the garage, too, along with a new set of struts. After all of that is done I will see if I can come around for some tire kicking and grub.

If there are some loud cars down there my 3 y/o son might like to come with me. Whenever we're out he points to birds and says, "Trans Am!". He's a riot.

redraif

We have a few that rumble...Heck for a 6 mine even has a v-8y sound (new cam).

Speaking of running rich...I had my adj fuel pressure reg blow out a few months back and the pressure blew all the tips off my injectors, talk about running rich...I was glad I had just gotten my new ones, but not put them in yet. So we replaced the AFPR & installed the 19 lb Ford injectors.

In the next week or 2 I'm getting a shift kit & a new Torque convertor, then I just need the 2.73 gears. When we install all this we are going to install an Aluminum Drive shaft. Then I just need to get the piggy back computer and some Dyno time and I think we can tweak some life out of the 6 before we give up & yank it.

Da91Bird

I went to the site, looks like fun. I especially liked the part that said, "If you're proud of your Camaro or Firebird, enjoy driving it and find yourself doing a double take when you park it, you'll fit right in. ". I can't remember the last time I didn't do a double take after I parked my car.

Like I said, let me get the car running right and looking right and I'll see if I can swing by. Maybe hooking up with some other F-body obsessed people will make me feel more like a normal person - normalcy is always relative!

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

Its a family oriented group, so feel free to bring your wife, kids, etc. Hope to see you at the next meeting, we need more 3rd gen Firebirds!

transam305

yea i'd uh help you out but um... i live in ohio lol sorry but it sounds like a whole lot of fun.