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Hey every one, i dont know where to start this thread, so mods if I am in the wrong let me know.
But considering I am fabricatng- I figure I start here.
In short my goal is to build a great trans am but one with a differnt look-with out taking form the look of a 3rd gen. Which i love.
So far to start the thread I figure I do some updating from what was to what is and then whats in the works to whats next.
First though; I wanted to Update the rims with better pictures and after the buffing. notice the pic with the emblem-PPG Matched
Hopefully they show better then the cell pics.
1989 Custom GTA
This was in 5/2009
The clear on the Aluminum was starting to really get bad and the amount of cleaning just wasnt helping...they are old ! so the rims got to go. I wanted Vette rims but had a hard time finding a set for a fair price or what I was willing to pay at least.
So in the mean time I wanted to try something and now really like them.
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I still got to take pic of in car...but
Thing I like the most is the dark/bright effect, in the sun it just shins and tints out.
Now it seems odd now cause I am in the middle of the change in theme.
So as I continue, hopefully the Black and Gold theme pulls the car together better.
I just picked up a Twin Turbo style fiberglass hood for the car.
I will be pulling this hood off for a while so that I can re paint the 383 markings to match the GTA Emblems along with a Custom PAINTED Gold Bird on the hood.
I am also making a plug to try to mold a new spoiler...
Ok so now I feel like . so i will get somemore pic together and up date some more.
i like the black and gold - but maybe you should hit the paint with some ultra fine steel wool and buff them up a little then clear coat them. dont make them bling but working that rim so it looks like gold and not just gold paint will really help.
nice tires too. i like to see a lot of rubber rather than wagon wheels with a rubber band on them.
good call to keep the lace.
You have your rear wheels on the front, and your fronts on the back...at least on the drivers side.
Ive seen a ton of cars like this on here and in person lately...haha..my 87 was like that when I got it.
J.
You might wanna check your own rims because his look to be mounted correctly (and it sounds like the tons of other cars and yours when you bought it were correct also!). The front ones have a deeper dish than the rears.
I've never seen someone paint the lip gold like that and it actually looks really cool! nice work
that actually looks pretty cool. I agree with ghettocruiser that it looks alot like the Subi's... I wonder how that would look on my car... my car also has the deeper dish on the front...
Mods so far: MSD Cap and rotor, MSD ignition coil, Accel 8.8mm ignition wires, Hooker Super Comp Shortie Headers, Flowmaster 3in catback, underdrive crank pulley, BBK AFPR, custom cold air intake, NOS wet 125 shot, air foil and a lead foot! no E/T's yet. ...TURBO COMING SOON...Other mods include keyless entry and remote start, and Sequential Turn Signals. South Carolina ---> www.scfbaonline.com
Haha you guys serious? I mean, its been a long time since I had my GTA wheels on, but Im pretty sure mine are even stamped "FRONT" and "REAR"..?
If Im wrong Im wrong...Ive just always been told the deeper dish goes on the rear.
EDIT:...Huh... you guys might be right. Haha. Ive always ran mine with the deeper dish in the rear, as I think it looks better. Sounds like the "deeper dish" wheels, or less backspacing go in the front to clear steering? Its weird that my WS6 car never had issues running the "rears" in the front.
Had a thirdgen for almost 10 years now and Im still learning new stuff. haha. My bad.
J.
Last edited by ghettocruiser; 07-15-2009 at 03:41 PM.
yeah, its a real common mod to run "front" wheels on all four corners, I'd like to get a front set myself to do that, but from the factory, the deep dish was on the front and the small dish was on the back. Once my tire shop put the backs on the front, and the fronts on the back and as soon as I turned it started making clicking sounds like if you were going over small bumps, so I checked to see what it was and they messed up...
Mods so far: MSD Cap and rotor, MSD ignition coil, Accel 8.8mm ignition wires, Hooker Super Comp Shortie Headers, Flowmaster 3in catback, underdrive crank pulley, BBK AFPR, custom cold air intake, NOS wet 125 shot, air foil and a lead foot! no E/T's yet. ...TURBO COMING SOON...Other mods include keyless entry and remote start, and Sequential Turn Signals. South Carolina ---> www.scfbaonline.com
Haha...man I cant believe that. Its funny that I never had any rubbing issues with the rear wheels on the front of my 87. I had inside wheel weights, because normal ones would have been destroyed by the tie rod ends...but otherwise it was fine.
Oh well... Sorry BlackTopKing. My comments about liking the wheels still stands haha...I retract the other part.
J.
__________________
ARE shortblock, Ross custom boost pistons, arp rod bolts, ARE ported oil pump,
MTI 2e 5.3L ported heads milled .030 with double springs,
228/224 113+1 Comp XE-R, Cloyes adjustable timing chain, LS6 valley cover,
fast 90mm intake, NW 90mm throttle body, SVO 30lb injectors, 85mm MAF,
ASP underdrive pulley, 160* t-stat, stainless LT headers 1.75" primaries
Don't worry, it was an honest mistake :-) I agree that the deeper dish would look good on all 4 corners of our cars.
__________________ Bright Platinum Metallic exterior with painted hoodbird. Black interior with 2002 Trans Am Ebony leather seats. Smoothed inner fenders.
Current Drivetrain: LT1 and T56 with SLP 1 3/4" primary headers and catback: 8.85 seconds in 1/8 mile w/ lousy street tires.
The Rim set up is odd in a way but I have tried a couple different veries a few years back.
As they are now, just works the best and I like the look. Handling is great.
I also agree, I like meat on the tires, although I wouldnt mind some more rim, but would not want some DUB style rims or as put in the post above
"Wagon Wheel"
I did wet sand the rims and buff them; I didnt do it 2 agressively, but maybe I should do another couple coats and a deeper wetsand/buff.
Its not that I want a Bling Factor is more of a Wet gloss looh I want out of the shine. I kinda just used the word bling-meaning looking good...
Hey everyone, I wanted to post a quick up date with the car and the new theme.
Things are coming along altho alot slower then I was planning.
but the Project hood and the 1st stage of airbrushing is done,
This is the new hood - I will keep both to kinda change it up between the two for fun and kicks, its an all fiberglass twin turbo stlye hood.
pretty nice,
I just got done airbrushing the hood this week and will need to clear and wet sand/ buff hood for full effect. but the ideal is there.
I am sure some may see where the ideal roots form. No its not 100% perfect- couple things I will clean up but it looks great and I am happy with it.
I have a tone of "step by step" picture, if any one wants to see I can post them as well maybe in a different spot.
Any way here it is
Once I test fit i will post pics.
I like the concept for the hood. The bird's head seems a bit off though. Looking at the openings in the front of the hood, they're shaped very much like a Pontiac arrow head. It'd be really cool if you painted them in with red Pontiac emblems!
__________________ Bright Platinum Metallic exterior with painted hoodbird. Black interior with 2002 Trans Am Ebony leather seats. Smoothed inner fenders.
Current Drivetrain: LT1 and T56 with SLP 1 3/4" primary headers and catback: 8.85 seconds in 1/8 mile w/ lousy street tires.
Now for a long awaited update....
DON A DONA DON....
Car had an issue.....
BOOOOOOOO
I know, no excuses but it has been becoming harder and harder to start until one day it just didnt....
So I had to really put the thinking cap and since I was with out internet I couldnt even come here for help.
Good news is its fixed and running great...better then before, bad news...cost me like $600.00 ( which was actually a good deal for the work)
Anyway back to the
DON A DONA DON....
Hood is on, I know I know- NO CLEAR, but Like I said it was a proto-design.
Well since you guys got the see the airbrush work on top of the twinturbo style hood- now check out the work underside. I am not the best but i been working on it...I cant airbrush like others but I Guess I just have a different style
Test Fit the Twin Turbo Hood - and it dose well - had to adjust it for like an hour and still didnt get it 100% at the time, got it really tight now tho.
And just a nice pic of me and the car- There are few but when we are good-We look good
So now, what you gusy think....
which hood is better....
I know that is my debate, so I have thought about it and have desided to- Keep the Pro Street more of a classic look because the scoop is simular to the shakers. I will RE-Aribrush the Gold bird the same layout as the Twin Turbo. Only having to spray the gold and black keeping the gloss that is current on... This should get the effect fully as I aim for- Then The Twin Turbo hood- Well I guess I will either come up with an other ideal or may sell it... I dont know- but if I RE do the Twin Turbo Hood I want craziness on the top and not under.
Cause so far people who see it are like oh wow...the bird is cool- Hood opens and it HOLLY SH*T That is Hot.....
Kinda the not the order of responce I was going for...
LMAO
huh.... it's been 2 weeks and no reactions... Oh well...
My $.02:
- I'm surprised, I've always felt that the twin turbo hoods were kind of dated, but I really like it on your car... I'm wondering now if it's the fact that you usually see them on a camaro or 'vette or that I'm starting to get in to a "cool retro 80's" mode
- as far as the graphics/which hood... I'm partial to a subtle look at least rolling down the street, so I would keep the graphics to the bottom of the hood, as far as the 2 hoods, like I said, I'm really liking the twin turbo hood, OTOH, I think i've mentioned to you that I really liked your old hood with the prostock style scoop, it was done really nice and cleanly...
The prostock style looks like one of my early hoods. Although it gives it that race look, it's not very functional with a TPI system which normally pulls air from the front of the engine.
33 spline axles with 3.27 gears? Unless you have something special, 3.27 gears were only really used in a 9 bolt which only has 28 spline axles.
__________________
87 IROC-Z
All engine, no power adders! Bests: 9.348@144.71
"huh.... it's been 2 weeks and no reactions... Oh well...
My $.02:
- I'm surprised, I've always felt that the twin turbo hoods were kind of dated, but I really like it on your car... I'm wondering now if it's the fact that you usually see them on a camaro or 'vette or that I'm starting to get in to a "cool retro 80's" mode
- as far as the graphics/which hood... I'm partial to a subtle look at least rolling down the street, so I would keep the graphics to the bottom of the hood, as far as the 2 hoods, like I said, I'm really liking the twin turbo hood, OTOH, I think i've mentioned to you that I really liked your old hood with the prostock style scoop, it was done really nice and cleanly..."
Yeah, I just figured it didnt get good reviews and people were being nice and listening to the words of all mothers...If you dont have anything nice to say dont say anything at all....LOL
Or maybe because i dont post to much it go lost in the mix...
either way thanks for the reply... and i take it that your vote would be to have "NO Bird" and just paint the hoods black....
I think it would make the car very sleek and devilish just staying a clean smooth line monster dressed in all black...
The prostock style looks like one of my early hoods. Although it gives it that race look, it's not very functional with a TPI system which normally pulls air from the front of the engine.
Hey thanks for the post, you did say that you liked the pro hood look before. its funny either people really like it or they really dont. I really do but in the end I really like both of them. The pro has a louder look and the twin turbo style is sleek buth both agressive looking.
i think that I am into the pro a bit more because....well its the only hood i have ever had on the car- anything else looks like a new hair cut and makes you go ....AWWWWW I dont know about this...Yet at the same time- 2weeks on and I am really liking the look and i am getting a better feel.
I do feel bad about the twin turbo hood. to me it was a prototype, I wanted to try the bird design and try it out on my car before I actually attempted it with the pro hood. I didnt really put a 100% in to the Twin Turbo and could of been done WAY better. Kinda Rushed It a Bit.
Either way still looks nice
AWE THE GEAR ????
I have heard this before, but didnt know if that was a 100%...
As i mentioned in another thread, I am not sure my gears- and have not taken the time to actually pull the cover off...
Either way- i had 3:73 blow the rear and bought another with what I was told to have 3:73...in the end deal was to good to be true because- they are not 3:73...
And since have been looking into that upgrade...
If the 3:27 dont pair with 33spline then I dont have 3:27's....
What in the world would it be?
"33 spline axles with 3.27 gears? Unless you have something special, 3.27 gears were only really used in a 9 bolt which only has 28 spline axles."
TO ALL
i will admit this...One complaint about the twinturbo hood, water water water water...OMG water...cause the turbo vents are open and the top vents are open ( I did place a screen mess in them to keep everything else out of my motor) This has done nuthing for the water and I dont like the the vents on the top let water right down and on top my Dis, and a tone of electrical crap yet to hidden away....
Cure come up with a slick design to keep water out... or cover, Hide, Remove the wiring...or best of all- both...either way I cover the car each night and actually (embrassed to say) drive with black duct tape just n case it rains on me while im on the road...got that out of the Ghetto 101 quick BS fixes for Dummies book...
LMAO
Best positive...other then looks, if you can see in pics it bulged so ever nicely in the front for the center crowl effect...great room and lots of air. In the driver seat I can see under the crowl and out the turbo vent....Air in and out and actually cools the motor well...
pro street hood, biggest neg other then weight, the scoop does nuthing for the TPIS system and just jams poor helpless air inside the engine with no were to go....That and the heavy metal hood that it is...flexes do to the frame being cut in order to do the scoop...i wish I knew 7yrs what I knew now...would of did that different....
biggest positive.
The look.
LMAO...
i am sure it helps with air more then a stock, but not like the twinturbo....
if only the automotive gods cause put both together......Hummmmmm now that is an ideal.
If the 3:27 dont pair with 33spline then I dont have 3:27's....
What in the world would it be?
Assuming the diff is still original, it depends what engine/tranny was originally in the car and if it has the G92 RPO code or not. Chances are you have a 9 bolt with 3.27 gears which has 28 spline axles.
A 12 bolt only has 30 spline axles which can be upgraded to 33 spline and the 14 bolt has 33 spline. Neither of these diffs were available in a third gen. The 14 bolt is a heavy duty truck diff. If you happen to only have a 10 bolt, you'll only have 26 spline axles.
Ok so the error is not the gears, the splines would be wrong....Huh....Either way I probly got a stock rear...so if its 28splines and 3:27gears....then its just as well and I will post a correction...
? how can I check for sure....take off the cover and a rear wheel? guess it dont matter...I dont like it either way...28 or 31.
Quick Update on the Progress
So I wanted to delete this, the center stering wheel item and I had a wrap box in there for a while and altho it was alot cleaner looking. I still wanted, something more and better. This is what I can up with,
The LED's will sit behind the letters for a glow effect and not shine all crazy in my face. Letters? That is the Rj logo, its kinda the way I have drawn my name since I was a kid.
And.....The Hood, Up I did it....and changed it up- I dont know if i am going to leave it as is...or add the flat black look on the inside of the bird-simular to the twin turbo hood...
I kinda do, tho, the 77-78 turbo trans am's had a look like that and I kinda was trying to just blend different features in to this design plus add and minus somethings, i do know by doing this tho- i will make it more abd more of a like or dislike ideal....meaning you love or hate it but not much inbetween.
Any way check it out
Last edited by BlackTopKing; 10-14-2009 at 08:24 PM.
how can I check for sure....take off the cover and a rear wheel? guess it dont matter...I dont like it either way...28 or 31.
First thing you need to do is crawl under the back of the car and look at the diff to determine what it is. If it has a smooth cover with 10 bolts around the cover, it's a 7-5/8" 10 bolt. If the cover has a rubber plug in it and has 9 bolts, it's a BW 9 bolt diff and unless a previous owner has changed them, will probably have 3.27 gears. If the cover has a metal plug in the back and 10 bolts, it's a rare Dana 44 however they were not offered in regular production vehicles but was available as an over the counter replacement.
Chances are the diff oil has never been changed. Since you want to know what's in the diff, now is a good time to pull the cover and change the oil. While the cover is off, count the teeth.
I can see the inconsistencies in the outlines. How is your pinstriping ability? I'm not too sure what a good contrasting pinstripe color would be around gold paint on a black background.
I tryed to get another picture, Hope this clears up better, but the lines are not chopy...just the picture when i loaded it up here. I did post at another site and was clear, maybe I did somthing wrong.
First thing you need to do is crawl under the back of the car and look at the diff to determine what it is. If it has a smooth cover with 10 bolts around the cover, it's a 7-5/8" 10 bolt. If the cover has a rubber plug in it and has 9 bolts, it's a BW 9 bolt diff and unless a previous owner has changed them, will probably have 3.27 gears. If the cover has a metal plug in the back and 10 bolts, it's a rare Dana 44 however they were not offered in regular production vehicles but was available as an over the counter replacement.
Chances are the diff oil has never been changed. Since you want to know what's in the diff, now is a good time to pull the cover and change the oil. While the cover is off, count the teeth.
I can see the inconsistencies in the outlines. How is your pinstriping ability? I'm not too sure what a good contrasting pinstripe color would be around gold paint on a black background.
Your right and I will deff do so this weekend. I wanted to do my trans anyway- so I will just make a point to do both.
Thanks
Choppy as in this picture. The curves do not look like nice smooth curves. They start to curve around then you can see a distinct change in direction in the curve. The bottoms of both upper licks do not look like they're nice and smooth. It could just be the camera angle too since my pictures below look similar and I know I have nice rounded curves.
Taping off graphics for painting can only give so much of an edge for detail. Putting a pinstripe line around the graphic can improve any minor mistakes plus will highlight the detail. As I said above, I'm not sure what color would be good for contrast for gold on black.
I don't have any pictures of the flames on the body before they were pinstriped but here's a before and after when I flamed my T-tops. The colors are slightly different because the sun came out after I pinstriped them.
Choppy as in this picture. The curves do not look like nice smooth curves. They start to curve around then you can see a distinct change in direction in the curve. The bottoms of both upper licks do not look like they're nice and smooth. It could just be the camera angle too since my pictures below look similar and I know I have nice rounded curves.
Taping off graphics for painting can only give so much of an edge for detail. Putting a pinstripe line around the graphic can improve any minor mistakes plus will highlight the detail. As I said above, I'm not sure what color would be good for contrast for gold on black.
I don't have any pictures of the flames on the body before they were pinstriped but here's a before and after when I flamed my T-tops. The colors are slightly different because the sun came out after I pinstriped them.
Ok I see what you are pointing out, and yeah I have 2mistakes on the hood that i wasnt going to mention, One you can see easy if you look and another you wouldnt really.
The choppiness was about as good as i could get it . I did it by hand first then taped out the edge side for a sharper look.
As i said- I aint the best airbrush person- still learning. Deff lot harder when you cant erase.
I guess I could play with some ideals to try to smooth it out-i dont know if the pinstriping would work anybetter considering its like tape anyway.
Or do you me pinstripping by hand and brush....
Looks really good man, like what u did with the rims. The bird on the hood is hott! Its a toss up for me as to what hood looks better?? But the bird should stay!!! It compliments the rims, the whole black n gold theme. As far as under the hood??? well... just not feeling the graphics man. That might make a cool tattoo tho. Over all... THUMBS UP DUDE!
I'm in Los Angeles, the car capital of the world. Here most folks are born with the "eye" for cars u know? What looks good and what not. I just had to throw that in. LOL ( hope i didnt offend anyone)
I also didn't care for the underhood graphics. Looks too much like rattle can graffiti. Study 70's vans murals.
The pinstriping I did was all by hand, no tape. I used a small pinstriping brush. I think it was a #1 but I wanted a #0 brush. Thin out the paint so that it's not too thick then follow the outline. A pinstriping brush makes it easy. My pinstriping is not show car quality. If you look closely at the t-tops, you can see it's not uniform all the way around the flames. It looks good in pictures and looks good going down the track.
Lots of pics of the flames on my car on my web site (click link in my sig) but here's a sample. Because of the design layout, many people think my car is a Firebird/TransAm.
__________________
87 IROC-Z
All engine, no power adders! Bests: 9.348@144.71
Oh, Ok- Yeah I checked out your site before...the Camaro is nice and alot of work.
I really do like it, flames are classic rot rod style and that is what I liked the best.
Quick up date for the lighting...the center stering wheel insert.
I just got to wrap the box and mount but here was a test fit and lighting test....
Just the insert
mounted but just insert lit
the dash full lit (Power on Only)
should of started the car and turned the lights on for pic so not to have the CEL on and taking from the effect- but oh well you guys get it.
355 TBI/WC T-5/ 9 Bolt 3.27 Posi w/PBR's, Edlebrock headers, MSD iginition, complete WS6 conversion, open element, energy suspension poly bushings throughout, complete A.I.R. delete, 8mm wires, 165* stat, 4th gen T/A wing, all black leather 4th gen interior, Custom circle grid T/A tail lights, Sequential turn signals.
