carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Well, she's been gone for over a year now. October 11th of 2011, I took a long trip from NY and drove her to a friend that runs a body shop out in Saint Louis, MO. There's been some complications at the shop and they ended-up getting super busy and behind on getting things done.

Anyhoooo... here she is all primed and ready for paint:



ANNNNNNNNND here she is totally disassembled in the paint booth getting some color:



Man... I can't wait to get her back so I can put the new digital dash in, all new Beechwood colored leather seats, new carpets and everything else! Some time in 2013, I'm gonna get my 18" replica GTA wheels made.

badredbrd89

Are you going to a specific wheel maker and having these done on a custom basis? I'd be interested to see how this would transpire.
-Chris

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Yes. I had a very lengthy conversation with this company: http://evodwheels.com/wheels/ and they said they could produce exactly what I was asking for.

IROCgiraffe

iTrader: (3)

(subscribed)

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Another photo I received this evening.

QUICKCHICKEN

iTrader: (12)

Carlos, may i ask cost an would they be willing to produce more of the wheels?

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Oh yeah... they'll be more than happy to make anyone a set for $6k.
It would be nice to find a wheel manufacturer that would be willing to make some molds to produce cast wheels at a much cheaper cost. I dunno why no one wants to do it. I spoke to someone at O.E. Wheels about possibly doing it, and the person I spoke to told me that there isn't a market for 'em... which I think is total BS.

2007xl50

Car is looking good, and I think the wheels will look killer if done right and for $6k then better be done right LOL! My God man-you will have more in your wheel and tire combo then some of us have in our whole car.

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

Carlos,
Car looks good, can't wait to see it done either!

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Thanks you, sir.




I'm really excited about getting it all together. Some people may not care for the final outcome, but I'm building my car the way I thought GM should've built it. I've always felt that the 1988 model year GTA was the best year as far as options goes. The 1989 Turbo Trans Am and notchback had the nice rear seat backs, and the 1991/92 GTA are the best looking externally.

I'm tying all of those elements together to create what I interpret to be the ultimate GTA:

1. 1991 GTA.
2. Beechwood colored leather interior... (my car's current interior is black).
3. Rear seat backs from a 1989 Turbo Trans Am/notchback.
4. Digital dash and steering wheel with radio controls from a 1988 GTA.
5. Custom replica GTA wheels in sizes 18 x 9 for the front and 18 x 11 or 12 for the rear.

I'm still not sure which wheel size to do for the rear since I'm still up in the air about whether or not I wanna install mini tubs in the rear for additional clearance. I don't want my wheels to stuck out from under the fender lips at all.

The mini tubs on my 4th gen WS6 came out so nice that I'm kinda leaning towards going that route with my GTA. My 4th gen has 19 x 13 wheels wrapped with 345-30-19 tires on the rear, and I really like the way they tuck.

2007xl50

Holy wide tires!!!!!! I love it! Well by the looks of your 4th gen I bet your 3rd gen will turn out nice.

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

Any more updates?

What wheels are on your WS6? They are perfect for the car and I love the wide rear tires...

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

And some motivation to get your 91 on the road!

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Freakin' gorgeous!

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

Did you get your car back together? I want to see pictures.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Yes, yes I did... I got the car back in February. I wanted to put the new side strip moldings on this past weekend, but as I was about to put them on, I noticed that the color of the moldings were WAAAAAAAY off from the paint on the car. The molding's color aren't a deep black like what's on the car so I'll have to get them painted to match when I get back to town. Luckily I had the car out of the garage and in direct sunlight when I noticed this. I would have been PISSED had I put them on and then discovered this later.

Anyhoooo... I decided to go ahead and put the emblems on since this past weekend's weather was so nice. I really wanted to put the moldings on first though so that it would help with my measurements with the fender emblems. I ended up taping the fender molding tips on so I could get my measurements for the emblems. By using a magnetic level, a measuring tape and masking tape, I'm pretty confident that I have all of my emblems on in their factory locations.







I also installed my Koni shocks, struts and Eibach Sportline springs this past weekend as well. I'm happy with the ride height for now, but I'm actually a little surprised my car doesn't sit any lower than it does since I cut 1/4 off the front coils, 1/2 from the rears, removed the rear isolators and installed heater hose around the top coils. I figured with me standing on the radiator support, bouncing up and down, PLUS driving the car around 100 miles over the weekend would have been enough to settle the suspension... I dunno.

Anyhoooo... I also picked up my newly recovered Katzkin leather seats from the upholstery shop. I'm doing a complete interior color change from black to Beechwood tan.





When I get back to town next weekend, I'm gonna pull off the outside door lock cylinders and use some gun metal blue to dye them black. I also plan on dropping off the interior plastics, headliner and sun visors to have them wrapped in leather and suede.

dprest68

iTrader: (1)

Looks great Carlos! I think it took a month or two for my friend's car to settle after he put his sportlines in. Do you still have the buttons for your seat belt holders that hold them together on your front seats? My friend took the one that I have left on my GTA seats over to a guy that is going to make a few sets for me if you are interested and need them. He said he can make them out of plastic or aluminum on his CNC machine.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Thank you! Buttons for the seat belt holders? I'm not sure what you're referring to. Are you talking about the little plastic buttons that covers the screws on the sides of the seats for the plastic ribs? If so, yes I have those.

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

Came out beautiful man, see you waited on the interior. very nice

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Thank you. I do however need to take the car to a body shop and see if there's something that can be done with that hideous gap between the hood and front fascia. It's a serious eyesore.

dprest68

iTrader: (1)

It's the button in the center of the picture

It keeps the seat belt captured in the guide.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Oh, I'm not worried about that since those seat belt guides are coming off anyway. I had a spare set of seats from an '88 GTA that I used since I'm doing a color change and needed the plastics. The seat belt guides for model years '90 to '92 are different and I already have a set in the correct color.

dprest68

iTrader: (1)

That's cool. Lucky you!

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

status of the wheels?

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

I haven't even got started on them yet. I've been trying to get other things done first on 2 different cars. They'll get get done eventually, but they're really not that high on the priority list.

thomas1976

Carlos, do you have some black interior parts you do not need anymore? I'm looking for complete set of black seat belts.
Thanks

LHernandezJr

...

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

You have first dibs on them whenever I get around to dissecting the interior to install the new stuff.


Yes, indeed it will! The wheels? I plan to have exact replica wheels made in a larger diameter and width, so yeah... they'll still be basically original looking, but better IMO. As far as the front fascia goes, I'm gonna drop the car off at a body shop soon and see what they can do with it.

thomas1976

Sounds good I also need the complete black ultima seats, I will be starting the restoration of a white 89 trans am this week end. You have a pm with details.

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

Carlos,
Absolutely awesome. These are the pics we have been waiting for! Great job, car looks great in the sun.

Everything is coming together. You do outstanding work.

Personal opinion here, but black with tan interior is awesome on GTAs. Love the new 'hides', car is going to be stunning.

Keep us updated with pictures! Look forward to seeing more of it!

poorboy8

Subscribed....

I have a 91 GTA as well...it's not in that great of shape and I'm going to use you as inspiration to getting mine cleaned up and back on the road.