Hey everybody, my 1991 Trans Am convertible has a 305 TPI engine and from neglect... or harsh new england climate, the aluminum parts on the TPI look awful. Is there a cleaner for this or is my best bet blasting these parts and getting them coated?

It looks a bit worse in person, I guess the camera flash kinda covers it up a little.

You could try Eagle 1 Etching Mag wheel cleaner. It's the version for rough cast alloy wheels. The trick is it's an acid. It'll eat any oxidation and leave a fairly clean appearance. It doesn't exactly look mint original condition, but it looks better then most alternatives. Media blasting is probably the best answer if you want it to look new stock.

If you decide on getting it coated you could either go with a clear powder or bead blasted silver powder which looks exactly like an aluminum finish. Of course there is always black or matching body/engine choices also. Another thing you might think about while you are at it, is having a second contrasting color add in the fins on the top and or an image/lettering added on the flat area.

Oh that's cool. I'll probably try the Eagle 1 when I get the chance. I'm gonna avoid blasting if I can due to $$. Any other tips/tricks?

Due to all the little contours, like on the side of the plenum & the grooves in the top....I'm betting bead blasting is pretty much going to be your only choice, other than hours & hours & hours of hand sanding. Even with hours of hand sanding, I doubt you'll be fully satisfied with the results, considering the time & labor you invested.

Try a local high school mechanics class. Usually they will let you blast it, better chances if you graduated from there.

Just for fun...


This is the engine compartment in my Formula when I first bought it. Notice everything is covered in dust and overspray from a quicky spray job the dealership threw on the car.


This is the same engine compartment after some scrubbing, the typical Engine Brite spray bomb, and some light pressure washing.


This was after some carefull scrubbing trouble spots with a wire bristle brush, and treating the TPI to the Eagle 1.


This is my engine compartment in 1/25th scale.

The nice thing about the Eagle 1 is it's VERY fast, and nothing has to come apart to do it. Just don't breathe the vapor, don't get it on you, don't get it on anything you don't want bleached. Spray it on, wait about a minute and hose it off. Done.

That's cool... and where did you get that model?! I really want a model of a 91-92 trans am (convertible) to go along with my car.

Ebay. There are a couple 91-92 GTA models that were made, but none were convertibles that I've seen. I've sorta kinda been looking for a Camaro convertible model to build a small duplicate of my RS, but I haven't seen one yet.

I like the little model that was included. I actually saw a black 87 IROC-Z at a junkyard in Colorado. It was twice the size of the models that you put together (Walmart). It was so detailed that I was shocked. Inside the door jams were the stickers, on the passenger dashboard, it had the Z28 IROC emblem, and even that little plaque that says Something about stereo enhancment system (just above the stereo).

Sounds like the 1/8 scale Irocz kit from Monogram. It was originally a mid 80's release. They re-released it a few years ago now under the Revell label if I remember correctly. It was about $80 at my local hobby shop, and my limit is about $15 for something that's going to sit on a shelf collecting dust. There's one on Ebay right now, Item number: 170438323939. Still more then I want to pay for one.

that the one I saw in the CO. junkyard.

Drew, a light coat of flat clear would make your 1/25th TPI look way more accurate.

I built the green formula model that you've got in the lower right of your pic about 10-12 years ago. Maybe someday I'll take pics and post them.

here's my 1/8th scale, not sure what brand as i bought it from ebay, im yet to repaint it and customize to my my own iroc but i like how detailed it is,

That's a Monogram 1/8 scale. I've got one that I bought when they re-issued them, but I never began assembly.

With one joke I've completely derailed a thread. I'm sorry, musclecar70sfan.

Jim, do you mean the 91-92 GTA model? Because the red 91 Formula and the yellow 91 Firebird are actually both the same kit, the yellow is just a re-release from a couple years ago. Monogram actually re-popped the red 91 Formula as a green? 92 Formula several years ago.

For some cars the easiest way to get a replica is the dealer promo model. They're quick, easy, and cheap, but somewhat limited colors and models.

At one time I was trying to model all the cars I own. Hence the 1/24 Formula, the 87 Z28 dealer promo, and the 91-92 GTA kits.






Now, back to your regularly scheduled topic.

Yeah drew, the version I built years ago was the green formula.

Lol its ok. I was gonna ask about the models anyway whether it be here or a separate thread. Well anyway... I guess I'll try that aluminum wheel treatment first and see what that does? Thumbs up or down?

Yeah, try that. If nothing else, it'll clean it up a bit. If it doesn't do a good enough job, you may want to consider pulling the parts off the car and finding a local place that can soda-blast them. Regular sand blasting will leave them porous and they'll get dirty immediately, but soda blasting can get you as close to factory new as possible.

powdercoat...its really not that expensive. this is my monte ss/tpi setup...will be doing this to the camaro after it gets back from paint. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2980559

You could try polishing the plenum and runners yourself.

OR

Buy some engine enamal paint (they come in different colors). I went this route and used dark grey (Chysler color). Just need new gaskets when you re-assemble (summit is cheap).