Hey, this is my first time posting on this site. I'm Justin, I'm 16, from California, and I bought my 1989 GTA from Craigslist for $2000. I've replaced the headlight motors, installed a new tranny mount [the loud "THUMP" when you got on the gas was scary as hell, the thump being the tranny banging up against the floorpan], had to replace the rear window ($400) after I overtightened the top bolts after I took the louver (spelling?) strip off. Half of the louvers blew off on the freeway on the way back from the purchase. So yeah I vaccumed like 4 buckets of glass up with a shop vac. Also, the hatch was open when the window exploded and this caused the hatch to drop and punch a hole in my emblem between the tail lights.

I've replaced the rotors and the brake pads, changed oil, replaced fuel filter, had the tires realigned, reglued the headliner to my ceiling, installed all new turn signal lights, replaced the oil sensor, and speculated endlessly about what parts to buy first when I get money.

So yeah. Hello!

I've been using this site for a while and I figured I'd make an account and pay my respects, thirdgen.org has been my bible to the Trans Am and it's a very nice site when compared to all the others that you find with google.

I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a source of wheel caps for the original rims on a 1989 GTA [The gold ones]. Also I would like to know if there is a way/what is the best way to make my rims black where the gold is now, a way that will last under driving/constant polishing conditions. I plan to paint my car black in the future.

And by suggestion, I mean the site admin should add a "Wheel" section to your "beautification" section of the Techincal Articles. Replies welcome!

 

Welcome to TGO, bro. Bought my '86 TA for $2000 too, but mine has a lot less problems at the moment. Might I ask how much you paid for your headlight motors? Only place around here with them is wanting about $100 each. Can't find any in the boneyards... everytime I find out there's a Firebird in one and I go check, the entire front end is missing. lol.

Once again, welcome, and hey, post some pics!

 

If your tranny mount is that bad you probably need engine mounts too.
Little FYI I have also heard of people putting a polyurethane tranny mount on and having the bellhousing break from to much movement at the engine from bad mounts.

Powder coating is probably going to be your most durable option for the rims.

 

welcome, and yes this place rules

 

Actually if you read it again I said I replaced the tranny mount when I first bought it. It's been good for a long time and I barely drove it when it was worn. I just replaced the rubber mount for like $6. I don't think my bellhousing is cracked.

And I kinda figured powder coating was the way to go. Would it be durable for a long time though? And also, anyone know where I can get the center caps [WSG ones, or black with white bird also would be fine] for a good price, or for ANY price?

To DyingYoung138:


Well at the time I didn't drive yet and my dad bought the motors new. They're from GM I think. I had to take out the entire headlight assembly [pretty easy] and take out the old motors and reinstall these. They're that decorative gold color. The kind that changes colors a little when you look at it in the light. I think he got them for about $200 each. They operate perfectly now. Also, if you're going to do the same, make sure you lubricate all the moving parts on the headlight frame really good, they were hard to move and I'd bet that you'd be extending your electric motor life by doing so.

I also repainted the frame black, it had some white overspray on it.

Thanks for the welcome. I have pics on my profile. I will post more on this thread in a sec.

 

=D

 

Welcome!

Well It looks like birds run in your family.. :-o

Don't think we wouldn't have noticed that second gen. What year is it??

I love your car man Its real nice. Take care of it.

 

Looks like a nice ride, especially for $2000.

 

That looks like a 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am ! Beautiful car

 

Nice score for a first car!

If you need emblems (yours look good, but the car has been repainted & the sail panel 'birds placed in the "wrong" spot)
https://gtaemblems.com

As for your center caps.....
http://moderndaymuscle.com

And for any GTA specific help...
www.gtasourcepage.com

 

Yessir, that's my dad's. He and I restored it after he found it rotting in a farm for $600. No rust whatsoever. If you'd like to see more on that and our current project (a 1973 Formula Firebird 455 RAM Air) check out my myspace albums of them, but for the sake of thirdgen I won't post them because it is out of place (a tad bit) on this site. It's my favorite car ever though, no doubt.

Here's the link to the albums:
http://http://viewmorepics.myspace.c...endID=34708241
Even if you don't have a myspace you can look at them. This is the reason I claim to be 20 on myspace. If you're under 18, they set your profile to private, meaning you'd have to make a profile and add me to check it out.

Anyways, thanks for the compliment bud!

 

Bro, oh my god, thank you! I looked high and low for a place that makes these things (center caps) and couldn't find them. Thumbs up!
EDIT: Also, do they sell the black piece that sticks out of the middle of the wheel? All I see here is the emblem, which I also need, but I need the black snap-in cap.
LINK:http://http://moderndaymuscle.com/inc/sdetail/945
Also, what specifically is wrong with my emblems? Like how off are they?

Thanks.

 

dang a stock radio also....nice!!!

 

Don't get me wrong...I think the placement looks good. I like that better than the OEM placement. Stock was lower & more forward.

They were placed only about 5" back from the door window & 3" up.

Contact Frankie, the owner of GTASourcePage for specifics. I know them, but Frankie doesn't just post them publicly or randomly pass them out, to prevent accurate clones from being built.

Provided with your the SPID decal, showing your VIN & the correct RPO code, then he is more than happy to share the pics showing the dimensions & placement.

 

Well right now that's not too big of a deal then. I thought it was way off. I want to keep it original to an extent, but I'm fine with it for now. Thanks though, when I get the car repainted black I'll find out the specifics if I decide to keep the decal or go with a white/black one. For now I'm gonna focus on getting it mechanically and exterior stock ASAP. Also I have some classes in a bit so I don't have time to read my vin, give it to the owner, etc. Thanks though, I'll do that in the future for sure.

 

Funny story on that actually, the original owner 'lost' the factory radio so he put a stock one from a 90's firebird in it. I was wondering why the steering wheel controls didn't work, but I let it go for a while since I couldn't drive it at the time anyways. Well later, I was going through the car thouroughly for the first time, and I found the stock radio in the rear panel with the lock on it. The whole radio. I was surprised. Haha. I installed it since it worked with the steering wheel controlls and yeah.

I recently bought an Ipod cassette adapter and it sounds great on the factory Delco system. Eventually [probably the last thing I'll do] I'll install a bass-y stereo.

 

Solid, solid car, very nice. Try ebay for the complete caps, there is one new set of 4 WS6 caps up there now. And you could probably just paint the wheels with normal auto paint (that's how the factory did it, I believe). But no, its not as durable as powerdercoating.

 

Thanks, I was thinking that may be my only choice aside from junkyards. I wanted to confirm that nobody makes new ones anymore first though. (center caps)

 

figures it aint stock, i wasnt to sure, be nice to have a stocker for that original look

i got a stock one that stays inside the house, will put it in for shows or if i feel like a change

oh yea, engine paint in a rattle can will lay out real well if you are good with a rattle can

also try ebay motors, i get alot of my stuff from people on there, there is even 3gen e'bay stores on there

 

No it IS stock. Just it came with a later year one when I bought it because the guy who sold it to me couldn't find the original and later when I looked throughout the car the ORIGINAL radio was in the rear glove compartment. So yes it's the original.

 

Man that is a clean looking car. Congrats. I'm not a big fan of white cars but something about those GTA's I tell ya lol. Looks like you got an Awesome deal for $2000.00. Take care of her man!!!

 

White thirdgens FTW!!!!! Nice deal for 2000. Are you gonna keep it and restore it, or (like me) Keep it and mod the hell out of it?

 

Thanks man. Maybe it'll comfort you to know that I plan to paint her black and do the rims black as well.

 

I'm going to keep the car somewhat original, like the exterior will stay original, and most of the interior, but motorwise and handling wise it's going to be a beast. I have a huge list of things to do. Here's a small sample.

-Subframe connectors
-New shocks all around
-Get Tranny reworked and shift-kitted
-Headers/exhause/intake, the works
-Remove A/C
-Customize engine paint (and pull it out and work it a bit as well )
-New center caps for wheels
-Paint it black
-Paint the diamond lace on the wheels black
-Get a legit box with 2 10' subs in it for the rear
-Get a stereo deck
-Replace headlight bulbs with new xenon
-Replace fog lights (they work but one is cracked)

Some misc. stuff I need includes:

-New turn signal lever (the plastic is cracked at the base, but it's still fully functional)
-Button for shifter (automatic)
-Rear firebird emblem/plastic piece between tail lights
-New floormats (don't REALLY need them but I want them lol)

 

I did a pretty easy mod to my car today, I added a switch for my antenna motor so when my radio is on cassette I can have it down and not worry about damaging it. I'm going to post pics and a "Installing A Power Antenna Switch For Dummies" in the electronics forum. Check it out if you might be interested. It came out FANTASTIC. Thanks.

 

I meant that I liked white GTA's haha Personally mine is black. Hey if you want to sell one of your factory decks you have you should PM me... I would be interested