Well some of you might remember the thread I made when I was getting my car ready to make the journey from Wisconsin to Las Vegas, NV in my 1988 L98 GTA. It was fun for the most part but, the seats are extreamly unconfertable to sit in days at a time, and it cost me $1000 and two days more than I thought it would. I made it to a city a little past Denver Colorado and pulled into the parking lot of a hotel to spend the night. I get out of my car and out of the corner of my eye I see a green puddle getting bigger and bigger under the front of my car. The water pump took a dump and I had to take it to a chevy dealer to get worked on. $570.. Then I was within 120 miles of Vegas when all of the sudden I hear a beeping noise and my radio turns off. I look down at the dash and the volt gauge was in the red. I was going 75MPH down the side of a moutian and the thing was about die on me. I saw a gas station luckley and was able to pull in. Right as I was entering the parking lot the engine died on me and I lost the power steering and brakes... I had to leave it there over night and come back the next day with a new battery to fix it. I made it home, but I had to drive through the desert and over the Hoover dam with no A/C with the windows down. because the charge would not go above 13 volts and when I turn lights or A/c on it goes dangerously low. When I was crossing the dam people were taking pictures of the car, and I got pointed at several times so that made me feel good though. Now its sitting in the garage in my new house in vegas waiting for me to replace the alternator so I can cruise
it around Vegas. I cant wait!! OH and Before I left I did have the car converted from a factory notchback to a normal hatch. I am just waiting on the fiberglass spoiler I orderd about 3 months ago from Hawks.. well if you ever wonderd what a black GTA looks like with no spoiler here you go.

Here are a couple pictures I took.

Colorado





Arizona

 

for that coin i would have swapped the pump at an autozone or the like with their $39 tool set.

 

Well I was in the middle of nowhere and was really pissed off, so I really didn't care much. I just wanted to be on my way.

 

Sucks it broke down , I have never had any problems on long trips with my car. I know you were pissed when **** hit the fan but I too would have got the parts and a chepo socket set and fixed that stuff myself. I always carry tools when I got on a long haul just in case. Keep in mind these cars are not Young anymore.

 

Why, I thought you liked it? And what did you do with it?

 

No I didn't like it too much. It looked ok, but I like the look of the regular hatch much better. The shape of the car soo much more streamlined. I am keeping the hatch with the car because I realize that it is a collectors item. People told me to sell this car and buy another instead of switching hatches, but I really like my car. lol That hatch was the only thing I didnt like about it. I cant wait to get the spoiler now. Then I am getting an ebach pro kit, tinting the windows, and getting front offset crosslace wheels for the back. Then I am gonna make it quick.

 

That's a great looking car.Hopefully you have the kinks worked out.

 

my dad just had to go pic my brother up from vegas to help him move... they had a fuel pump go out in AZ and had to get it fixed at the dealer too.... $850 later they were rolling again. lol....

That has to suck

 

Imagine That.....

Glad you made the trip Relativley ok, Looks Good

 

Too bad your trip wasn't better.

 

god hearing this makes me wanna pay to get my car transported. im moving from va to ca.. atleast u made it right lol

 

Car looks great sorry to hear about all of your troubles.

 

Great looking car. Sorry 'bout the breakdowns dude, been there myself. Had to get towed off the highway at rush hour a couple weeks ago 'cause of the alternator taking a dump so I feel your pain.

Vegas is a trip I'd like to take in our IROC someday but not till my confidence in the car is 100%. What kind of gas mileage did you get?

 

The mileage was pretty decent. I had the air conditioner on the whole way and was getting about 21 mpg doing 75-80 mph.

 

Your telling me. I'm having the exact same symptons with mine. (Dying out, losing power brakes and power steering going down the road or making a turn.)

I'm sorry you had to go through so much trouble. It had to be an adventure though. I'm craving a long road trip of my own, but no way would I trust my Trans Am as old as it's gotten, especially after reading your story. (Would very much like to upgrade to a 4th gen 'hawk w Ram Air)

Also, I got 25 mpg in my 305 anytime I'd take a trip across interstate 40.