Is it legal to have the Daytime lights in the same "slot" with the fog lights? There are some retarded cops here who consider everything bellow the headlights as fog lights cuz "hey fog lights are always down there" .

Sorry for rant but these f*** in EU have time for all kinds of stupid regulations except what is needed.They even regulated how bananas should look and how many degrees should have the curvature ....

 

You can actually have them down there but you can't use the fog lights as DRL or you will get fined for using the incorrect lights... We actually specify how thick the fog has to be that you are allowed to use them... CH ain't any better than EU.

 

Time to update this thread a little bit. There has a lot been going on but I simply couldn’t find any time. Unfortunately I got struck by a depression last winter but now as the sun is coming back everything is brightening up.

Anyway: I have (had) lexan t-tops. As I learned Lexan(R) is a polycarbonate whereas our t-tops are made from plexiglass / acrylic. They’re probably called lexan t-tops because they were made by Lexmar, which sounds similar.

So I was driving on the autobahn/highway at 80 mph in rather heavy traffic to get to my dad. I needed his help to get the old seat belts out. When I noticed that the car was unusually loud inside I realized: stupid me hadn’t locked the t-tops down. I asked my daughter to push the lever but she misunderstood me and pushed the t-top upwards. No need to say it flew off and across all three lanes - about one inch from one of the cars behind me, landing precisely on the side of the highway in the grass - shattered to pieces of course. I don’t want to think about what could have happened if it hit a car, oh well…

 

I later picked it up and luckily the locking mechanism was still fine.

I then took the chance and bought glass t-tops for both sides to replace the lexan t-tops. Both of the new glass t-tops have small pins compared to the lexan t-tops, but as I learned from this forum that doesn’t matter - and I can confirm that. The new small pin t-tops fit nicely on my 91 Firebird.

 

I took the locks from my old t-tops and mounted them to the new glass t-tops. That was easier than I thought. I just had to drill out two rivets.

 

I had to clean the t-tops, remove some rust from the locking mechanism and respray the plastics to make them look new again. One of them has a mirror finish inside (it’s a used one but in good shape) and the other one doesn’t (that one is NOS). Almost can’t see the difference when mounted.

 

Interestingly, the car is much quieter inside since I have glass t-tops, the wind is silent and all that creaking is gone. Anyone else notice that?

 

Sorry to hear about the accident with the t-top. Looks good now.

 

Nice repair.

I don't have a good A/B, back-to-back comparison in my own car as you do, but the last F-body I test drove prior to buying mine had the plastic tops, and there was much more noise that traveled through them at highway speed than with my glass ones.

 

Interesting. So the plastic t-tops are louder, flimsier, break more easily, get scratched more easily and are more dangerous overall... I should have made the switch to glass much earlier!

 

A very small thing that used to bother me was that "momo" logo on my steering wheel. I had already replaced the horn button with an OEM Firebird logo. But now I also designed a small Pontiac logo to go over the factory momo lettering lol.

Here's the file on my thingiverse channel if someone is interested:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2241689

Looks nice and pseudo OEM

 

Doing some small things just for fun. Currently working on a 3D file for the Performance Sound badge (hard to get a decent original), here's a render, the design isn't perfect yet.

I don't actually know what to do with it yet lmao

 

Nice work on both.

And I know exactly what to do with that Performance Sound logo. I've been trying to find a deal on some of those for a while, and where there is ONE on ebay, it's crazy expensive. So this would be a welcome item.

Do you have a file for this posted anywhere yet?

 

Not yet, I think it's not exactly accurate as I don't have an original yet. I will add it to thingiverse as soon as it's done. pm me if you want the preliminary file.

 

There's another thing I'm doing (just for trying to become better at 3D design, no real purpose in mind). It's the Firebird / Camaro flashlight. Still quite ugly with those edges and all.
And I really don't know what to do with this one. To use it as a comlink or a light saber might be cool.

 

Would make a bitchin' flip-top cigarette case.

 

that might be one good reason to start smoking haha!

 

Not much news as I haven't been well over the summer.

However as I had to go to inspection (again, sigh) I got the car cleaned nicely. No need to say that with such a clean engine bay inspection was a breeze lol



And I met another good looking Firebird at the local car shop.

 

What does the inspection consist of? Can you do mods to the car over there? I was told Switzerland only imported California cars, but I am not sure if that is true.

 

Nice work... engine bay looks clean One of these days

 

That engine bay is BEAUTIFUL!

And finding a twin on the road over there had to be a real surprise.

 

Today I had some appetite to write down how I added keyless entry. I did it a few months ago when I swapped the analog for the digital dash, but as I was busy with so many things in my job I wouldn't get around to post my findings until now. Still I think this might be useful to someone who wants keyless entry in his or her Camaro or Firebird.

Initially I got the VSS-200 system, which was recommended as the aftermarket keyless entry system back then. However that module kept forgetting what keys were programmed every time I unhooked the battery.

So naturally I looked around for something better and finally I got an ABO0104 system from a 4th gen Camaro/Firebird.

 

The hardest part was finding the right connectors.

It took me some time to find the correct replacement parts numbers. I documented them here, along with the wiring schematics:

 

I think the list speaks for itself. As the actuators in thirdgens will not differentiate between right and left doors I simply connected C2 pin G and H to the black (unlock) 194 wire on my 91 Firebird. The lock wire on C2 pin C went to the light blue 195 wire.

The box can light up the interior for 40 seconds when the unlock button is pressed. All I needed to do is to hook up the C2 pin D wire to the white wire that goes to the front door jamb switch, that's really all there is to it.

The hardest part was the hatch release switch. The ABO0104 gives +12 V for 1 second, but in the thirdgens we need to pull the hatch release relay to GND. I solved that simply by adding another relay in parallel to the hatch release switch.

For programming I added a pin to the OBD connector that I can connect to GND with a paper-clip. A hidden switch would be another good option.

 

So far it has been working nicely since it is installed. I'm not happy with the range of the antenna though, it works only when I'm close to the car.
I hope to resolve that issue in the near future.

However I must say it's really neat to have keyless entry! Feels really up-to-date and saves the door looks from scratching with the key when it's dark outside...

 

And here are two of the pictures I took for the COTM nomination I got from maks10 and vinny R - thanks again! More of them pics later...

 

Nice writeup. I have a 4th gen BCM that I was going to add to my 91 GTA, but I am going to go with the aftermarket passive system I put in my 92 instead

 

Very cool and well done!

 

Thanks Cehbra. This is something I want to do to mine.

 

Great thread, I love seeing these cars overseas! I like the early Trans Am touches on your 91.

For your Momo, did you leave the clock spring (yellow disc and cable in this pic) in place, or did you remove it? Do you still get the airbag light? And what Momo hub did you use? Thanks!

 

Sorry for taking so long to answer. Winter is such a busy time in my profession, I simply didn't have the energy to do anything besides work

Actually I left the yellow disc and cable as they are. The cable is disconnected at the other end because I removed SIR completely, see my thread here: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...dash-swap.html - so I don't even have an airbag light anymore.

As for the Momo Millenium steering wheel I simply used the Momo Steering Wheel Hub Adapter Kit for GM # 2401 - had to shave off some of the aluminum in the back though

 

A long time ago I wanted to get a better range for my keyless entry. I couldn't even stand behind the car and open the trunk...

So I dug up an old WIFI antenna I had lying around and cut the cable. The connector is mounted between the two plugs and soldered to the internal antenna.

The + pole of the long end was soldered to an insulated piece of copper wire with 1.5 mm2. I chose a length of 17.8 inches as the frequency of the setup is 315 MHz.

 

 

Mounting was easy, I just fixed the copper wire to the A pillar with some zip ties and routed the cable to the receiver within the dash. I now have a range of 70 feet - much better than the 3 feet I had before yay!

 

It's been more than five years since I got the car - time for some new rims! I got Boze Forged 18" Pro Touring wheels with a medium lip and smoked center. I think it's totally worth it as it gives the car a more modern look.

 

They are 18x8 with Nexen 245-40-18 up front and 18x10 with Nexen 275-35-18 rear.

 

That dust cap is protruding a bit on the front wheels so I can't mount the new caps. I think I'll need some spacers - that should hopefully solve the problem.

 

Those are nice looking wheels!

 

You are a great representative for the third generation F body cars, what a story and an awesome looking car!

 

great work!

 

Whatever the price you paid was worth it, modern, sweet rims, they set the car off. A whole new attitude. Great choice!!

 

Once again, I am so impressed with the work you've done. Did you notice any "seat of the pants" difference in they way it drove after installing the functional hood scoop?

 

Thanks guys!

Buddy, the rims were 3750 US$ plus shipping plus tires. So far that was the biggest investment I ever made on the car

 

Actually at first I didn't notice anything. Only when I had to shut down the system for a few days I noticed how sluggish the car got. I think there is a difference - not much but noticeable.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ml#post6011740

 

Those wheels look great,it looked great before but now it looks even better.
You have done an amazing job.