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Hippo's Car - Install List Added Pg.23

Hippo Machine

Hippo Machine

Because Wet Leaves
I'm Joe, I'm 16, and this is my 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - RedMy first time ever waxing a car, so some streaks but shiny for a 13 y/o car! :cool:
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[/IMG]Headlights are looking much better now, but still replacing.
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Anyone know how to get this gunk off!?! It's gross! Must be lotion or something from previous owner's elbow.
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Interior... the norm.
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Rear
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Anyone think I should take off the tips and polish? I want to, but how easy are they to put back on? I'll have the inlay decals in red on later this week as well.
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Thanks for looking/ helping with any questions I have, this is my first car and I love it to pieces!
 
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Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

nice looking car right there.

I think there is this stuff called TUFF STUFF or something like that, that will clean the interior pretty well.

As for the tips, take a dremal with a sanding paper bit and go to town, or start with 220 grit then go to 600 or 800 then 1000 wet sanding.

dont take them off just do it on the car and they will look like this.

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad195/Camerongtp24/2011-06-12205653.jpg
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

Agreed, on the polishing the tips. They look awesome polished.

They are the hardest thing in the entire car to get off. I'd rather pull the engine and trans, than remove the tips.

I like the pregens, pleases dont paint them black.
Looks clean though...

My suggestions, Better headlights, and tinted tails, Rear inlay for the PONTIAC on the rear fascia, and either paint the Grandprix on the trunk, or debadge it.
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

machinegunsquid said:
My suggestions, Better headlights, and tinted tails, Rear inlay for the PONTIAC on the rear fascia, and either paint the Grandprix on the trunk, or debadge it.
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Ordered headlights and inlays, will tint rear lights probably in two weeks. Do you recommend painting or decals for the trunk badge/ all badges? What kind of paint? Thanks.
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

I got most of that hideous **** off of the door panel with Tuff Stuff I got at O'Reilly worked great, just a lil' spot left.
 




Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

Clean ride for sure. Always nice to see another well maintained car
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

Definitely debadge. I removed the dealership and "grand prix" off my trunk the first day, replaced the "grand prix" with a vinyl "Supercharged" sticker that's centered, and left the GTP badges because I like them on the sides. Looks alot cleaner tho on GTs without all the emblems

BTW you should have just wet sanded the headlights back to their former glory. There are 2-3 posts on how to wet sand them back to perfection, I did it one Saturday, took about 6-7 hours start to finish but well worth it. My 99s were yellow and hazed and now look almost new, could have possibly made them better but Im very happy with the $20 worth of supplies vs buying new ones. Lemme kno if you want pics or info on what to do
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

I just used a wire wheel and then 1200 grit wet sand. mine turned out just fine, and you wont see the sand marks.
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

Little hesitant at first but decided, what the heck might as well do it, so I removed the Grand Prix Emblem off the trunk lid. I would never go back now! Was so easy, just went back and forth with a piece of dental floss til each fell off (took a few strands) and then picked the adhesive off the car with my finger nail ('bout 70* outside). Then used bug/tar remover to make it look like new! Looks awesome IMO:

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Still hesitant about the 3800 V6 ones though, one has a small dent right behind it, still go with it? What do you think? Thanks. All emblems I take off will be for sale if anyone wants them, best offer.
 
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Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

NIce RED car there. Did you get this purchased used, or did you aquire it from a family memeber? Either way, looks nice. Do you have any previouse maintanence records?
 


Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

QUICKSILVER462 said:
NIce RED car there. Did you get this purchased used, or did you aquire it from a family memeber? Either way, looks nice. Do you have any previouse maintanence records?
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I bought it used from Craigslist, 1 owner the family seemed normal/nice. Not really any records, but we took it to a mechanic to get it checked out before buying it. Few problems here and there, pretty major crease/dent on the passenger side rear QP but I LOVE the car. Think I got a pretty good deal on it too.
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

Hippo Machine said:
Still hesitant about the 3800 V6 ones though, one has a small dent right behind it, still go with it? What do you think? Thanks. All emblems I take off will be for sale if anyone wants them, best offer.
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Take them off anyways :th_winking:
 
Re: Hippo Machine's First Car - 1998 Grand Prix GT

TLSheff said:
BTW you should have just wet sanded the headlights back to their former glory. There are 2-3 posts on how to wet sand them back to perfection, I did it one Saturday, took about 6-7 hours start to finish but well worth it. My 99s were yellow and hazed and now look almost new, could have possibly made them better but Im very happy with the $20 worth of supplies vs buying new ones. Lemme kno if you want pics or info on what to do
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. But I didn't really consider restoring them because one has a deep burn or something that is obvious in person :( :

2011-06-29181839.jpg



Haha and when my Dad got home from work, I showed him the trunk debadge and could tell he didn't really like it. Don't care though looks better to me. Will it be less visible when the sun glares on it over time? or no?
 
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