• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Junk I drive

Slotted GTP right headlight mount bolt holes and bent stuff a little. Got that lamp up where it ought to be. Dremel again! Anyway now all I need is some spankin GM capsules or something...

The GTP and GP are both mighty smooth right now, as it should be by the close of summer. Just a little more and I'll have GTP tight enough to consider upgrades / mods. Thats how I work, I gotta have a solid foundation before any playtime stuff gets considered. I'm sneaking up on that point slowly but surely.
 


TYC's aren't really that expensive for new headlights. Something like $30 each plus shipping. I bought a set off of Rockauto when I did my retros.
 
Matt...you mention one tire is an inch further forward than it should be. Having done enough trans swaps.. I've noticed that there is a decent amount of play in the front of these cars.

Have you considered loosening the subframe bolts and using an aligning bar/rod to ensure it's properly in place? Or maybe helping you get it closer to spec?
 
I always thought thats part of an alignment, if needed. The place I used was too dumb to make any corrections or suggestions. I can loosen and try to scoot it in the right direction. At least now I know where that is.
 
I have never seen anyone doing an alignment touch the subframe. Thought that typically if you needed that done, you were having something fixed at a body shop where real measurements were used.

Now if you only knew guys with say a body shop.. hmmmmm
 
A tape measure is all I've got and everybody borrows it, lol. Yeah, not at a crash shop anymore. There was no reason for me to doubt the subframe position until alignment, heck I never measured wheelbase after that because it drove same. Struts or mounts might be going away too, that could be a factor. You're right though, normally thats a body shop thing. However, I'm doubtful that any of the suspension mounting points (Maybe lower control arm bolt) are included in the computerized structure measuring equipment's database. The frame bolt heads themselves are the measuring points commonly referenced, and an alignment machine determines if "setback" is present. Its a circus if doing own ride at house. At the Benz house, unibodies came off the frame machine (within 3mm cumulatively measured mm) and if a frame bolt didn't fit, it needed a replacement frame. The alignment rack was next building over and the doings were internal like that. So the guy could holler and you could move the frame with it still hooked up. I'll need to scoot left forward and right back as far as possible, theres only a little play to work with on my GTP specimen. But the GT recently had that LCA mount yanked on, those wheelbases are within half inch side to side.
 


Think I got that backwards, on the subframe. Left goes rearward, right side forward... as much as possible. I blame morning fog.

Took the couple hours of daylight after work today and made another effort on the driver's side of the JY bumper. Looks like it will be for the GT because it didn't all rub up as nice as the first spot I tried. Look-

Before- dull. See that kinda brown spot? Thats clearcoat beyond repair. But now I know it has been repainted once already with grilles in, and was probably sanded and buffed heavily or sprayed too thin on top. And it was a long time ago!





Speaking of junkyard, theres the one I saved from the crusher. Numbers match, its a 72.



More junk- and yes I am planning to do a dash pad removal thread but later on.



Heres after totally gumming up my wool pad pulling the funk off. Can yu see where I went through? FWIW I did try some metal polish here first, at the advice of a friend. Mother's though.



Let me polish that a little and use the flash, its getting dark out... Oh! NOW you can see it.



Yeah. Well, I got it pretty hot there. And that haze left on the other side, yeah prolly thin clear there too. Whats showing through is the OE (?) paint underneath.

Reached for the trusty rattle can of Duplicolor black, after cleaning all that polish off. I can rub this up later and apply clear, or it can get me by until I use real paint. I know from doing the rear bumper that just this can be blended in pretty good by polishing.



I sprayed some across that nasty top edge and below the grilles too, then called it one.

IMG_6897_zpspkzjnzda.jpg


The GTP miles aren't killing me as bad as them faded needles.

 
They do just push on, but since the needles are weighted you have to remember where they were before you pull them off and try to stick the 04+ needles back on in the same spot. It helps if you have a scanner or something to see live data.
 




And you can make yourself never run out of gas! lol. I think i have a set laying around I'll trade you for some roof rails, hahahahaha.
 
Ha, now theres a far-thinking man. If'n you think you can pry 'em from my cold dead hands you go right ahead mister!

Oboy, picked up some clear on the way home... and a TB gasket for kicks. Here I go again and it ain't even weekend.

Besides seats and needles (wait not carburetor ones) and S/C, what other "swap goodies" are 04+? Once they went all sedan and disconnected the right foot from reality I checked out!
 
Oil pressure spring is a little better, bumps the pressure up a bit, but so does a washer on the end of the 97-03 spring, lol. 03+ transmissions got some lovin too, hardened 4th shaft, ratcheting 3rd\input sprag, etc. The Comp-Gs and GXPs got GMPP suspension goodies like the 9C1s, minus the STBs, I think thats about it. 01+ got deeper cup holders that are useful about 60% of the time, and 01+ also go rear wheel well liners to help with rust on the strut towers and rockers. I think that's about it, off the top of my head. I think 04+ got 12 inch brakes factory, but they are only single piston, so you'd want to goto 06+ Impala brakes to get the dual pistons anyways.
 
Ratcheting sprag isn't better, it was easier/cheaper.

When did GP's start getting 4 doors..that's when I would have called it quits. No true sports car has 4 doors
 
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