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The journey of a 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix



Re: My 1999 Silvermist Grand Prix

I have not posted an update in awhile. I ended up getting the car back from the paint shop back in October 2016.

The reasons for the repaint were for the clear coat failing on the front and rear bumpers, the paint under the clear coat was fading on the fenders, the front doors, the lower rocker panels and to fix the rust issues by the front windshield. The rust snuck up on me as the windshield was replaced many years ago.

Here is one of the areas

Roof_Rust.jpg


A few months later I corrected all of the defects (swirls, rotary holograms) that the body shop left me.

Trunk_Defects_Daylight.jpg


Some various afters of the paint polished and protected with a ceramic coating. For the full write up one can visit the following link

Review - Sonax CC36 Ceramic Coating

Front5.jpg


Front_Angle.jpg


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Front_Angle_2.jpg


Only thing left is to install the SD Air Dam back on the car. Sitting polished and ceramic coated as well.

IMG_1395a.jpg


I also installed a set of Muth mirrors that I picked up a couple of years ago from another member on this forum.

 
The car looks fantastic Mike.

That Essence eh?
Amazing how you can spend coin, then they smash it with a rotary.

Did you tell them not to touch it?
 
spazzz said:
The car looks fantastic Mike.

That Essence eh?
Amazing how you can spend coin, then they smash it with a rotary.

Did you tell them not to touch it?
Click to expand...

I did not tell them to not touch it. They polished it to remove the sanding marks from wetsanding. The paint is not perfect but it is in better shape than what it was.

I only use Essence with Cquartz. Other than that I don't use it.
 


Have not done much to the car lately. The modding days have been over for quite some time now. At this point it is maintenance. As of right now I plan to keep it another year and evaluate what I want to do at that point.

It does need a new intermediate steering shaft as the knocking through the floor board is persistent.

The only thing I have done was go back to the stock taillights with diode dynamic XP80 LED's in them. I prefer the look of the stock tails. The LED's went to another local member for a very good deal.

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I did repolish it a few months ago and it is now wearing a different ceramic coating. It is wearing Cquartz UK 3.0 topped with CarPro Gliss. The repaint is holding up well.

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Made a slight change. The trim on the car had seen better days after 19 years of ownership. I came across the chrome trim from an SE at a local salvage yard and swapped it.

It is different and I have not gotten used to it just yet. But it looks better than I thought it would.

IKWpDr1.jpg
 
The Guz said:
M I came across the chrome trim from an SE at a local salvage yard and swapped it.

It is different and I have not gotten used to it just yet. But it looks better than I thought it would.
Click to expand...
I respectfully disagree. I don't like the look at all. But, not my ride so whatever works for you. The rest of the car still looks as sexy as ever. :)
 
Talking about the bit around the windows? It took me a few to find the difference from Oct. I can dig it it's a pretty darn subtle change to me.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
 


Bronco Boy said:
I respectfully disagree. I don't like the look at all. But, not my ride so whatever works for you. The rest of the car still looks as sexy as ever. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks. It is not everyone's cup of tea so to speak. It does look better than the 19 year old trim that was starting to come apart in some areas. I am going to leave it for now unless I find a set of trim that is in almost new condition.

wowitsfast said:
Talking about the bit around the windows? It took me a few to find the difference from Oct. I can dig it it's a pretty darn subtle change to me.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yeah it is the chrome trim that has been the recent change.
 
Replaced some worn out items.

New front and rear strut mounts
New fuel filter
New PCV valve

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New steering shaft. Getting the old one out was a pain. The new went on so easy. New one on the right.

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What all did you end up having to remove to swap the steering shaft? They still available from GM or did you go aftermarket? That car is clean btw!
 
I did a trans pan drop with a new trans filter, new magnets and new fluid yesterday.

Old magnet

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New magnet

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Magnet on the new filter

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New fluid

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GTP Mark said:
What all did you end up having to remove to swap the steering shaft? They still available from GM or did you go aftermarket? That car is clean btw!
Click to expand...

I found this thread which was helpful. The hardest part was the old one had that round interface at the steering column which was hard to pop out of the boot.

I popped off the old steering shaft with a tie rod/ball joint separator.

The new steering shaft went on easy and popped right in.

There are two 11mm bolts on each end. The boot on the inside cabin is not very flexible.

I ordered one from gmparts direct. Wanted OEM. The old one lasted 20 years so I should be good to go now.


http://www.grandprixforums.com/general-grand-prix-discussion/108605-intermediate-steering-shaft.html
 
Was it just clunking? I've never replaced one before, but I've pulled a couple off and repacked them with grease. Works pretty well. Nice car btw.
 


bandook said:
Was it just clunking? I've never replaced one before, but I've pulled a couple off and repacked them with grease. Works pretty well. Nice car btw.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It was clunking especially at low speeds on an uneven surface. It could be heard as a metal to metal contact. Also when I would get into the driveway it would make a creaking noise.

Once I pulled the old one I could see a difference in the amount of play in the old joints. The new one is stiffer with no play.

I took it out for a drive today and the difference is noticeable and no more noise. I chased this thinking it was the cradle bushing but replacing those did nothing.
 
I talked my retrofit projectors from black bird lighting solutions.

Waiting on the switchback leds to show up. Just need to be aligned a bit.

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I ended up swapping out the yellow diode dynamic LEDs with the diode dynamic switchbacks.

Pretty close match to the projectors.

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