Friday, May 21, 2006

I ordered the Pontiac Historic Services information packet on my Trans Am.  I'll post the information when I get it and can scan it.  Right now, from what I can tell, I'm saying that my TA cost about $19,200 brand new.  That figure is taken from the base price then adding in all of the options.  Dealer or factory group packages may lower this due to group discounts on options.  It should be interesting to see how close I got given the information that I have at my disposal.

Monday, May 19, 2006

My father contributed $200 to the project for KYB front struts and rear shocks.  I'm going to hold off ordering these units until July or August when I can get some Eibach lowering springs and a pair of weld in subframe connectors for the TA as well.  I might just wait and get all of this done at once, with the larger wheels and fatter tires being installed.

Currently, I am in the unenviable position of being in direct contrast to the situation that Pontiac first experienced in 1984 with their 15th Anniversary Trans Am.  The FATA was the first third generation TA blessed with the 16x8" wheels as part of the package specific tunings of the WS6 suspension and the FATA package group itself.  Only the FATA had the 16x8" wheels in 1984 (wheels that would become the standard wheel for the 1985 WS6 package).  The problem was, while the wheels and tires had tremendous grip, the rest of the WS6 suspension wasn't quite up to the task of working with the 16x8" wheels.  On the other hand, I have a suspension set up for 16x8" wheels and I'm having to take corners with four inches less of rubber on the bottom end.  The 15x7" wheels are okay, but no where near what the rest of the car can produce in the way of handling.  Going into a corner at high speed sometimes gets hairy and I've come to realize that this car just isn't going to feel "right" until the 16x8" wheels and P245/50VR16 tires get back on all four corners.  Right now, it almost feels like I'm going into the corners with four space saver spares mounted on the car, that's how it feels (at least to me).  Pontiac had the problem of the 1984 WS6 suspension wouldn't keep up with the grip of the 16x8" tires.  I have the problem that the 15x7" wheels and tires won't get near the handling and performance of what the 1986 spec WS6 suspension is set up for.   Mostly it's just seat of the pants feel but boy, is it seat of the pants feel.  Maybe I'll also hold off until October when I can throw on larger sway bars front and rear along with the rest of the suspension (LCAs, panhard rod, etc.).  We'll see.  I rather get it all put on at one time instead of a piece today and another piece next week.

I plan on ordering the PHS package and repro window dealer sticker this week.  I'll scan the results when I get them and put them on the site.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Bought a new fuel filter at Autozone and paid a guy at the local garage to install it for me (it was worth the ten bux he charged me, trust me).  The fuel filter he removed was the original filter.  Go figure.  The TA is averaging about 21 and some change miles per gallon, with the AC on or the tops off / windows down and some spirited driving every now and then.  This car has some guts, folks.  I don't rag her and it is seldom if ever that I get down on her hard but I got caught behind some stupid people the other day and ... well, when the way got clear, if they weren't going to make up their mind (uneducated inbred rednecks from Lamar county should never be allowed to drive on paved roads...), I sure as hell knew where I wanted to go.  I had had a long day, I was eager to get home and when Mr. Indecision in front of me moved over into the turn lane (after keeping traffic behind him moving at 30mph in a 45mph zone), I just punched it (one of the few times I have and this time was at the lowest speed ever).  Whoa!  The LB9 roared and the front end of the Trans Am lifted as she squatted down on her haunch, barked rubber and shot ahead.

"Go, baby!  Go!" I shouted, amused that the old girl still had some guts to her after 20 years.

The 700R4 four speed automatic had down shifted when I stomped it and when the tranny shifted up, the rear tires let out a very authoritative, very crisp and rather pronounced bark that surprised even me.  I looked down at the shift indicator as my foot let off the accelerator and my finger tapped the cruise control at 45mph.  The shifter was in overdrive, I hadn't touched it to shift manually at all.

The old girl still has some teeth and a bark to match.  Hot damn!

Monday, May 15, 2006

Well, the Mississippi hot weather is here, folks.  Not only did one of the three previous morons who owned this car convert the AC system from Freon to the less efficient RC134A, but they did it on a black car with a huge rear glass hatch and T-tops (and where the original OEM factory T-top sunshades are is another mystery...).  I was thinking of tinting the T-tops but that would kind of ruin their effect at night.  I'll just pony up and get a reproduction set of the original sunshades (about $60 bux from Year One or OEM).  The fact that the car rolls down the highway with the temperature needle pointing due south to 220 degrees also bothers me (and can't be good for the AC system).  She doesn't overheat but I never have liked any of my cars to run that hot.  Time for a 160 to 180 degree thermostat and maybe a PROM change if the ECM doesn't like the cooler thermostat.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

I've noticed a slight bump along the drive-train when I either put my foot on the accelerator or take my foot off, like there is some slack in the drive line and the transmission is rocking a little back and forth in a straight line.  I'm thinking a worn transmission mount... that's what happened to me on my '90 Formula.  I'll check it out when I get the transmission serviced.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

I made a contact through the local car club of a guy who can powdercoat my 16" rims for me.  He said he couldn't get around to doing the wheels until late July or sometime in August due to his current backlog and work schedule.  That's fine, apparently everything is getting put off until the end of Summer anyway.  The only problem with going to the new larger wheels is, of course, going to be that I'm required to buy new, larger tires.  Looks like the old wallet is going to get hit for about $800 for a set of four P245/50VR16s all mounted and balanced.  I'd say I'm looking at a good $1000 total for powdercoating and new rubber.  

If I could have just five minutes alone with which ever of the past three owners of this car sold the original factory 16 x 8" wheels, I would do my best to beat him to death with a well worn dog chew toy that squeaks.

Monday, May 8, 2006

I received the 1986 GM Pontiac service manual plus all supplements for the 1986 Firebird model.  Over 1200 pages, quite extensive, and a must for anyone who owns one of these cars.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

I received the OEM "PONTIAC" emblem for the front right headlight recess.  This emblem came standard on all Firebirds but was missing from my TA.  I picked it up off Ebay from a guy in Canada for $10 bux.