My Ram Air Grand Am GT Rebuild

[BJPbrandon2448]

Originally Posted by TDavis

Isn't Pacesetter the stock diameter too? Or even a little smaller?

No... stock diameter is 2.25" along with the borla setup, Pacesetter is 2.5" which makes it a little bit better performace wise.

[TDavis]

Well dam, I learned something today O.O

Even so I'd rather have sound over diameter. Since I don't plan on tuning this car.

[BJPbrandon2448]

Originally Posted by TDavis

Well dam, I learned something today O.O

Even so I'd rather have sound over diameter. Since I don't plan on tuning this car.

Then the Borla would be the best way to go...

[Gtomike72]

Just got my inserts the other day. Have the front in (rears I left off since that bumpers getting replaced before it gets painted) This looks awesome on the car! Cant wait to get my Ram Air hood!!

Tough decision, do I leave these as is or paint the inserts black??

Notice the "Pontiac Service" sign I also bought for the garage!





Late addition but found some pics of the Grand Am I took at sunset one night...

[TDavis]

Paint them black. Leaving them like that makes them look too obnoxious.

Would only work if your car was silver IMO.

[BJPbrandon2448]

Originally Posted by TDavis

Paint them black. Leaving them like that makes them look too obnoxious.

Would only work if your car was silver IMO.

... Or black, cha ching!

[Gtomike72]

Originally Posted by TDavis

Paint them black. Leaving them like that makes them look too obnoxious.

Would only work if your car was silver IMO.

Yea I think black would look good and not so noticable but just enough to set it apart from a stock grand am

[BJPbrandon2448]

Hey Mike if I can just recommend this, if you do decide to paint them black I would HIGHLY consider just having them powder coated=you would be looking at $20 at the most... If that sh!t starts peeling on you then imagine what its gonna look like.

[Gtomike72]

Well since the GAGT is getting repainted, I picked up a new bumper to replace the old one which had some spider webbing and a few cracks. For 80 bucks, cant complain. Like to find the same deal on a rear one though!

Out of the box...



On the car...



Seems to fit and line up fine for being aftermarket so no complaints. Waiting on the hood and then scuffing up the car and spraying it (once again!)

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Buy a plate cover.

But that's aftermarket? Aftermarket ones usually don't have the indent for the arrowhead there.

[Gtomike72]

Originally Posted by [ChaosweaveR]

Buy a plate cover.

But that's aftermarket? Aftermarket ones usually don't have the indent for the arrowhead there.

Plate cover is in the mail! Now just need headlights and an exhaust system and call it a day

[3800L67GAM]

Originally Posted by Gtomike72

Well since the GAGT is getting repainted, I picked up a new bumper to replace the old one which had some spider webbing and a few cracks. For 80 bucks, cant complain. Like to find the same deal on a rear one though!

Out of the box...



On the car...



Seems to fit and line up fine for being aftermarket so no complaints. Waiting on the hood and then scuffing up the car and spraying it (once again!)

I need a paint job bad you can see scratches when I wash it and wax but from far away it looks nice :P

[Gtomike72]

Some pictures of the Ram Air hood "installed" Still need to adjust the hood or bumper or both but the hood sits way high on the drivers side. The fender to hood gap lines are even on both sides so who knows. Maybe drill the holes in the hood latch bigger so I can adjust it down?

[TDavis]

Keep us updated on the fitment.

[Gtomike72]

Will do! Hope to figure this out, picked up the paint today and the paint looks good!! Hopefully nice weather this weekend and get the grand am sprayed and reassembled!

[3800L67GAM]

Originally Posted by Gtomike72

Will do! Hope to figure this out, picked up the paint today and the paint looks good!! Hopefully nice weather this weekend and get the grand am sprayed and reassembled!

You better get started!!

[Bryle James]

I remember seeing somewhere that aftermarket bumpers can now have the Pontiac indent because the bumpers themselves are no longer being produced by GM.

When you respray the whole car, I suggest that you remove the panels and side moldings so that everything is one color. I would hate to see different colors in the little cracks and when you open the door and hood.

To save yourself some money first, you can try wetsanding the headlights and polish them until they are clear. If you do this, remember that you would need to lay down a layer of UV coating to prevent them from yellowing again. If this doesn't work out to your liking, new headlights would be better, only until they do the same thing.

I like the progress so far!

[TDavis]

Yeah the Turtle Wax headlight restorer works really well.

[bricooper78]

Originally Posted by Bryle James

I remember seeing somewhere that aftermarket bumpers can now have the Pontiac indent because the bumpers themselves are no longer being produced by GM.

yea, that actually makes sense, you're very probably right on that

[Gtomike72]

Just a little update, last week played around with the hood. Had to drill the hood latch holes a little bigger and shim up the drivers side fender. In the process I noticed my header panel was broke behind the drivers light so I had to fix that as well. Also had to shim the front bumper up a little bit as well. I also completely opened up the hood scoops as well.

I painted the car today and its drying now. Just need to wait for it to dry and reassemble the car (mirrors, door handles, plate cover, and lights need put back on) I will have some pics up in the next couple days

Also picked up the drivers side kick panel I was missing when I got the car from xrob on here along with a hvac control panel (mine was broke)