fixing up grand am, what cool things have you done?

[surfermatt95]

Last time i was on here i was replacing the head gasket and uim/lim and wasn't running good. figured out it was the cat. cut it off .. HUGE difference. didn't know the car could launch this good. great first car. anyways I'm about to tint and want to put header, cai,and 65mm tb
what other things will make a big difference in speed and take off?
And will headers lower fuel economy ? Besides the fact of me.punching it? Thanks in advance!
here's some pics of it now

I also used automotive spray paint for this car ..rustoleum
didn't turn out bad at all. painted stock rims and they look pretty good
I'm 17 with very low income.. best i can do for.now
















http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/CAM00234.jpg

[Shade2012]

inb4aaronownshim





inb4chaosandtipnitty

[geldartb]

you might wanna run that power wire through one of the already existing grommets in the firewall.

there's one (standing in front on the car looking at the fuse box) right below the fuse box that you could easily fit that through and not interfere with any of the other stuff.

[sudden_impulse]

I would fix the hood before even putting extra money into it. Also, your amp power wire makes me want to cry...

[TruGreenGAGT]

do two things.

1.) paint the hood white.....even if it with a rattle can, will look tons better than what ever color it is now....seriouly what is that? a dirty **** flat black??

2.) route the amp power wire though the firewall. instead of the door jam were it could likely get pinched in the hinge.....then say "bye bye" battery

[surfermatt95]

Originally Posted by geldartb

you might wanna run that power wire through one of the already existing grommets in the firewall.

there's one (standing in front on the car looking at the fuse box) right below the fuse box that you could easily fit that through and not interfere with any of the other stuff.

Really? Do i need to remove anything or just run it through stuff?
I'm about to run new wires anyways

[surfermatt95]

Also another question. i wanted to run blue neons under the dash to illuminate floor panels and neons under car to give off a nice look. someone said it was illegal?

[surfermatt95]

Originally Posted by TruGreenGAGT

do two things.

1.) paint the hood white.....even if it with a rattle can, will look tons better than what ever color it is now....seriouly what is that? a dirty **** flat black??

2.) route the amp power wire though the firewall. instead of the door jam were it could likely get pinched in the hinge.....then say "bye bye" battery

It was a glossy black on it and i accidently touched up with flat. i thought the black looked better than white..

[TruGreenGAGT]

under car lights are illegal to drive with while on.....distraction to other drivers. while parked in parking lots or driving anywere not on a road. they fine

[Shade2012]

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

Also another question. i wanted to run blue neons under the dash to illuminate floor panels and neons under car to give off a nice look. someone said it was illegal?

It's illegal if you are driving around with them on. Red and blue are emergency vehicle colors. You can be parked with them on though.

[geldartb]

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

Really? Do i need to remove anything or just run it through stuff?
I'm about to run new wires anyways

use a coat hanger to guide the stuff through the grommet. bend the end your pushing through the grommet and bend the other end clamping down the wire you want to pull through.


that's the same way i have ran my wideband harness.

the only thing you need to take off is the plastic piece under the steering wheel right above the pedals. plastic push clip and one screw.

Originally Posted by TruGreenGAGT

under car lights are illegal to drive with while on.....

not to mention they are

[young gun]

HOLY BATMAN THAT DASH IS NUTS!

Anywho Not bad I think you just need to "clean it up". Hood mainly is the issue being a different color and not CF... some people hate CF hoods cause it looks dumb with the other color but some can pull it off..

[surfermatt95]

Originally Posted by young gun

HOLY BATMAN THAT DASH IS NUTS!

Anywho Not bad I think you just need to "clean it up". Hood mainly is the issue being a different color and not CF... some people hate CF hoods cause it looks dumb with the other color but some can pull it off..

Yeah it is. its pulling away from speedometer shield thing and by the fuse panel. Don't think there's a possibility in fixing it

[TruGreenGAGT]

ya IMO CF unpainted only looks good on dark colored cars cause it blends in more....I.E. black, dark blue, forest green.....on lightly colored cars it looks out of place and should be painted.....I.E. white, silver, yellow, red

[surfermatt95]

Instead of painting it.. id like to find a white hood with the scoops the newer ones have. what's a good price to pay for one at a junkyard? In kissimmee here there's a lot of those hoods. do they hook up to ram air? Or just cool engine?

[sudden_impulse]

They do neither, the holes are blocked off. The amount of airflow they'd give when open isn't gonna be significant enough to cool the engine, they'll only let it get dirtier faster.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Sweet Odin, this car is a hot mess.

The dash is just tasteless and random. The wiring looks halfassed, painting the hood black? Stop making it look like a poor man's CF hood. Painted stockers...meh, the car is white, it just doesn't work.

Neons? Goddamn kids.

[surfermatt95]

This is brutal .

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

This is brutal .

I was being nice.

[Wgflatliner]

The coolest thing I've done was cleaned mine up. It went from a nasty disgusting car to respectable. Sometimes the best way to hook up a car is to keep it clean instead of visually loud.

But here is the other side of the fence's perspective. It's your car and you can do what you want to it. In the end, you are your own critic, and you can only satisfy yourself with the decisions you make with it.

Now the best advice I have seen so far in this thread is to take care of that amp power wire. Also, see about finding a way to fix the paint lines/masking issues on those lower door panel cubby spaces, so it's cleaned up.