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Wow I really am Honored to have made it this far for a chance to be COTM! Here's the run down on my ride!
My car started its life as a 1986 Sport coupe with a 2.8 MFI engine and automatic transmission. From there on I slowly made changes to the body, suspension, brakes and drivetrain. I didn't have the cash to go "all out" at one time, so all my modifications were done in stages over the almost 5 year period that I owned the car.
Here's she is completely stock! This is right after I got plates and started driving it as a daily:
Annnnd here she is today! I recently removed the plasti-dip because I had to replace the tires, so some of these shots are pre and post dip. The wheels are currently silver, and I think I'm going to leave them that way for a while!
You can see everything in depth if you check of my base to bad build thread! Though I am still working on it. All the work was done myself, excluding the dyno tuning and spraying of the paint. I did all the body work, priming, blocking and color sanding. Maaco just sprayed the base and clear.
Here is the list of engine, body, suspension, and interior mods:
LM7 5.3 engine with f body accessories and sensors.
799 heads milled down .030.
Comp trunion bearing upgrade.
Comp hardened push rods.
LS9 head gaskets.
ARP head studs.
Speed engineering 1 3/4 long tube headers.
SLP Loudmouth 2 muffler with custom hidden single outlet.
Fast 102 intake and throttle body.
Stock ls1 injectors,(soon to be changed).
Stock 3rd gen radiator.
LS1 puller fans.
12 inch dual pusher fans for additional A/C cooling.
1992 Z28 Ground FX, hatch, and rear spoiler.
Goodmark 2 inch steel cowl hood.
Aerocatch locking hood pins.
1992 Z28 Dash and Instrument Cluster.
Jegs Weld in 8 point cage, (installed as a 6 point for street reasons)
Corbeau FX1 Pro fixed back Seats with harnesses.
1994 Cavalier steering wheel.
1992 Z28 Door panels.
Front lip parking camera hidden behind grill.
MGW T-56 short throw shifter.
1997 Camaro Posi disk rear with aftermarket 3.73 gears.
Koni yellow adjustable shocks.
Eibach Pro springs.
Poly motor and transmission mounts.
Ground Control weight jacks for the rear(have parts need to install).
Poly panhard bar and LCA bushings.
UMI LCA relocation brackets for the rear.
UMI LS motor mount adapters.
UMI Weld in subframe connectors.
UMI Wonder Bar.
Delrin greasable front LCA bushings.
Z28 2.5 turn steering box.
Astro van steering shaft.
Gen 1 CTS-V front Brembo brakes with braided hoses.
4th gen master cylinder and factory prop valve delete.
Mcleod twin disk clutch.
Tick Performance adjustable clutch master cylinder.
18x9.5 C5 Corvette wheels.
275/35/18 front tire and 275/40/18 in the rear.
New Firestone Firehawk tires.
I think thats everything! But yea, I'm probably missing a few things. My car put down 350rwhp and 350 rqtq on a Mustang dyno. My injectors are currently maxed out. You can tell my motor was put together for boost, and I recently picked up a 5th gen ZL1 blower that will be going on this spring. Good luck to everyone else competeing for COTM!
Wow. What a surprise & honor to be nominated. Thank you & I'm in very good company again.
About 4 years ago I started my hunt for a 5.7 GTA Convertible. I had no idea that I was hunting a car that so few were made. I came across several but most had some rust issues & with me being in Missouri, the cars were not going to be in a worse place for more rust. I never drive the cars in rain or weather of any type but once a car has rust it usually continues.
I had talked with several members who had leads on others GTA Convertibles but color combinations or location of the cars were not West Coast cars.
I found the car actually right here on TGO. It was posted by a member who had owned it the last 12 years but had only posted maybe 5 or 6 times in the 6 or 7 years he was a member. He didn't have a tremendous amount of details on the for sale post but enough to peak my interest. I sent a PM, PM lead to phone calls & eventually a deposit to buy the car. On November 1st 2016 I boarded a planefrom St. Louis, MO to Riverside, CA along with a buddy that I paid his say for the ride along to pick up the GTA & drive back to St. Louis.
Arrived in Ontario, CA & rented a car, drove 1 hr to Riverside. Met seller, car was in very good company at his warehouse (Gembella Porsche & GT3RS Porsche). Paid the man his money, returned the rental car & started our 3 day drive back to Missouri.
This car was bought originally in California & spent it's whole life there. Was originally purchase by a gynecologist (who else can say there car was owned by a gynecologist?) At John Hine Pontiac in San Diego, Ca. then sold years later to a lieutenant in the military. The man I purchased the car from was the 3rd owner & took great car if it but rarely drove the car until the last year he owned it.
By far this GTA probably has the highest mileage out of these cars 101,500 however with it being 100% unmoleated and everythig working, I'd put it up against cars with 50,000 miles. PLUS - I wanted a car i vould drive & enjoy. There isn't even rust on the exhaust manifolds. This car retains every original piece it left the factory with except tires & K & N air filter. Nothing has been cut or spliced or molested.
Pic in the garage next to my IROC
It made the journey from Riverside, CA to Missouri without 1 issue. It took a solid 3 days & didn't even hit rain.
This year I did replace the carpet, rebuilt the headlight motors, put back in the original stereo (was in the trunk when purchased), cleandd & detailed & put about 1500 miles on the car.
Added a PONTIAC script on the windshield just for a little advertising for Pontiac
I did take it to one show this year & placed second - I lost out to a 2017 Yenko Camaro in the stock original class.
I added Indy 500 decal on the rocker just as a reminder on the next car I'm hunting.
Thank you for the nomination. I talk to Big&BadGTA as well as Chazman & both are great guys. I actually voted already & not for myself.
These 3rd gens are awesome cars & let keep them going & get them out on the road!
Thank you for the car of the month nomination! My name is Jason, I purchased the car from the original owner in 1998 with 26,000 mile on it. It currently has just over 86,000 miles on it. I enjoy the car every chance I get to take it to local car shows and the occasional trip to the drag strip. I have done the following mods to it.
SLP headers that installed 2 years ago that I purchased in 2002
SLP TOTL
Hurst shifter
WS6 sway bars
Lakewood bars and panhard bar
TPIS FPR
TPIS airfoil
MSD 6AL, coil and 8.5 wires
I absolutely agree it should be regularly changed. Monthly. -as per the originalidea. Showcase the best we have to offer as a community on a monthly basis. On paper, that's the goal.
...that being said, does anyone really use the main page? I never see it. Are there people out there searching for nice thirdgens who need our COTM showcase? I mean does this stuff really keep you guys up at night?
This forum is for you and I, not someone who stumbles across I homepage. COTM is about seeing the pics and discussing the builds. Having fun Nom'ing and voting. I mean do you guys really care (to the extent that it keeps being brought up over and over) about the home page? Has anyone PM'd Linson? What does he say?
Ultimately though....I do agree. Personal cares and opinions aside, as a community....yes....It should be changed out monthly.
Would never want to see the COTM competition die, even if the homoage is never updated. This was most of the reason I kept coming back to the site while I didnt have my Formula. I love seeing the cars and hearing the stories behind them.
Also in the admins defense, these guys have other lives and do this as a hobby. Maybe whoever is in charge of the main page has a lot going on. Many members here can go a few months without logging on. Dont be quick to jump on anyone. If someone is that passionate, try to see if you can assist to help solve the issue.
Before getting too upset though, remember, there is the possibility that he's dealing with some personal issue that takes priority over this. Know what I mean?
...that being said, does anyone really use the main page? I never see it.
This forum is for you and I, not someone who stumbles across I homepage. COTM is about seeing the pics and discussing the builds. Having fun Nom'ing and voting. I mean do you guys really care (to the extent that it keeps being brought up over and over) about the home page? Has anyone PM'd Linson? What does he say?
That's where I'm at. I never go to the front page. Ever. I have the forums bookmarked. I would not have even known COTM was on that page if someone had not brought it up. If I ever did know it, I had forgotten.
02-18-2018, 10:31 AM
