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Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

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Old 08-20-2011, 01:56 AM
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Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

So I've been browsing a lot of threads in the body section and just seeing the most badass mods on some Firebirds. Just incredible. And my issue is...when I look at my car I just can't think of a single thing that would look..right? If that makes sense. It seems that mods look better on cars that may be more of a work in progress.

Here is my Bird:
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I just have the most difficult time thinking of mods that would look cool because the car is clean. I feel like anything besides just leaving it how it is, would look bad. But I want mods...I want to work on her more. Does anybody have any ideas?

Here are a couple of examples:



And I'm not at all using these cars as examples of "work in progress" but you know what I'm trying to say. They are sort of mod heavy and definitely not stock. And in all honestly, I really used these as examples because they're some of the coolest freakin' Birds I've seen on this site. So any help would be awesome.
Old 08-20-2011, 03:55 AM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

I understand what you're saying...but I CAN think of some things that would improve your car. first I must say, I absolutely LOVE the color...its my favorite! but, things I would do...

1. wheels-the base Bird wheels need to be turned into barstools. I'd recommend either the concave Turbo Techs (that came on the 89-92 Formula) or the crosslaces if you wanna stay factory...Although tons of aftermarket wheels would look good on it...oh, and nice wide tires...not hanging out of the wheelwells wide...but performance stance wide.

2. lower it-she'd look absolutely sexy as hell lowered a little bit...especially with the wider tires and different wheels!

3. change the wing-the base Bird wing is so 1982-1985...it looks alright on the older Birds but not so much with the new gfx. I'd switch to the 91-92 TA/Formula/GTA wing...or Even the 86-90 wing (not the base Bird wing)...

4. unseen mods-you could start putting handling components on it to match the wider tires and really make it corner less like a 79 Suburban and more like a Trans Am. you could also start modifying the LO3 305 (might as well while you have it) and finally get more punch than a fully-charged Mart Cart. a Nice exhaust with tips would look good and make your ears orgasm.

5. change the hood-my favorite is the Powerbulge hood...but even the 85-92 Trans Am/GTA hood would look great...

6. sound system-this goes without saying...a good sound system (nothing over the top) is always nice.

7. convert to rear discs/change rear axle ratio/add posi-this should have been under unseen mods...oh well...but yea, a good set of rear discs will improve brake performance...a taller gear ratio will help the Wee-Oh-Five get your Bird moving faster...also, add a posi to help plant all the extra off the line torque you'll have with the new gears.


I could go On and on...but that will get you started...nice car BTW!
Old 08-20-2011, 08:34 AM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Lowering these cars 2inches makes a Hell of a Difference.
Windshield Banner..... get one!
Old 08-20-2011, 09:01 AM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

what I would do?
1st (4 front) black 16x8 crosslace wheels
2nd if they havent been painted around, you can remove the door rub strips and firebird emblem..
3rd Id do a stock T/A or formula hood and spoiler
4th lower it about 1" and add bigger front swaybar, only the front bar..

Last edited by TTOP350; 08-20-2011 at 09:11 AM.
Old 08-20-2011, 10:28 AM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Honestly - I think the coolest thing you could do to your car is leave it exactly the way it is...then swap in an lsx motor and make it a total sleeper! It is getting harder to find true original cars that are not rusty or have terrible mods. Wake it up with a 5.3 or 6.0 swap! I hope to do that with an 82 or 83 TA.
Old 08-20-2011, 04:08 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

i agree with you,your car is a clean beauty, dont touch it!!

Originally Posted by FooFighters92
So I've been browsing a lot of threads in the body section and just seeing the most badass mods on some Firebirds. Just incredible. And my issue is...when I look at my car I just can't think of a single thing that would look..right? If that makes sense. It seems that mods look better on cars that may be more of a work in progress.

Here is my Bird:


I just have the most difficult time thinking of mods that would look cool because the car is clean. I feel like anything besides just leaving it how it is, would look bad. But I want mods...I want to work on her more. Does anybody have any ideas?

Here are a couple of examples:



And I'm not at all using these cars as examples of "work in progress" but you know what I'm trying to say. They are sort of mod heavy and definitely not stock. And in all honestly, I really used these as examples because they're some of the coolest freakin' Birds I've seen on this site. So any help would be awesome.
Old 08-20-2011, 04:22 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

1. window tint
2. wheels and tires, (reproduction gta cross lace, black 4 fronts)
3. eibach pro kit, wonder bar
4. nite shade the tail lights
5. ram air hood
6. motor last (providing all the supporting parts are there eg. breaks, suspension, trans, rear)

very nice clean car btw.

wheels and the right stance will make the car. i like the look of no badges, so wouldnt focus on that much
Old 08-20-2011, 11:25 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

As far as exterior mods go, If you really have the urge to do something. I would just get a formula hood and some GTA wheels.

Just don't do ANYTHING Gumby has done and you'll be alright. Your car looks extremely good stock, and if I were you, i would leave the exterior as is, and just upgrade the motor and suspension.
Old 08-21-2011, 12:14 AM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Thanks for the compliments guys and I appreciate your ideas. I'm definitely gonna do a dark tint. And what do you guys think of these wheels? I've been debating these for a little while now. Not sure how'd they'd look.




.
And I really like this hood, is this the one you're talking about?
Old 08-21-2011, 02:46 AM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Originally Posted by FooFighters92
.
And I really like this hood, is this the one you're talking about?
That is the stock hood that all GTAs & TAs came with.

The Formula hood is the one with the offset bulge.

Old 08-21-2011, 01:56 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

those wheels look alright...but IMO the third gens need wheels with a definite dish to look really good...
Old 08-21-2011, 04:09 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

I vote Gold GTA Rims and a Ram Air Hood. Gold on Blue would look great everyone does black and blue, and the ram air hood would look mean
Old 08-21-2011, 05:17 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Originally Posted by screaminformula
I understand what you're saying...but I CAN think of some things that would improve your car. first I must say, I absolutely LOVE the color...its my favorite! but, things I would do...

1. wheels-the base Bird wheels need to be turned into barstools. I'd recommend either the concave Turbo Techs (that came on the 89-92 Formula) or the crosslaces if you wanna stay factory...Although tons of aftermarket wheels would look good on it...oh, and nice wide tires...not hanging out of the wheelwells wide...but performance stance wide.

2. lower it-she'd look absolutely sexy as hell lowered a little bit...especially with the wider tires and different wheels!

3. change the wing-the base Bird wing is so 1982-1985...it looks alright on the older Birds but not so much with the new gfx. I'd switch to the 91-92 TA/Formula/GTA wing...or Even the 86-90 wing (not the base Bird wing)...

4. unseen mods-you could start putting handling components on it to match the wider tires and really make it corner less like a 79 Suburban and more like a Trans Am. you could also start modifying the LO3 305 (might as well while you have it) and finally get more punch than a fully-charged Mart Cart. a Nice exhaust with tips would look good and make your ears orgasm.

5. change the hood-my favorite is the Powerbulge hood...but even the 85-92 Trans Am/GTA hood would look great...

6. sound system-this goes without saying...a good sound system (nothing over the top) is always nice.

7. convert to rear discs/change rear axle ratio/add posi-this should have been under unseen mods...oh well...but yea, a good set of rear discs will improve brake performance...a taller gear ratio will help the Wee-Oh-Five get your Bird moving faster...also, add a posi to help plant all the extra off the line torque you'll have with the new gears.


I could go On and on...but that will get you started...nice car BTW!
Thats a good list to start with
Old 08-21-2011, 05:18 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

I've done the hoods, spoilers, etc when I was younger. Not a big fan anymore, IMHO all it needs looks wise is a nice set of rims/tires and a slight drop.
Old 08-21-2011, 05:20 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

A nice car like that should remain stock .I live in Europe and I'd give anything to make mine look like that (stock).

If you don't like it how it is I can give you a BMW diesel for it and you can say you moded your Firebird to look like a crapmobile :P
Old 08-21-2011, 07:45 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

After looking at the pic of ur car a lil more these are the only appearance mods I'd do. Larger wider rims + tires, slightly lower it, Bigger front and rear disc brakes (factory ones look out of place peaking through larger wheels, also the better braking performance will be a benefit, especially with the larger rims) Also I'd switch to a trans am spoiler tho that's a personal preference as is tint. Aside from that I'd leave it alone and be happy u have a 3rd gen in such nice shape.
Old 08-22-2011, 05:20 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Thank you for the compliment, Foo!

The grey Trans Am is mine.
Old 08-27-2011, 01:17 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Swap the engine for a LSx and put some more modern wheels on there

Blue banshee birds are EXTREMELY uncommon, especially being that nice

This is the last good pic of razor's car, my favorite on all of TGO
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...930-post9.html

Please dont waste it with tasteless body mods or a KITT conversion
Old 08-27-2011, 09:15 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

I like the originality of your car.....I might add some 17 or 18 inch wheels and wider tires and a "power bulge" T/A style hood. These could be removed and the stock items put back on for originality's sake at any time.
A good sounding free flowing exhaust would be a great mod too.
Unless you're planning to AutoX it or drag race it you don't need much in the way of brakes, motor or chassis/suspension mods.
That's my 2 cents. Nice car dude.
Old 08-27-2011, 11:35 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Originally Posted by GICATA
I like the originality of your car.....I might add some 17 or 18 inch wheels and wider tires and a "power bulge" T/A style hood. These could be removed and the stock items put back on for originality's sake at any time.
A good sounding free flowing exhaust would be a great mod too.
Unless you're planning to AutoX it or drag race it you don't need much in the way of brakes, motor or chassis/suspension mods.
That's my 2 cents. Nice car dude.
aside from the added braking performance they look much better if you're planning on larger wheels. The tiny factory brakes on our cars look sad when peaking out of 17's and up
Old 08-28-2011, 03:39 AM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

wheels and ditch the fender badge and door molding. The spioler doesnt really match im sure something else fits better.
Old 09-17-2011, 08:02 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Originally Posted by 89RsPower!
aside from the added braking performance they look much better if you're planning on larger wheels. The tiny factory brakes on our cars look sad when peaking out of 17's and up
Very true, I would like to have some bigger, better performing brakes on my TA too! The original set up sux for sure.
Old 09-18-2011, 05:58 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

Very nice looking car. That color on there is beautiful. Looks very clean. I have a identical car only in white and looking to do a few mods as well.
I'm planning on getting a Ram air I hood. The lines on the RRI hood match up well with the body lines of the 91-92 birds. I had the RRII hood on my 89 GTA, but I think with the ground effects on the 92 the RRI would look alot better.
I too am looking at a new set of wheels. I am looking at a set of centerlines (17x8 on fronts and 17x9.5's on rear) I had a set on my 89 GTA and they looked bad a**!

Here is a picture of my 92 bird
Name:  2011-08-11133719.jpg
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Here are the wheels I am looking at



Good luck with the build. That is going to be one sick looking ride when you are done with it. Keep us posted as you do the build. Take lots of pictures!
Old 09-18-2011, 06:45 PM
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Re: Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)

i have the same bird as you except I have goldlace rims...heres a few pics and also a link of the rims I want

link: http://www.jegs.com/i/Cragar/260/610B583445/10002/-1
Attached Thumbnails Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)-car-008.jpg   Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)-car-007.jpg   Having a "clean" Firebird...makes it hard for mod ideas? (pics)-img_0836.jpg  
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