Grand Am off topic thread

are you sure you saw a convertible and not a rag top? I've seen people with rag tops on their g/a's.... mainly from 85-up to 98 nothing on the newer 99+

hey dan: since you sold g/a's was a rag top an option that people could pay extra for, or was it something that people did on their own?

gar, The convert. was never an option on the GA's at one point they were talking about it but it never happened. If you wanted a conv. you would have to find your own conversion company to do it. I always thought that the GA coupe would have made a great conv.

Is far as I know the conv. and ragtop are the same thing. On some cars you could get a vinyl top which was either a full top or in some cars it was a 1/2 top (there was aname for the 1/2 tops but it is slipping my mind...getting old I guess!). I miss those days the vinyl top on the right car made for a classy look.

By the way I am going to be away from a computer for a day or so, If I can find access to one I'll check in and see what's happening.

Catch ya later,

Hmm... that's weird - I posted here the other day, except now it's gone. Either that or I didn't post. But I could've sworn i did. I wasn't drunk! - honestly! :) LoL. Weird. But anyways just checkin in from my rediculously school schedule. Cody, nice work passin your drivin test - kind of sucks about the GTO, but o well. Anyone live in Michigan from here? Next weekend (the 13th) me and the car club here at Kettering University are gonna have our annual car show (we'll have at least 40 brand new vehicles). To name a few brands: Audi, BMW, Caddillac, Chevy, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Hummer, Jeep, Lincoln, Ford, Lotus, Mercury, Pontiac, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Saturn, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and several others will be present. I managed to contact the local Ford dealership and secure 3 to 4 cars. There will be tons of brand new vehicles here from dealers across the area. Let me know if anyone wants more details. Talk to you all later - take care.

You can get some good deals at an auction however you can also get a piece of junk that looks good. I have been around the new car business all of my life, I can tell you that the auction is the place that the dealers will take the trade-in that will not sell on their lots for any number of reasons things such as cars with bad valves that they have put in some heavy oil to cover the tapping or cars that have been trashed. It is amazing what a good detailer can do to make a car look good on the surface but underneath the mask is a pile of crap. If you go to an auction, most of them will have an open observation period prior to the actual auction. Make sure that you look them over real well before buying.

My personal opinion would be to buy from a dealer with a good reputation or from a private owner where you can take your time to look it over.


I have been purchasing at dealer auctions for almost a year in Houston for government experiment cars, and I agree that they will spit and shine some of them or mask a problem real well to pawn it off on someone else; however, some of the dealers (especially right now being that '06s are hitting and the others have to be dumped) will run good cars on either a "green light" or a 'gold class,' and most auctions here in Texas allow for a "post-sale inspection" which cost $75-85. but if the auction finds any service or maintenance problem over $500. they kick it back to the owner, and you don't pay anything.
...but for the most part, if I were using MY OWN money, I'd look for a reputable dealer, or an individual.

gar, The convert. was never an option on the GA's at one point they were talking about it but it never happened. If you wanted a conv. you would have to find your own conversion company to do it. I always thought that the GA coupe would have made a great conv.

Dan: i know conv.was never an option on the grand am. My question was more about the tops. The tops I'm refering to were the ones that are very similiar to the vinyl tops, but used a clothlike material instead of the vinyl. I just saw one on ebay the other day, it had a half "rag top" (maybe i'm refering to it by the wrong name) it was a 1990 and it was called the Designers edition. Does this sound familiar?

Hey guys I found that picture for the convertibles grand am concept I was talking about. Here is the link for it


http://www.supercars.net/cars/1482.html

I've seen that one, I have it in the Grand Am Brochure book for 2002. that's right before the introduced the Fusion Orange Paint.... that would be hot if they mass produced that one!

I never thought i would be saying this but i actually miss my GT. I finally got it in the shop to be fixed, and now i'm driving a Hyundai Santa Fe ( rental) and I really miss all the little annoyances of my GT... :disappoin (btw i am not being sarcastic) I won't get to drive the car until sept...I guess i have to live through my 88 g/a, which i finally spent the time to get running! Sorry random thoughts... another boring night at work.

Gar, I think I know what you are talking about, it may have been an option in the early 90's model. It could have been one of the choices of either vinyl or the cloth. Some people probably called them ragtops because of the canvas material. I have seen the canvas top version on the higher end cars like the Caddy's and Oldsmobile's. I am trying to pull this from memory, it's been such a long time since a car with anything other than the good old hardtops.

hey guys, I was in willmar (minnesota) and while I was driving out of the parking lot at the mall, I was lookin back to make sure no one was coming up the side of me and while I was doing that, some guy in in an f-250 hit me in the front left side of my car and now my bumper is all cracked and broken and full of red paint from the other vehicle....it pissed me off and I got out, we talked and the guy was really nice and he was like, lets not call the police cause its not that big of a deal to call them and plus he knew I was young and he said my insurance would go sky high so we shook hands and left...and now I have to get a new bumper....found one brand new of ebay motors for $37!....but like 50 bucks shipping and handling so it will cost me about $90 and then its needs painted to match my car and I need a new left corner light but I found one of those already...It pissed me off so much. But you know, niether of us were lookin out for eachother.

ya cficare68, that convt. is kool! i hadnt ever seen that one.Thanks. I love that Candy Orange color. I've seen a 2004 sc/t that was orange, but no convt.'s. Been looking for an SC/T hood in my local Salvage yards. with no luck i might add. found one, but a cow had trashed it out, along with the car. they said i could have the peices of hood but it wasnt going back together. I've seen them for sale after market for about $800 i think, thats just to expensive.
thats a good deal GAD52 for the front clip/bumper. they do seem to break real easy. i bumped a shopping cart , real slow(1mph-) and everthing , the next day i seen it cracked . foulishly i didnt shop around just bought one from a bodyshop $1000 which was cheaper than the Dealer Shits. remember safty first:)

hey guys, I was in willmar (minnesota) and while I was driving out of the parking lot at the mall, I was lookin back to make sure no one was coming up the side of me and while I was doing that, some guy in in an f-250 hit me in the front left side of my car and now my bumper is all cracked and broken and full of red paint from the other vehicle....it pissed me off and I got out, we talked and the guy was really nice and he was like, lets not call the police cause its not that big of a deal to call them and plus he knew I was young and he said my insurance would go sky high so we shook hands and left...and now I have to get a new bumper....found one brand new of ebay motors for $37!....but like 50 bucks shipping and handling so it will cost me about $90 and then its needs painted to match my car and I need a new left corner light but I found one of those already...It pissed me off so much. But you know, niether of us were lookin out for eachother.


Ah man that sucks sorry to hear that. At least no one was injured that it the important thing. Cars can be fixed and replaced, however people are unique. But anyway 90 bucks for the front bumper cover is not bad. My grandma got hit head on in her 95 Gt about 3 years ago and they charged $800 for the bumper cover itself. Bumpers are not that hard to put on either and you can probably fine someone to paint it for next to nothing.

Cody: Sorry to hear about your accident, at least you are ok. from the sounds of the damage it doesn't sound to bad... it could have been a lot worse, and at least it wasn't your fault... that's not something you need as a new driver.

Ah! Man, Cody...That bites the big one! Like Gar says at least you're OK. Lucky thing being in a parking lot can'f get up enough speed to cause massive damage although any damage sucks but it doesn't sound loke it's too bad. You really have to have eyes on your ass when you're out and about.
Aside from that how's the driving been going?

Its been really good...I'm having alot of fun in my grand am. I dont realy go cruising much...I just go play bball with some friends...its alot easier gettin around in that thing.

Cody I love your signature that is great LMAO

haha, thanks. wow, I would have thought that there would be more post than just one sence I have been at practice....yes, I have 2 football practices a day, thats 5 hours a day. Friday was bad cause I got a sore groin. but I iced it a bit, its better. yea, my bumper will be here on tuesday, than I might have to sand it before it gets painted but they might have done that. I had to put a new throtle pasition sencor in my car, cause my car would jump when I took off...like I would push it down a little and then more and it wouldnt go and then when I hit a point it just takes off, like its not gettin enough gas. After it warms up its fine. And also when I back up and then go to put it in foward it sometimes dies. I think the sensor fixed that but im not sure, I know it didnt fix the jumpyness. but if anyone has any ideas to what it may be, let me know, im going to look into it more. ttyl guys.
Cody

Hey Guys,
sorry I haven't been around much lately, I've been so damn busy. Any way I just wanted to mention that my son and I had a chance to go to the "Dream Cruise" up in Michgan last Saturday. It was the first time I was ever there... What a mess of cars!!!. Everything from the sweetest rides to the junk "Want to be's" , but all in all it was a good time... I didn't see any GA's, but we didn't get to see all that much because it is so big. They said that they were expecting about 3 million people to be there. I don't think they made it to 3 million because it rained in the morning. Has anyone else ever been there? Let me know.

Dan.

Damnit!!.... :(:(:( Dan - I was 100% set on going to the dream cruise; but bailed out at the last sec because I decided I had too much homework. Seriously like 75% of Kettering went down there. I missed a great time. But there's always next year. Glad you and your son had a good time.

PS - I know you haven't been around much. Did you ever get that PM I sent you?

Hey, Ride,

I haven't been around much either, taking care of my neighbor and stuff. But I did get a chance to take him and my son to West Virginia to do some dirt bike riding and some quad riding, one of his last trips, he really wanted me to get down ther with him before he got too sick to travel. We had a great time, went for a 3 & 1/2 hour quad ride through the mountians of WV. Pretty Cool!
Sorry I took so long to reply to your PM but I just read it and sent a reply this morning (sleepless night).

Any way, The cruise was great, my wife's Aunt's boyfriend took us, this guy is something else, one of the most knowledgable car guys I've ever met. I don't remember if I told you he was a road racer over in Britian, and once had the fastest street legal cars in England, he has even driven a car owned by one of the guys in Pink Floyd. Some day I'll have to tell you some of the other stuff he has driven and done. Sorry off track...even though the weather was not the greatest and I'm sure that had an effect on the turn out they said that they still expected about 1 million people we went as far up as 13 Mile but I can see where on a wall to wall sunny day would produce the 3 mill they originally expected. Saw some cool stuff but saw some junk as well. Beauty must be in the eye of the beholder in some cases. We should try to hook up next year.

Well gotta run, I'll try to get back to the forum more offten. Take care and keep studying.
Dan

Hey Guys,

I see that not much has been going on in the forums, since i was away for two weeks on a much needed Vacation. Finally got my G/A Back after 3 weeks in the shop to have the body repaired... AND DAMN GAS has gotten expensive...two weeks ago it was 2.50 here and now it's 3.15+!!! that's crazyness! Well I hope all is well, and have a good day and a good labor day weekend.

Sooo would anyone here like to see the Grand Am redone into an AWD rally car? I just think it suits the design. Awww, Evo, WRX and Grand Am..that would just be nice.

Sooo would anyone here like to see the Grand Am redone into an AWD rally car? I just think it suits the design. Awww, Evo, WRX and Grand Am..that would just be nice.

Yes Skyliner that would be kool. I hav been thinking up something like that. I was wanting to take a 2000+ Grand Am and a Subaru AWD drivetrain, with a small block V8 or a V6 w/ a lot of boost. I think it would make a great fun ride, rally or otherwise.

that would be awesome, an AWD G/a better traction in all weather!!!! I also would like to see someone make a 99+ G/a into a rear wheel drive car. I often wonder if a mustang would be compatible to it, cause my brothers mustang looks close in size to my g/a HMMM....

Ya, even a rear wheel drive would be fun as hell to slide around a few corners. The Mustang is close match on the wheel base. But one would hav to fabricate some major rear supports, a four link would work. I think it would be like an old Nova, burn-out city. Probley do real nice donuts too. LOL!
If we're going to dream, might as well dream Big.

You have to dream big, thats the only way!

On the other hand i finally found a pretty good buy for a G/a on ebay but at the moment it needs more work then i'm willing to deal with plus it's too far, shipping would be too much........ but it would be a nice mod project as a sleeper....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-Pontiac-Grand-Am-Turbo-Coupe-No-Reserve_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6783QQitemZ7998 178740QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ShippingPayment

I check'd the ebay link. That is a nice deal if you liv close to Wisconsin. He never did say what engine, i figured it was a 4cylinder, but its a 2.0L. I checked the vin# at carfaq.com. arent many Turbo coupes left, i dont think they made many either.

The guy did mention that it was a 2.0 turbo somewhere in the listing. Unfortunetly where the car is located in Wisconson is a bit to far from NJ. I know they made very few Turbo coupes.... they are very hard to find and in decent condition like this one... and extremely rare if you can find one of the handful made with a 5 speed manny tranny.

Hey guys...

Things have been kind of dead on the OT thread lately, so I just thought I'd chime in. Dan (Hoags) won't be back on the forum until the winter - I've talked to him a couple times via email. He's doing fine, just lacking a PC. Him and I are still kind of wondering what ever happened to Tam (Knifeblade) - hopefully he'll show back up by the end of the year.

I start my employment at GM on Monday, and can't F-in wait!! :) - I'm going to be working at the new Delta Township Plant Southwest of Lansing, and I'll be the 1st co-op there ever. (It's part of the 3 month school / 3 month work co-op program at Kettering). It's gonna be awesome working for the greatest company on the face of the planet, as far I'm concerned. I'm just simply ecstatic. Lots of people have helped me out to get that co-op, and I plan not to let them down. Well I need to retire for the evening. I hope you all are doing good. Take it easy.

Lee

Hi I am NEW 2 this. I have a Red99Grand am 4/dr! I thought that since my hubby chats in a car chat room about his 91Eclipse gsx that I would chat about my car!lol He had said that I WASNT gonna find a chat room for my car. I told him that I knew I could find something.So we bet and well as u can see I won.lol He lost $50.00! Well just wanted to say HI to EVERYONE AND my name is CHRISTINA!

Welcome to the forum Christinia. Wow, it sounds like your hubby got :owned: - LoL nice work. Easy way to make 50 $ :loL:

What exactly is it that you "race?"

Welcome CHRISTINA . Hey Ride way to go on the Co-Op, I was trying to do something like that for engineering in Louiville KY a few years back. What you going to be doing there in Lansing? I wanted to make custom guns(stupid idea, theres enough guns for everyone in America to own two) for Remington, in KY. But, I like being my own bose.

I too hav noticed the lack of activity here at AF OT. I've been working my ass off and I still try to stop in here a couple times a day. Some days I spend alot of time waiting by the PC, waiting for orders to be confermed or e-mails from Customers. And other days its hard to even take a break, but in the end it all evens out.

I hate the "phone" damn things ring off the hook and its some telemarketeir wanting to know if you want to buy windows. My house has windows(its only 1yr old), why would I want new ones. Are they 'high tech' keep out rodants and toxic fumes from out side? They usually hang up at that point.

I feel loopie to day.LOL! Maybe I shouldnt consume such large amounts of alcohol on the week ends. LOL. Oh ya Ride I havnt forgot the 3.3 turbo, just havnt found the box w/pics of it. I would take a photo on the engine, but its baried in a heap of engines and the beezzz' are still active right now. I'd rather not get stung a hundred+ times. I did find the pics of my Firechicken posted them in the FB forum. Good Luck with the new job.

First off i want to agree and say that the forums has slowed down in activity, which I found myself unable to get on as much due to work... and trying not to set a "bad" example. Hopefully soon enough i can be on more often.

Ride : Congrats on the great opportunity that you have been provided!!! I hope that it works out well for you and that maybe in the future it can be a full time thing!!! Good Luck.

back to work i go....

Howdy.

I've already posted my question in the forum, but wanted to pop in and say hi.

I've been a Grand Am owner since 2001. Bought mine used and have been very happy with it. I have a 2000 Grand Am SE. My parents have been Grand Am owners since I was 15 or so. They rented one while we were vacationing in Vegas and when we got back home, they gave me the Oldsmobile and bought their own Grand Am. :iceslolan I guess you could say they influenced my purchase. :thumbsup:

With the onset of winter, I'm reminded that ice and snow are evil. :crying:
http://www.cutestsandgirl.com/images/misc_images/accident_damage/IMG_3691.jpg

I wish to not repeat that experience.

Thanks for the help at the forum. :)

Welcome Sandgirl :wave:

O shit that sucks. (says the three-time grand am accident-er) :(

I feel your pain.

Welcome cutest_sandgirl...

I think most of us here can feel your pain in some way or another... Hopefully you or no one else was injured ( and yes snow and ice are very evil!!! I know from personal experience myself) good luck with the repairs.

Welcome cutest_sandgirl...

I think most of us here can feel your pain in some way or another... Hopefully you or no one else was injured ( and yes snow and ice are very evil!!! I know from personal experience myself) good luck with the repairs.
Thanks. :)

Actually, that incident happened earlier this year in March. My dog and I were the only ones in the car and we weren't hurt. The guy I slid into only had a slight crack on his bumper. Go figure! First thing he asked me is if the dog was okay. :lol:

ice and snow, buuurrrr!, i think they are on their way....

cutest_sandgirl did your mis-hap get the front fender/hood too? It looks like your car got punched in the eye. Glad you and your dog r ok, does look/sound like you got the short end of the stick though. At least your experianced now! LOL. keep it off the sidewalks everyone. lOL

keep it off the sidewalks everyone. lOL

Now you tell me... DAMN!


on a side note, you know when halloween is approaching,when your car gets egged... (not fun to find out at 6am when you are leaving for work!)

no what really sux is when your ready to goto work and you see,"oh my windows got soaped", then as you add water to wash them, you notice they used wax(candles). then ur late for work and cant see out ur window(s), I hate little punks like that.

The last time someone throw eggs on my car, I chased them down at 2am, they thought they'd get away, not from my 442. Finally they went into a drive, I didnt know if thats where they lived and I didnt really care. My goal was to beat them all with my tire tool, but they all ran like girls inside and called the COPs, neadless to say they went to jail for vandlizm to my car and I didnt even hav to fill out any paper work.

Thankfully, I was actually awake and out the door early for once for work today to discover my present on my windsheild.... I have an idea of two people it could be... but need proof.....

I do like the idea of chasing someone down.... it's always a thrill.... i chased two kids on foot, on separate occasions for breaking into a car on my street, one time being my mothers car... out of the two times i got the one kids arrested the other kid disappeared, but never came back. ( fyi the kid i got arrest for breaking into my mothers car was only 8 year old... very very sad :disappoin)

these days u gotta be carefull , some of those jackasses are carrying damn guns. but its still quite the rush chasing some punk bitches who think they'll be beat to deth for egging your car.

Hey, todays my damn B-day. I totally forgot, I'm outta here

XI- Happy b-day, that reminds me today's my mothers and aunt's b-day.... i better get some flowers before i go home....

i know quiet a few people with b-days this month. I totally spaced it, so I deceided to finish up with what i was working on earlier so I could go do something this evening.

Wife and kidssss all went to Orlando to Disney World this week, so I feel like the home alone kid(mccully colkin) with all this free time, its like a miny vacation. think I'll giv my buds a call and go 'hang out' or some shit. maybe I'll see some of those holloweeners out and go for a game of cat and mouse. LOL!

no what really sux is when your ready to goto work and you see,"oh my windows got soaped", then as you add water to wash them, you notice they used wax(candles). then ur late for work and cant see out ur window(s), I hate little punks like that.

The last time someone throw eggs on my car, I chased them down at 2am, they thought they'd get away, not from my 442. Finally they went into a drive, I didnt know if thats where they lived and I didnt really care. My goal was to beat them all with my tire tool, but they all ran like girls inside and called the COPs, neadless to say they went to jail for vandlizm to my car and I didnt even hav to fill out any paper work.

was reading thru this halloween / havoc.. wow.. egg cars? .. I mean, wow I done some pretty bad stuff to get in trouble with police but... egging a car is just WRONG... id be so pissed if that were to happen to mine.. Sad.

Egging a car will definetly ruin your day....Plus you need to wash it off right away or else it destroys your paint.

But egging isn't the worst thing that someone can do, We had a neighbor that for some reason hated my father, WELL, he Spray painted the windows and headlights of the car once, Put tar all over the windows and lights once, threw grease all over the car once, and last covered the car in leaves (no biggie), This is what we know he did, we don't know if he did other things, BUT we also had to catch him the act to pin it on him. Also He also threw some foul grease all over my aunts Caddy... twice.

Thankfully we don't have to deal with him anymore... Since he died earlier this year (not to be mean or direspectful), All i can say is Kharma will get you when you least suspect it!

I dont know what I would do if someone were to egg my car but the kid that egged the windows while I was at work walked into the living room to his parents chatting with a few cops...

Kharma, that come in a can?

I'm doing the count down to halloween, with the ever friendly, ghoulish avatars. Eight days!

i knew this chick named Karma. Eggs will ruin a great paint job in no time. I was lucky, I didnt really giv a shit about the paint on my cutlass. I just wanted some gratification by stomping the piss outa some punks with eggs.
Parifane wax is the worst thing, cause u hav to scrap it off without scratching the plastic covering the windshield. Wax'rs usually get arested, right after they clean some windows they waxed. I guess it doesnt take big balls to vandalize a car while u r sleeping.
I forgot Halloween, seven days.

Wow people actually started talking in here again. Gasp!!!!! I hate people that egg others cars. I am so glad that my car is gargage kept. If someone egged my Eclipse and I found who did it I'd be so pissed that I would probably beat them to death.

well I am talking, 6 more days....

even more strange than my creapy avitars. I just noticed, what the heck happens when I get to 666 posts?

Its unbelievable the amount of HATE you can have for someone elses pure neglect to a mans prized possesion isn't it!! I'm very glad my car is garage kept as well cause that would defiantly piss me off as well!

Hey, I noticed you have a cold air intake on your grand am. What kind is it and how difficult was it to install? I have been looking into these more for astectics under the hood than anything and was wondering what kind I should get and how much it may cost. Just wondering if you could help me out?

You guys are lucky that you car can go in your garage, Mine has to sit out in the street about two houses up and across from mine, (the closest available to my house) I can't quite seem to convince my parents to clean our tiny one car garage out to put a car in....so for now 3 of our 4 cars get the street ( due to a one car Driveway) and all the neighbors won't use their HUGE 4+ car driveways......bastards...

city parking is a bitch. I hav several friends who liv in the city and they too must park blocks away sometimes.
If some one can walk up my 2100ft drive, and not be eaten by my dogs, they can gladly egg & soap my cars that arent in the garage. My nice ones are garaged.

boug0752, who u asking about the CAI?
When I got egged I was driving down a street when the punks got me. That was the only time I was hit by them.

boug0752, who u asking about the CAI?



Sorry bout that xero, I was wondering about yours? Like I said early its more of just the cosmetic features that I'm looking for. Also when you add the CAI what else do I need to do. I know theres a sensor of some sort in there. Will that be able to be adapted to work? Just curious more than anything?
Thanks a lot xero!

I thought u might be asking me boug0752, but I wasnt for sure. I bought mine at I think it was called O'rielys, the spelling might be off alittle only went there once and it was far from where I liv, but it is the same as the Speed Doctors stage 3 heres the link http://www.doctorspeed.com/grand_am/

It comes with the holes cut as needed for ur GA. In three pieces. Replaces all the old air box junk, with the filter inside the fender(my only complaint). Mines old and isnt really that yellow anymore.
I notice when I take off from a stop, around 2500-3000rpms it whistles lik a turbine, people always look too,"Oh its just that Grand Am" LOL! Their are cheaper CAI's around, A nice investment either way.

I almost forgot 5 days!

Hey, thanks a lot for the link. Great help. Now all I have to do is get the money for my new brakes, tires, and then the CAI. Thanks again for the link man.

No prob, its a fairly popular site(like many others) for GA owners who are into moding. I would say it seems you hav ur priorities straight, geting the brakes and tires first. ;)


Four more days....
http://www.toolband.com/news/letter/images/200510_barbie1.jpg Halloween Barbie™ says, "hopefully there will be something in the pumpkin patch soon."