some mods on a 1996 GA GT??

[96gagtblack]

Hey fellow grand amers,

I'm just slowly starting off in doing some mods to my car and would appreciate any advice from anyone with a 96 Grand am GT. I was thinking next I'd like to replace the shocks/struts and rotors. Any advice on brands/kinds of each? I'm not planning on spending a fortune on mods but within reason. I want to get some nice foglamps, maybe some new hoses and wiring. Also i'm getting my baby a new paint job this summer. I don't mind spending some dough on quality parts. Also, i'm not a mechanic and car lingo can boggle me. Any of you that own 96 GT's know that the ride is less than the greatest. I really would like to improve on the suspension....with the best and most reasonable solution. Also, i'm in Canada.


Thanks in advance again,

Brad

[Igovert500]

What are your goals with modifications? Do you want a comfortable daily driver, a showcar, or a bit more get up and go?

[grand_am93]

well there is a lot of stuff go to andysautosport.com and find out what u want there cheap

[96gagtblack]

Hey Thanks for responding...

Well, I want a bit of both and my motto is always MODeration I want a nice looking car that has been upgraded from stock but not a prize showcar with extreme mods. So far I've just replaced the stock headlights with PIAA lighting and bought a kick ass new stereo system. My car is black, 2 door GT. I want to get some new cool fog lamps but I know nothing about the right size that I need or what kind is best to install easiest with wiring, brackets etc. I've been looking at angel rim foglights? or the blue globe ones. I am going to get the windows tinted soon. What I want is a sharp looking car that is a little more comfortable on the road. These cars don't handle bumps very well and are quite "go-cart" like on the road. I like the tightness in the suspension but not the ROUGHNESS. I need the name of a brand of shocks/struts to look into that will improve the ride ...or is it springs I need to look into? I would also like some higher performance rotors/braking system. I"ve heard that pitted rotors are good, now what about the drum brakes for the rear? I am looking for some recommendations on makes and brands to buy. Also, I'll probably need to have my exhaust system replaced soon as it's getting near the end of it's life. Again, nothing too fancy or hi priced or need for horse power, just something as good or a bit better than the factory dual exhuast....chrome exhaust pipes would be nice. A street racing machine is not my aim here. I'm not looking to nickel and dime horse power anyway i can get it. Another thing I'd like to do is replace the front grill with some stainless steel mesh or something. I know the "LOOK" I want, but don't have a clue where to get something like that or how it would be installed. I want to also put the same kind of grill/mesh down underneath where the fog lights are in the open grill down there. So in summary, I want nice lighting, new paint, tint for esthetic look and struts/shocks, rotors for the non esthetic and the grill redone. The minor mods I want done to the engine I'll leave for now but I'd say the most I want done is new hosing, replace some wires just because they are getting old.



Thanks again in advance,


Brad

[achievasc92]

I'm just curioous. Go into you trunk and take off the spare tire cover. there should be a sticker on there that has a bunch of 3 letter/number codes.

Look for either:
FE1- ride suspension package (small front swaybar, no rear swaybar, rides very comfortably but not very sporting handling)

FE2- ride/handling package (small front bar, and rear swaybar)

FE3- sport suspension ( larger front bar and rear bar. rides like a tank but will handle very well)