my new ride

  • Thread starter Thread starter nitrorustler41
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nitrorustler41

nitrorustler41

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well, I really wnated a diesel truck, but I will get one later in life I guess.


so, I got somthin to have fun with and somthin cool for the highschool parking lot, so I picked up a 95 trans am. 58k miles. I got it for a bargain. :dopey:



well, I bought it about 3 weeks ago, and just decided to make a thread. I already bought a magnaflow catback exhaust, and Alston subframe connectors.

next month, I am cuttin the cat out to get some more sound.

heres the subframe connectors
subframeconnector.jpg


I am getti na new bumper, and blacking out the center section around the license plate with satin black paint. I am also blacking out the taillights.

backcornernexexhaust.jpg


transampassside2.jpg


transaminterior.jpg


transamfrontcorner.jpg


yeah, it also has the rare "performance package" its got a "perform trasmission" button that raises shift point, raises line pressure, and boosts torque 25% on kickdowns. it chirps the tires goin into 2nd gear, with 275 wide tires, and a 2.73 rear gear......its torquey for sure :)
 
Just get a pair of these:
HPIM1078.jpg

Straight up blackened taillights usually aren't legal unless you have it done right, and having it done right is a pain on tail lights that aren't geometric.
If you want to be different, just make them clear.
 
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honeycomb tailights look way worse then stock lt1 tailights. I like thetailight,s but mine are bubbling. and yes, they are legal in IL, where I live buddy.


a stalled auto is faster at the strip then a manual, so yeah, I aint changin the trans. I will build my dream car later. this is a DD


plus, I am shading them, not putting the black covers on em. they are gonna be very very dark, but not black. you'll see. I cant do any of these mods till sept 1st though. my buddies garage is full, and it will be cleared out by then.

mustangGT90210
Nice car! That slushy box should be outta there though :sly:
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dude, I have the performnce package. it's not a slush box. it shifts pretty darn quick for a factory auto. also it engages pretty hard. as you read above, it chirps the tires.

also, from a 30 roll, it'll kickdown to 1st, and light em up till 40 mph. then chirp again at 55. it'll eat up a mustang for sure!
 
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nitrorustler41
next month, I am cuttin the cat out to get some more sound.
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Don't do that. un-catted F-bodies with y-pipes sound like crap. It'll pop and crackle and just sound really bad. Ask me how I know...:) I have a magnaflow high-flow cat on mine. It really smoothed out the tone of my SLP cat-back.

Nice looking Bird, it's nice to see another one on the boards. How much did you buy it for? If you don't mind me asking. I also noticed you don't have T-tops. That's pretty rare too, as most 4th gens do have them.
 
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Great TA you have there. :D Definately needs the bodywork update from the 1998-2002 TA (WS6 preferably). Either way, great find--just don't wreck it.
 
nitrorustler41
honeycomb tailights look way worse then stock lt1 tailights. I like thetailight,s but mine are bubbling. and yes, they are legal in IL, where I live buddy.


a stalled auto is faster at the strip then a manual, so yeah, I aint changin the trans. I will build my dream car later. this is a DD


plus, I am shading them, not putting the black covers on em. they are gonna be very very dark, but not black. you'll see. I cant do any of these mods till sept 1st though. my buddies garage is full, and it will be cleared out by then.



dude, I have the performnce package. it's not a slush box. it shifts pretty darn quick for a factory auto. also it engages pretty hard. as you read above, it chirps the tires.

also, from a 30 roll, it'll kickdown to 1st, and light em up till 40 mph. then chirp again at 55. it'll eat up a mustang for sure!
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For a DD, Auto is fine. But still, that sounds like a tranny they programmed right from the factory! I'm used to erm... crap tranny programming
 
Rotary Junkie
You need shorter rear gears.

Do that, THEN power mods. 4.10s or maybe a little shorter.
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Not in an automatic car. 4.10's will be too much gear for it. That ratio is better suited to a 6 speed. 3.73's a better for an A4 car and they'll make a HUGE difference over the 3.23's you have in there now. You could swap in a 3.42 rear from a factory T56 car, but I don't think the improvement would be worth the effort.
 
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I like your car, very nice. One thing I rather hate about 4th gen Birds though is the steering wheel, rather ugly bulbous looking thing.:yuck:
 
nitrorustler41
honeycomb tailights look way worse then stock lt1 tailights. I like thetailight,s but mine are bubbling. and yes, they are legal in IL, where I live buddy.
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Uh, no. they aren't. You see them everywhere, because no-one bothers to pull them over for that alone, but if you're doing something else stupid, no doubt you'll get an extra fine onto your ticket.
 
RedTransAm
Don't do that. un-catted F-bodies with y-pipes sound like crap. It'll pop and crackle and just sound really bad. Ask me how I know...:) I have a magnaflow high-flow cat on mine. It really smoothed out the tone of my SLP cat-back.

Nice looking Bird, it's nice to see another one on the boards. How much did you buy it for? If you don't mind me asking. I also noticed you don't have T-tops. That's pretty rare too, as most 4th gens do have them.
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thats because you have a freakin slp LOUDMOUTH!!!!!!


of cousre its gonna sound bad. that exhaust is nothin but a striaght pipe, with a little shotgun bullet muffler thing in the middle.

my car has a much more refined tone then a SLP exhaust. I personally hate the SLP LM, its waaaaaaaaaayyyy too raspy and hgih pitched. my car is deep, and sounds how a street muscle car should.
 
mustangGT90210
For a DD, Auto is fine. But still, that sounds like a tranny they programmed right from the factory! I'm used to erm... crap tranny programming
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yeah, these trannies are computer controlled, and you actually go slower at the drag strip if you try to manually shift them. if you wanna race, throw it in "3", and put the skinny pedal to the floor. computer will take care of the rest.



I have learned to manipulate it a bit though. like I can get it to kick down to lower gears, and buzz the motor pretty well if I wanna play from a roll........:sly:
 
Awsome pick up dude! That low rise spoiler threw me off at first. I forgot the didn't put the high rise on every Trans Am back then.

You don't want to cut the cats out first. You should save some money and get some headers and catted or un-catted Y pipe. That will get you louder and more power. Plus either way you will throw SES codes cutting the cats, cuz the 02 sensors will been gone or reading messed up.


mustangGT90210
Nice car! That slushy box should be outta there though :sly:
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Not if he's drag racin, then it's your best friend with a high stall. The first thing he should do drivetrain wise is get the crappy 10 bolt outta there. That'll be the first thing to go.


Rotary Junkie
You need shorter rear gears.

Do that, THEN power mods. 4.10s or maybe a little shorter.
Click to expand...



Those are too much for an auto. 3.73's are what most go with, I'm not tho since I DD my car and see lots of highway miles. I can't afford to take such a huge hit on my high way mileage, so I'm gunna go with the 3.42's

Also, a stall will make more of a difference than gears will.
 
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think I agree with the "honeycomb" tails. didn't know they did that ugly grid thing to f birds.

is it legal to cut the cat out in your state?

even if he COULD convert it to stick, it's probably a pain in the butt to do so.
 
nitrorustler41
thats because you have a freakin slp LOUDMOUTH!!!!!!


of cousre its gonna sound bad. that exhaust is nothin but a striaght pipe, with a little shotgun bullet muffler thing in the middle.

my car has a much more refined tone then a SLP exhaust. I personally hate the SLP LM, its waaaaaaaaaayyyy too raspy and hgih pitched. my car is deep, and sounds how a street muscle car should.
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I have a 2OTL, not a Loudmouth. And it's still going to sound like crap if you cut off your cat.
 
this is my daily driver. not a project car. its keepin stock heads. but I might get a new cam in a few years.

its not legal, but I am gonna cut the cat. you say it'll be too raspy, but then you say to get headers and an ORY. that'll be way worse!


next things I am buying. rear bumper, tail light shade, and new stereo headunit, and straight pipe. :)
 
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Daily srier? No point in cutting the cat, just makes the exhaust stink more and as mentioned messes with the sensors. Better to just buy a high-flow cat.
 
So, you are going to cut out the catalytic converter and black out the tailights. I hope you don't plan on passing inspection anytime soon. And heaven help you if you ever get a ticket for something, as they'll probably tow the thing.

buickgnx88
Daily srier? No point in cutting the cat, just makes the exhaust stink more and as mentioned messes with the sensors.
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No to mention drop his fuel economy through the toilet.
 
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I am emissions exempt. its an OBD1 car sucka hahahahahahha




plus, you dont buy a trans am to get good gas milage. I get under 14 mpg, and enjoy every second of my driving. so when I floor it its not a waste of gas, its being enjoyed.



if you enjoy it, its not a waste right??????
 
A buddy of mine has a 99 Formula with the LS1, headers, full exhaust system, ram air intake set up, along with a laundry list of other goodies and easily gets 20+mpg with it and it's even an auto. You can get both performance and economy out of the car you just need to learn how to drive it correctly.

And Toronado is right, you are screwed if you get pulled over and they discover you don't have a cat, not to mention the noise violation you will get for running a straight pipe., especially with the dumps.
 
Joey D
A buddy of mine has a 99 Formula with the LS1, headers, full exhaust system, ram air intake set up, along with a laundry list of other goodies and easily gets 20+mpg with it and it's even an auto. You can get both performance and economy out of the car you just need to learn how to drive it correctly.

And Toronado is right, you are screwed if you get pulled over and they discover you don't have a cat, not to mention the noise violation you will get for running a straight pipe., especially with the dumps.
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dude, its going through a magnaflow catback. I just wanna remove the cat, so I can get some more low end volume. right now, its pretty tame......I think. all I can hear is from the inside of my car lol.
 
Why not just lop off the whole exhaust after the manifolds? That way you'd have a SUPER loud exhaust. :rolleyes:
 
nitrorustler41
I am emissions exempt. its an OBD1 car sucka hahahahahahha
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It doesn't matter. Removing the catalytic converter is illegal under federal law for any car that came from the factory with one. If any cop even thinks of a reason to look under your car (and trust me, they will know) and sees it missing, you are either light by $2500 or they tow your car (if its a multiple infraction or repeat offense). You cut the catalytic converter out of the car, and I give you a week of daily driving before some cop nails you for it.

nitrorustler41
plus, you dont buy a trans am to get good gas milage. I get under 14 mpg, and enjoy every second of my driving.
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Did I forget to mention that you lose gas mileage while most likely simultaneously destroying your torque curve? You might pick up one or two horsepower at high RPM (something Trans Ams aren't good at anyways) but you will lose tons of low end grunt because you will kill your exhaust velocity.
 
Toronado
It doesn't matter. Removing the catalytic converter is illegal under federal law for any car that came from the factory with one. If any cop even thinks of a reason to look under your car (and trust me, they will know) and sees it missing, you are either light by $2500 or they tow your car (if its a multiple infraction or repeat offense). You cut the catalytic converter out of the car, and I give you a week of daily driving before some cop nails you for it.


Did I forget to mention that you lose gas mileage while most likely simultaneously destroying your torque curve? You might pick up one or two horsepower at high RPM (something Trans Ams aren't good at anyways) but you will lose tons of low end grunt because you will kill your exhaust velocity.
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Oddly, I know of FAR too many 5.0 Mustang owners running without cats for that to hold up.

I also know that when cats DO go around here, they get gutted or a pipe in their place.

Remember, not everywhere is the same. In Michigan at least, there are no inspections and you can pretty much drive a rolling wreck if it has full working lights and moves.



Anyhow... Kill the kitty. Don't gut it, get RID of it. Aand 2.25" duals. No bigger, you don't need it. It's not boosted.

And yes, 4.10s dammit. It'll clock fairly high RPM on the freeway yes, but nothing massive and our friend Nitro doesn't care about gas mileage.

Lastly... Silly F-body owners... Y-pipes... :rolleyes: :p
 
I'm not sure why he seems to like to talk back to the people trying to help him out but whatever... let him do it. Personally blacked out taillights looks stupid and as everyone has said if you do what you say you're going to do cops will love you.
 
Rotary Junkie
Remember, not everywhere is the same. In Michigan at least, there are no inspections and you can pretty much drive a rolling wreck if it has full working lights and moves.
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Have you ever bothered to read the Michigan vehicle code? Obviously not if you think you can drive down the road with a wreck with working lights. There is a lot to what you can and can not do to your vehicle in Michigan. Please familiarise yourself with this:

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ba...cl-act-300-of-1949&queryid=6188878&highlight=
 

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