<Project> 2000 Trans Am

[Gottork]

looks awesome fred, will be doing this same thing to my tailights when I start doing body work.. did you block sand the raised info on the tailights off too?

[kyleozzie]

good progress man! wish i had your drive lol but i like doing cosmetic stuff like this! like ryan said its actually pretty fun lol now motor work.. thats not as fun. but fun when its done lol

[OIF1VET]

Looking good Fred!!!

[Lucky SOB]

Your kickin ass on this thing. Can't wait to see it done. If you don't mind me asking how much $ you going to have into paint?

Thanks! Sent you a PM

looks awesome fred, will be doing this same thing to my tailights when I start doing body work.. did you block sand the raised info on the tailights off too?

Thank you! I did not... I don't mind it there. I want the car to look like it just rolled off the line, with a few minor upgrades

good progress man! wish i had your drive lol but i like doing cosmetic stuff like this! like ryan said its actually pretty fun lol now motor work.. thats not as fun. but fun when its done lol

Thanks man! Yes it's all fun... except scotch-brite-ing your fingers to the bone on exhaust tips. lol

I'm torn on where I want to go with engine work... I don't want to risk any driveability, but I would like to crest the 400 mark at the wheels and maybe touch high 11's. Which would probably take polished heads and a moderate cam? I'm at 350 to the wheels right now with an LS6 intake, stainless QTP longtubes, and the catted Borla exhaust. We'll see how I feel after wheels and a drop... I'll probably tinker with the engine bay appearance too. IE painting brackets, fuel rails, etc. black. Some red valve covers might look decent too

Anyways, I just got back from polishing the parts... I'll throw the pictures up in a few minutes

[Lucky SOB]

Polishing Results

The exhaust tips turned out very well IMO





And for comparison...



Tail center panel turned out pretty well also...



CHMSL turned out nicely...




Tail lights are ruined... I feel like throwing up. For some reason, when I hit them with laquer thinner to take the buffing compound off the reverse light areas, the plastic started cracking and looks like this... doesn't look like there's anyway to fix them. I'm in the market for mint condition tail lights if anyone knows where to get any... ugh





I just feel totally sick about the whole thing...

[MunsterZ28]

wow thats really strang, sorry fred ill keep an eye out for you

[kyleozzie]

Thanks man! Yes it's all fun... except scotch-brite-ing your fingers to the bone on exhaust tips. lol
I'm torn on where I want to go with engine work... I don't want to risk any driveability, but I would like to crest the 400 mark at the wheels and maybe touch high 11's. Which would probably take polished heads and a moderate cam? I'm at 350 to the wheels right now with an LS6 intake, stainless QTP longtubes, and the catted Borla exhaust. We'll see how I feel after wheels and a drop... I'll probably tinker with the engine bay appearance too. IE painting brackets, fuel rails, etc. black. Some red valve covers might look decent too

Anyways, I just got back from polishing the parts... I'll throw the pictures up in a few minutes

yeah i am sure the scotch brite wasnt that fun but was totally worth it the tips looks amazing. and unfortunately i am not a ls1 guys so dont know what you would need to get to that goal but i totally understand the driveablility.. its stupid to have a car you cant enjoy. and yeah you should make the engine bay look killer too i hate seeing a car with nice paint and detailed up then you pop the hood and there has been no attention to it.. and red valve covers would look pretty sick too!

[ThreeHonks]

wow I am sorry to hear that. The 3rd brake light and the taillights are made out of a different plastic than the other sidemarker lights that are around the car.

It is basically impossible to paint the 3rd brake light at all, even nightshade it. Just wanted to warn you guys about it. I have destroyed 3 of those light by trying to nightshade them.

[OIF1VET]

Damn sorry to see Fred.. Those tailights are not cheap.... minimum about $100 per side... Unless you find a real deal.. I see em sell for 125-150 ea quite often...

Good deal depending on condition:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trans...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-97...Q5fAccessories

Just an example of what they go for quite often..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/trans...mZ270657543085

[Lucky SOB]

wow I am sorry to hear that. The 3rd brake light and the taillights are made out of a different plastic than the other sidemarker lights that are around the car.

It is basically impossible to paint the 3rd brake light at all, even nightshade it. Just wanted to warn you guys about it. I have destroyed 3 of those light by trying to nightshade them.

Thanks guys, yeah I'm bummed - just gotta pony up and get a used set sometime this winter. I'll back the car into the garage so I don't have to look at them. lol

I think the problem lies in that I used a standing buffing jack with a hard compound. These are what you see in chrome shops. I'm thinking I should have used a foam pad on a rotary hand buffer with a liquid/gel compound that is easy to get off. Oh well, live and learn. At least none of you guys will make this mistake now

Well, Ryan just ruined my surprise... But I really appreciate the heads up! I was going to have the top of the CHMSL painted red (never seen that done, now I know why). What kind of paint were you using Ryan? Rattle can or done by a pro?

[Lucky SOB]

Damn sorry to see Fred.. Those tailights are not cheap.... minimum about $100 per side... Unless you find a real deal.. I see em sell for 125-150 ea quite often...

Good deal depending on condition:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trans...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-97...Q5fAccessories

Just an example of what they go for quite often..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/trans...mZ270657543085

Thanks for looking for me Larry, I really appreciate it. I found a set on LS1tech for $250... seems about the running price. At first I was looking at new OEM... anywhere from $300-400 / PER LIGHT Those few drops of lacquer thinner turned out to be expensive!

[Derek]

why would you paint your third brake light red when it is already red? Seems like that would look real tacky in a hurry?

[Lucky SOB]

why would you paint your third brake light red when it is already red? Seems like that would look real tacky in a hurry?

Just the top of it... thought it might look good.

[OIF1VET]

Thanks for looking for me Larry, I really appreciate it. I found a set on LS1tech for $250... seems about the running price. At first I was looking at new OEM... anywhere from $300-400 / PER LIGHT Those few drops of lacquer thinner turned out to be expensive!

Yeah, that what I typically see a set sell for..

[nascarnate326]

It is basically impossible to paint the 3rd brake light at all, even nightshade it. Just wanted to warn you guys about it. I have destroyed 3 of those light by trying to nightshade them.

quoted for truth. It took me 4 trys to get mine with no runs, and it still doesnt look perfect.




Fred that totally sucks. I hope Year One starts making 4th gen parts soon. Some of the things like CAI, TA tails, rims, etc would sell pretty well I think.