Glenn's 2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 M6

[farmington]

Someone sells an electric cutout that bolts in the place of the restrictor plate. Best of both worlds

[DynoDave]

Ha! Great minds think alike. I was thinking one could be adapted for that. I'll have to look around.

This one? (See link). Looks like Hawk's carry's this one too, but at a slight markup.

[farmington]

Check eBay. Seen something that looks identical for under $40

[GlennT]

A few months ago, I installed a Pioneer AVH-2300NEX headunit. I have NEVER wanted a touchscreen, and most double DIN units are too garish for my tastes. They just don't fit the look of the interior of most vehicles, IMO. But I greatly prefer the tactile feel of real buttons. Then I saw that Android Auto has made some headway, and was very impressed with what I saw. I've been extremely happy with it so far, with very few exceptions. Things like, why the hell doesn't it charge my phone when the vehicle is off? Why didn't they think of that? And there's no power antenna trigger; not one that is dependent on AM/FM. I had to use the standard accessory trigger, so the antenna goes up every time the unit powers on. I'm putting a switch inline someday to remedy that. My old Pioneer has it though, making it all the more annoying. There's a LOT of positives though.

I got new MSD wires and ACDelco Iridium plugs installed; wanted NGK, but they were out of stock, and I was too tired to run around town. I unfortunately decided at the last minute to change plugs, after seeing what a pain just getting to the wires was. Got the 8 plugs for $54, out the door, from Advance Auto; not bad for supporting a local store. I found it hard to get a satisfying "click" when installing the MSD wires onto the plugs, and one in particular was problematic. The connector slops around in the boot too much, IMHO, so you have to hunt around for the connection unless you're pressing the boot straight on with the wire hanging straight out. Soon after I got it back together, and got on the road, that troublesome wire (#3) fell off the plug. It was originally on #6, but I switched it with #3, knowing it didn't feel right. I monkeyed with it for a bit, and got it to fit better fortunately. I still don't like how easily it pulls off. It hasn't been a problem since though. It's definitely running smoother, but not a huge difference.

FWIW, I ended up disconnecting the AIR tube on the right side, and that made things on that side much easier. If I had done that from the beginning, I would've gotten done a lot quicker, but I'm always worried about snapping off exhaust related bolts. With as easy as they came loose, I was worried about nothing. Live and learn!

And I finally got the Toyo R1R tires from germ79 mounted! I was going to research tire shops, but I ended up just going to my usual Belle Tire and emphasizing that I wanted the wheels and tires indexed properly, and not just indexing the tire with the valve stem. One wheel still has more weights on it than I'd like to see, but I'll admit, they did a fine job. The car is smooth as glass now. I don't think I've ever had a steering wheel so steady at 80mph. Thankfully, I was right about the 80mph vibration coming from those back tires; no more shaking passenger seat either! I'm still getting used to the tires. Launches felt less exciting at first, until I realized that was because the tires were hooking! I'm not running out to 3 grand, and waiting for the tires to catch up.

These tires have astonished me on a few curves and turns. I'm afraid to find the limit! Steering feels a good bit more responsive. It is tough to compare, since I had junk tires on the rear. The car always tended toward loose, so it turned quickly, but would come around if you weren't a bit careful. Now the rear sticks like glue, so it's actually seems a bit tighter than I'd like after having it push through a few turns. But I'm still feeling them out. I may be holding back without realizing it, and it's going to go tight if I lift off the throttle in my experience. I took a turn fairly aggressively this morning, and I did manage to get a nice power slide in. These tires hooked back up much quicker, and I liked that. It felt more impressive, and less "showy". Aside from when I have pushed the limit, the car feels very well balanced for what it is. It's been so much fun to drive the past few days. No burn outs yet! I haven't really tried, but even on the brick down town, they only slip a little.

I did manage to snap a wheel stud. I don't know what happened. Just as I thought the torque wrench was going to click, it started turning easier. Dammit! I have spares, so I'll get that swapped out ASAP.

[MP81]

The Pioneer 7" touchscreen units have always looked pretty sleek. I've been considering one for years now, in the Cobalt, but have never pulled the trigger. I was looking at the NEX series, to get Android Auto. I have that in my Volt, and it's really nice. I'm so used to touchscreens, having them in the CTD and the Volt, I wouldn't bother with a non-touchscreen in the double-din location in the Balt. The touchscreens look real clean there, almost like it was factory.

MSD makes an iffy product, IMO, so that really doesn't surprise me. My Taylors usually are pretty good about getting that solid "click" when it snaps onto the plugs.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the tires - I still haven't ever been able to push my Direzza ZIIs to the limit on the Cobalt, having spent so many years on all-seasons, they have scarred me. They just grip and grip and grip. Now it is time to bump up the other handling components!

[GlennT]

I agree on the looks of the touchscreens. It looks a lot better than the garish non-touchscreen units. Most of those seem to have too many hard lines and shine to look right in a car full of smooth curves.

And the Android Auto is incredible! I LOVE IT! You do have to have the USB cable connected, which is why it's annoying that it doesn't at least continue supplying power when the vehicle is shut off. I have to disconnect the cable, and plug it in elsewhere in instances like last night, where we were getting ice cream, and my phone was dead.

And, dammit, I was leaning toward Taylors, but after reading about a dozen threads on ls1tech, it sounded like MSD was the way to go. Oh well. Maybe I should contact them, because the other 7 were "ok". There was at least some click. That one iffy one, I couldn't feel it go on. I ended up squishing the connector with my plug boot pliers. I've never felt such a weak snap when connecting plugs though. Not ever.

I'm getting more confident with the tires, but that limit is so much higher! There's a curve near our house where 55mph was my "Woo!" speed. I knew I could eek out more, but 55 was the comfortable limit. I went through there at 55mph on the new tires, and it was a cake walk. And I mean that in a "HOLY SHIT! That was nothing!" kind of way. It's tough to describe, and I have to remember how bad those back tires were, but it's the precision and smoothness through the turn that is amazing. These make some tread noise (like an AT tire) when pushed hard, and I'm rarely hitting that limit. I have to get used to this new balance of grip in front AND back I think. Just in the last day, it feels like it's loosening up a little bit as they break in, and that will suit my driving much better.

[DynoDave]

Radio looks good. There are files to 3D print a radio trim plate for 3rd gen Firebirds for Double Din. I'll make the jump one of these days.

FYI...none of my factory radios ever had a radio only trigger for the antennae. True for my '88 T/A and '97 Express currently as well. If the unit is ON, the antennae is up.

[GlennT]

Thanks!

I have the factory radio, but it's never been installed in the car since I had it, so I wouldn't know what it did from the factory. I just loved that the antenna never went up with the Pioneer DEH-X8600BH. Hearing it go up and down for absolutely no reason just seems silly now. Not a big deal though. I have listened to AM/FM on a rare occasion though, so I'd hate to simply disconnect it altogether.

As much as I don't like the factory steering wheel (my absolute least favorite thing about the 4th gens), I am tempted to hook up the steering wheel controls. It would be nice to skip tracks without having to look at the headunit.

[MP81]

At least it's better than the weird "simulated rope" wheel on my '81. I really would like to replace it with something...anything...better.

[GlennT]

I'll agree there, but at least you don't have to deal with an airbag. I can't convince myself to do away with it, just to get a smaller, more attractive wheel. And because the 4th gens used old tech up to the end, with a single wire bag, retrofitting anything is tricky. I hate the old snap and crackle signal stalk too. I wish something like the column in my 2001 Silverado would fit easily.

[MP81]

Does it still use the same "magic stick" stalk that was like what my third gen had?

[GlennT]

Yep. Sure does. Classic GM. It's not awful, but the one in the Silverado looks and operates the same way, but feels 10 times better. The tilt steering is better too, IMHO. I'm sure it's much more tamper resistant.

[GlennT]

Earlier this year, I cut out the rest of the left headlight harness and spliced everything together. I rushed it, and didn't the wires clean enough though. At least a couple wouldn't take solder very well, but I thought it was good enough. But no, I've still been getting all four lights lit, with the far left brighter than the rest. I finally put the car up on ramps Tuesday night, and cut that garbage out. I crimped on new connectors with weather seals, so everything is back to stock, just with shorter wires. It got late, and I guess I was too tired, because I stabbed the pins into the vehicle side connector in the reverse order, despite having a photo right there on my phone. Anyway, I got that fixed last night, and finally have properly functioning headlights again.

That all ran late Tuesday, because I sold the BFG gForce Comp 2 A/S tires that came off the front of the car. I think I'm a push over. I had just dropped the price to $120. The guy asks if he can come out at 10pm, because he was going to his grandson's hockey game. I ended up letting him walk off with them for $90. I know they're used, but they were $135 a piece, and had only 3500 miles on them. He was concerned about damage. I thought it was clear that they'd never been patched and never been flat, let alone run/rolled when flat. At least they're out of my garage, and I have a bit more cash. He was a nice guy too, and they're going on a 2001 WS6, so....

[MP81]

The typical "Oh, will you take far less" scheme. I am not a fan of that kind of buyer behavior, but it is common. I guess at least they are gone.

I met up with a guy at the Meet & Greet who wanted my stock tailpipes off my '81, and we had started with a price for the full exhaust, but he only really wanted the tailpipes. I wasn't going to make him take what he didn't want or need, and transporting only the tailpipes was a lot easier for me, without a truck, so the price dropped accordingly. When I met up with him, in the pouring rain, I ended up doing it backwards of the typical scenario and just let him have them for free, for which he was very taken aback, but grateful.

[ktl711]

Earlier this year, I cut out the rest of the left headlight harness and spliced everything together. I rushed it, and didn't the wires clean enough though. At least a couple wouldn't take solder very well, but I thought it was good enough. But no, I've still been getting all four lights lit, with the far left brighter than the rest. I finally put the car up on ramps Tuesday night, and cut that garbage out. I crimped on new connectors with weather seals, so everything is back to stock, just with shorter wires. It got late, and I guess I was too tired, because I stabbed the pins into the vehicle side connector in the reverse order, despite having a photo right there on my phone. Anyway, I got that fixed last night, and finally have properly functioning headlights again.

That all ran late Tuesday, because I sold the BFG gForce Comp 2 A/S tires that came off the front of the car. I think I'm a push over. I had just dropped the price to $120. The guy asks if he can come out at 10pm, because he was going to his grandson's hockey game. I ended up letting him walk off with them for $90. I know they're used, but they were $135 a piece, and had only 3500 miles on them. He was concerned about damage. I thought it was clear that they'd never been patched and never been flat, let alone run/rolled when flat. At least they're out of my garage, and I have a bit more cash. He was a nice guy too, and they're going on a 2001 WS6, so....

Selling used tires is always a crap shoot. It's possible that you could have held out for more, but sometimes it's worth it to just quickly get that storage space back, and get that cash in your pocket. You get bonus karma points for having them end up on a 2001 WS6!