Introducing... Project $300

"Tohru" (tohrurokuno) 10/29/2014 at 13:14 • Filed to: Project $300, project car, winter beater, Wisconsin

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Hello everyone! It's new project time for me, specifically a new winter car project.

The car I've ended up with is a badly-beaten orphan that was left for dead, but I'm going to nurse it back to health and give it a good home.

Introducing Project $300 - a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am SE coupe, with a 3400 V6 and automatic. The car has 204k miles, and got fresh head gaskets at 160k. It's damaged all along the right side from a deer hit (it's Wisconsin, naturally), and has quarter panel rust. Surprisingly, no serious rocker panel rust. Also surprisingly, it's a California emissions car. Also also surprisingly, it came with $400 worth of almost brand-new tires on it.

The reason it's called Project $300 is that I bought the car for $300 - pretty simple, really. Well, that and the roommate said calling it Project Abused Orphan was in bad taste.

Over the next couple weeks, I'm going to document what happens when you buy a car for less than a new video game console and try to bring it back to daily driver use.

Without further ado, pictures of the project:

(Strap across the hood is to keep trailer fenders from rubbing on tires. Little bastard is heavier than it looks.)

(Dog is not included in project. Sorry, Skeeter.)

(I haven't had a cruise control car in 3 years. I have a radio to put in it, if I feel like it.)

(Rusty rusty rust. Why do I live in a state that salts the roads again?)

(More steel cancer.)

(Deer body hit here.)

(Deer head hit here. Luckily for it, deer keep nothing essential in their heads so it was unharmed.)

(Deer ass hit here.)

(Taillight tape has to go.)

(Must've been sold by Bruce Wayne's unambitious cousin Greg.)

(Spiffy tires. They're Fuzion brand, not too familiar with them.)

The following goals are set for the project:

1. Replace fuel pump and filter (The failed fuel pump is what took it off the road.)

2. Replace both exterior mirrors (Driver's side has broken mounts.)

3. Replace left taillight

4. Complete cleaning of interior and exterior.

5. Rust preventative treatment on quarter panels.

6. Replace windshield, eventually.

Feel free to weigh in on how buying this was a stupid decision in the comments below!

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:19

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$300 bucks for a car you could likely part out and make more money on or at least give you something to bomb around in is a hell of a deal.

Looking forward to seeing more about this.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:20

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I wish it was red so much

it would be an abused red headed orphan

bob and john > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:21

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wutha car that common, you may have gotten yourself the cheapest project car ever

Sam > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:22

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Fuzion tires aren't that bad. They're a budget brand, made by Bridgestone.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:23

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Lol, I had those tires on Charlie. They might be the worst tires I've ever used. I was surprised when I got my Direzzas and +1 wheels that the ride actually improved since they're stiff sidewall track tires.

anothermiatafanboy > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:23

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It has a V8???

RazoE > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:24

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I think you mean 3400 V6. Going to keep it stock? Or go all HAM up in here and activate beast-mode?

For Sweden > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:25

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Your thirst for misery disgusts and excites me.

Tohru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/29/2014 at 13:26

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And since I'm not the original owner it would have been an adopted abused red-headed orphan.

Mattbob > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/29/2014 at 13:27

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for a $300 car, a rattle can paint job shouldnt be out of the question, right?

Tohru > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 10/29/2014 at 13:27

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Honestly, I could probably get $300 just for the engine and trans.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:28

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oh man, get out the rattle can and make this a reality.

You can call it AARHO (or Arrow for pronunciation sake)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:30

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*Begins recriminations for no Reatta*

Tohru > RazoE 10/29/2014 at 13:31

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Yeah, I did. Mistype. Though if I wanted to go completely insane I could see what it'd take to wedge a 5.3L LS4 into it.

Tohru > anothermiatafanboy 10/29/2014 at 13:32

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Sorry, V6. Mistyped, Tohru is running on low sleep.

Tohru > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/29/2014 at 13:33

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Dad had Fuzions on his '89 Corvette and they were super-sticky tires. I don't know how these particular ones handle snow.

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/29/2014 at 13:35

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Dogapult is seriously considering buying it because I didn't. And then rubbing it in my face that his car has a touch screen and mine doesn't even have a radio.

Tohru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/29/2014 at 13:36

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Just paint the roof red?

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/29/2014 at 13:44

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Reatta has a foot parking brake. Grand Am has hand brake. Check and mate.

CalzoneGolem > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:45

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The interior looks surprisingly nice. Don't listen to the haters that Reatta couldn't provide those sweet sweet handbrake turns.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 10/29/2014 at 13:46

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Cable accessories can be relocated. An antique touchscreen is forever.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/29/2014 at 13:48

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The touch screen can also be relocated.

RazoE > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:50

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Do it!

samsmith > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 13:53

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Glutton for punishment much? You're probably better off taking that POS to the scrap yard

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 10/29/2014 at 14:00

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But then it won't be in a quasi-handmade two-door Buick.

Tohru > samsmith 10/29/2014 at 14:07

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I will visit your house and do burnouts with it in your yard. :D

Tohru > RazoE 10/29/2014 at 14:08

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Let me put the V8 in the Datsun first.

Tohru > CalzoneGolem 10/29/2014 at 14:08

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There's no tears in the interior at all.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/29/2014 at 14:16

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But it would be a quasi-handmade two-door Pontiac.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 10/29/2014 at 14:26

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The screen is classy as shit. Classy shit belongs in a Buick.

CalzoneGolem > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/29/2014 at 14:29

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In what way is this Pontiac not better than the Buick? That's what I want to know.

Tohru > CalzoneGolem 10/29/2014 at 14:30

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I do have a big hole in the dash where the radio should be...

Tohru > For Sweden 10/29/2014 at 14:32

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It can't be as bad as the Escorts. I could've picked up a 2-stroke Trabant and it would be better than the Escorts.

CalzoneGolem > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 14:39

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It's a match made in heaven.

Tohru > CalzoneGolem 10/29/2014 at 14:44

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"Right, let me just tune in the radio..." *beep!**beep!**beep!**beep!*... *beep!**beep!*.... *beep!**beep!*...*beep!*

(Dogapult says it beeps every time you touch the screen.)

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/29/2014 at 14:45

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Considering how many of them are non-functional, the touchscreen is not forever.

samsmith > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 14:52

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I think you mean "I will attempt to visit" and "attempt burnouts with my automatic transmission"

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CalzoneGolem 10/29/2014 at 14:53

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Cheap plastic and wrinkled rustiness beyond all conception?

Tohru > samsmith 10/29/2014 at 14:56

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I do have a RWD truck, you know.

Though I'd probably borrow my dad's V8-powered '84 S10 2WD longbed, just to make sure the job's done right.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 14:58

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I didn't say they were forever anywhere but your heart.

samsmith > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 15:02

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Lol! Yup that little s10 would sure do the trick! btw, 2wd pickup? Thats pretty much good for nothing!

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/29/2014 at 15:02

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Tohru > samsmith 10/29/2014 at 15:05

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The S10 will do 120 across Minnesota while pulling a U-Haul trailer. It earns its keep.

My Ram 50's earned its keep as well, as it can haul stuff I could never have transported in the sedan I used to own before it.

Trucks are always useful.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 16:09

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Some ideas:

Slam it cheap and go to stance meets.

Rallify it. Hella lights, race livery and white wheels.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 16:10

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now that you say it, it might be a better option

make it happen!

Tohru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/29/2014 at 16:17

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maybe. maybe.

Tohru > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 10/29/2014 at 16:17

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Offroad lights and white plastidip?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 16:24

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if you paint the bottom half white you'd get a classy 2 tone out of it

Tohru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/29/2014 at 16:56

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"Classy" and "Grand Am SE" have never been used in the same sentence.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 16:57

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first time for everything right?

get to it and be the classiest of Grand Ams

Tohru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/29/2014 at 17:06

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Can a vehicle be classy with a broken windshield, rust, and significant body damage?

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Tohru 10/29/2014 at 18:28

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I was thinking something like this:

Maybe you could make a tribute to the very unknown Pontiac Fiero rallycar?

Tohru > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 10/29/2014 at 18:53

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So I shouldn't do any of these?

jj > Tohru 11/03/2014 at 19:13

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Considering that a DD condition grand am commands less than 1000 dollars, I recommend that you take the tires off the car, scrap it for 200, and come out on top with 100 dollars spent for 400 dollars worth of tires.

Dr. Strangegun > Tohru 07/17/2015 at 19:23

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I realize this is an “archival reply” but I couldn’t resist.

You need to take a very fine saw to the “AM”, switch the letters, and cram them over against the “GRAND”.

GRANDMA.