A Proper Introduction

"AfromanGTO" (afromangto) 06/30/2016 at 15:33 • Filed to: None

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Hello good people of Oppositelock,

My name is AfromanGTO. I have gained authorship not too long, and decided to formerly introduce myself. I have been into cars my whole life, growing up playing with Hotwheels, and Cruisin USA/World/Exotic on N64. I like all types of cars, and can find something good about almost any of them. My favorite types of cars would be a large GT with a manual transmission, followed by a V8 Ute with a manual as well (supercharger is a plus), and large V8 (+) rwd sedans. I have owned/own 3 different Pontiacs: 1971 Firebird Formula, 06 CGM GTO auto, and 06 IBM GTO 6speed. I have also had a 01 Mazda B3000 Dual Sport, 84 Datsun/Nissan 300ZX Turbo, 04 Tiburon GTV6, 72 Super Beetle with a 356 engine in it, and 10 3.8 Genesis Coupe GT. My two current cars are the 06 IBM GTO and the 14 Chevy SS Red Hot 2 with the Holden conversion.

Here’s from the past to most recent cars.

First up is my CGM 06 GTO. I got for insanely cheap, because nobody wanted a slate blue GTO, and the dealer got an expensive ticket with it. Their loss was my gain. It was showed at the Concours D’Elegance with the Concept Camaro next to it, and I was the youngest one there to have a car shown.

You can see the Beetle and Firebird behind the GTO.

After that was the 2010 Genesis Coupe Grand Touring with the 3.8 V6 and ZF 6 speed auto. It was the first year, and was a fun little car that needed some more power. Plus brown sugar leather. It sounded great after I put a custom exhaust on it. (I need to add better pictures of it off facebook.)

Here’s a youtube video of the exhaust.

A few years of owning the Gen Coupe was fun, but I really missed having a GTO. I wanted one with the exact options I wanted. I wanted an IBM GTO with the T56 and a black interior. It took me forever to find a nice one, I almost picked up a supercharged Spice Red GTO, but I wanted a blue one.

Here is my GTO next to the Gen.

The GTO with the upgraded brakes. It has a lot of other mods, and I am slowly gathering and finding parts to make it the exact way I want it. Last year I put in a C7 flywheel with a Monster twin disc clutch.

Last year a Red Hot 2 SS (VF Commodore) came into my life, so my GTO isn’t the only Aussie. After the warranty is long gone it will start to be slowly modified for the better as well. It needs the same brakes the GTO has, and yes they will fit. The auto tranny (6 speed) is very nice, and the vented seats have spoiled me too much.

Here it is as a Chevy SS.

Here it is rebaged as a Holden SSV.

Thank you all for reading this introduction.

Nerd-Vol > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 15:45

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Welcome! How big is your Afro?

shop-teacher > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 15:47

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Welcome! Your GTOs are my favorite colors for them. I briefly had a black ‘04 that, unfortunately, turned out to be a real lemon. I loved that car anyways, and GTOs never fail to turn my head.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 15:49

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Can i touch your afro?

Have you seen the basement?

AfromanGTO > Nerd-Vol 06/30/2016 at 15:50

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Thank you! It was pretty massive a few months ago, but I was forced to get it cut against my will. It is growing back nicely though.

AfromanGTO > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 06/30/2016 at 15:52

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I don’t mind just make sure your hands are clean first.

The basement club in Miami Beach or the TV show with Gnarls Barkley (sp?)?

AfromanGTO > shop-teacher 06/30/2016 at 15:55

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Thank you very much! That’s unfortunate your Black 04 was a lemon. Some 04s were pretty problematic. You should reconsider getting one, but an 06. They fixed most of the teething issues by then. If you want something new instead, check out an SS. They are just a newer 4 door GTO.

McLarry > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:09

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Hello! I like the Chevy re-badged as a Holden - I bet that gets you some confused looks!

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:09

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The Oppo basement of awesomeness

AfromanGTO > McLarry 06/30/2016 at 16:13

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It does. I live in South Florida, and people take more pictures of it than the Lambos idling around. It’s funny how many tourists will ask me what kind of car it is.

AfromanGTO > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 06/30/2016 at 16:14

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Not yet! :)

they-will-know-my-velocity > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:18

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You’re already familiar with my Aussie money pit.

CB > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:23

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Welcome to Oppo! Looks like you’ve had quite to collection. Which one has been your favourite for whatever reason?

Oh, and stay out of the basement.

AfromanGTO > CB 06/30/2016 at 16:29

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My favorite has been my blue GTO. I have done so many things with it from track days to long trips. I wanted it for so long, and it is staying with me until I get old.

Noted will avoid basement.

AfromanGTO > they-will-know-my-velocity 06/30/2016 at 16:32

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Yes, I am! I have 2 now, and would love a Maloo. Or maybe I should get the Holden Trinity, and acquire a G8.

RallyWrench > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:33

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Welcome, nice fleet!

AfromanGTO > RallyWrench 06/30/2016 at 16:33

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Thank you! All I have now is the SS and GTO. :)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:34

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Welcome aboard! Nice collection you got there, I really like the GTOs especially.

AfromanGTO > Snuze: Needs another Swede 06/30/2016 at 16:36

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Thank you very much!

Sam > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:41

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Wow, slate blue is a pretty boring color. It’d fly under the radar of most cops, though. I really dig the Holden-converted SS. Gonna do the GTO as well?

BeaterGT > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 16:54

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Not OC, but thanks and welcome! I’m looking to buy one and I like this kind of advice.

AfromanGTO > Sam 06/30/2016 at 16:54

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It was a great sleeper color. Everyone assumed it was a Mercedes or BMW. Funny story my friend had a black 04 STi, they were coming back from somewhere in town, they were saying how the slate blue is such a sleeper low key color, and then I pulled up next to them. That’s when they found out I got a GTO. lol

I really don’t care for the Holden or HSV front end on a GTO. The SS is only a grille and wheel cap change, and rear emblems. The GTO requires new headlights. I will end up doing the SAP Fascia for the front bumper.

Monaro

HSV GTO (I can’t stand that post in the middle of the lower grille.)

GTO with SAP fascia.

AfromanGTO > BeaterGT 06/30/2016 at 16:56

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No problem. The 14s handle better than the 15s and 16s apparantly. But the 15s and 16s do have the optional manual transmission. They don’t have any real problems. There have been 2 recalls. One is to put dielectric grease on the electric steering, and the other is to rewrap some wires under the car.

shop-teacher > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 17:11

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Yeah, I know I was just unlucky with mine. I may pick up an ‘06 one day (in impulse blue no less!), but it’s not in the budget right now. I love the SS, but that’s REALLY not in the budget right now :)

Any strut rub issues with 06's?

deprecated account > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 17:13

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That SS. Sploosh... Good to have you here.

AfromanGTO > shop-teacher 06/30/2016 at 17:14

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Both of mine didn’t have strut rub issues. I am putting coilovers on it soon, so I’ll never have to worry about it ever again. It is interesting why the GTOs had strut rub to begin with. It is because they were strapped down too tightly in transit to America and the dealers. Impulse Blue is my favorite color of a GTO. They are still some nice ones around, but they are getting hard to find. I wouldn’t mind to pick up a Cosmos Purple 04 one day.

AfromanGTO > deprecated account 06/30/2016 at 17:15

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Thank you very much! It gets a lot of attention. I have never had a car photographed so much.

they-will-know-my-velocity > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 17:35

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G8 is nice but I think we’d all prefer the Maloo.

AfromanGTO > they-will-know-my-velocity 06/30/2016 at 17:53

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Me too! But you need to use a G8 to make a street legal Maloo! ;)

BarryDanger > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 17:57

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:( I Miss my CGM GTO *sniff*

such a beautiful color.

AfromanGTO > BarryDanger 06/30/2016 at 18:13

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You’re going to have to get another one! ;) I was so happy to be back in a GTO with my Impulse Blue. CGM is such an underrated color. I wish it was on more cars. The E46 M3 had a similiar color that was lighter, but still looked nice.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 19:10

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Glad to have another IBM GTO owner here. Oh my that SS you have there is lovely. I want to get a G8 GXP and put Holden badges on that. I need to do that brake upgrade here sometime.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 06/30/2016 at 19:30

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Thank you very much kind sir! I think we talked on OppositeTalk, and I added you to the GTO Owners group. Yes, do the Brembo 6 piston front and 4 piston rear upgrade! Also for the G8 you’ll need to get the Commodore bumper cover along with the badges. The SS only required a grille change.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 19:41

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Yeah, I don’t know if I could do that. I love the Pontiac split grill too much. May just debadge the front you know?

Yes we did talk there and on some of you older posts I believe. My boss also has an IBM GTO, but his is so stock it is ridiculous.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 06/30/2016 at 20:04

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It’s all about personal preference. They have a Holden decal that goes inside the Pontiac arrowhead. Like the Angry Goat decals back in the day. So that’s always an option.

I thought we did. IBM is nice, and it’s ok to keep it stock. I have three friends who all have IBM LS2 GTOs, and they all got them after me. Plus one of my buddies is looking for an identical one like mine.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 20:14

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I need these in my life!!

yeah they are addictive and probably at the bottom of their depreciation curve. He bought his new. He also has a ‘65 Goat his dad bought new, so he bought a ‘05 GTO to have a 40 year split. I wish i could have bought mine new just because she has some used car issues. Like I really wish I had a stock blue thread shift knob, but oh well.

BeaterGT > AfromanGTO 06/30/2016 at 20:14

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Haha sorry about that, I meant a GTO! Not quite making SS money yet.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/01/2016 at 11:06

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I actually have those decals in black. The guy behind angry goat gave away all of this old stock a few years ago, so I have 2 or 3 of them. I have blue arrowheads now, so I am not using them. I think they will get a little cheaper before gaining in value.

The shift knobs with the blue and purple stitching are damn near impossible to find. I have seen people sell them for over 400 bucks in perfect shape. Ones in bad shape can be had for 20-50 bucks. However there is a company out in Texas that will redo them for under a 100 bucks. The steering wheel, shift boot, and console leather can be replaced by Redline leather.

There was quite a few original GTO owner who had both old and new GTOs. The ones who bought a new GTO where and had a classic ones are generally the most accepting of the new GTOs. I remember I was talking to a guy with a 71 Judge and another guy who had a 71 Tempest that he tried to pass off as a GTO. The guy with the Tempest hated the new GTO, and the guy with the real Judge also had a 04 Barbados Blue. He told the guy with the clone that the GTO owners were talking, and if he wanted an opinion in the matter get a GTO.

BarryDanger > AfromanGTO 07/01/2016 at 11:07

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I think I will once I move out of Denver - the roads were just beating my poor car up so I got a truck. I’ll be living in San Diego starting in August so the crew-cab Tundra may be exchanged for a GTO, we’ll see.

AfromanGTO > BeaterGT 07/01/2016 at 11:12

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No problem. When looking for a GTO now try to find one that has had the suspension bushings replaced if not the entire suspension. I’d be wary of one with a bunch of motor work, but has stock brakes and suspension. Look for the seat seams to split. It is very common in GTOs. Make sure nothing is acting weird on the dash, and wrap the BCM wires under the glove box. I’d recommend getting one from the GTO forum or a facebook group. Be careful because some high school kids have them now......

BeaterGT > AfromanGTO 07/01/2016 at 11:15

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Yeah I was thinking LS1tech or a low mileage, clean car. I only sell on FB groups, don’t have enough faith to buy from there yet haha. Hopefully I can find an affordable enough example where I can replace most of the stock parts anyway. It will be my fun car after all.

AfromanGTO > BarryDanger 07/01/2016 at 11:16

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There’s a lot of GTOs out in SoCal, so hopefully you’ll be able to find a good one. That is a bummer Denver has crappy roads. You would think with the nice views they would have good roads.

AfromanGTO > BeaterGT 07/01/2016 at 11:20

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You’re better off checking out LS1GTO than LS1tech. A clean higher mileage GTO that has been nicely modded is also a good choice. Some of the lower mileage GTOs haven’t really had things that are needed to be replaced done. Like the suspension, bushings, and replacing the fuel line under the fuel rail covers.

BeaterGT > AfromanGTO 07/01/2016 at 11:21

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Ah ok, thanks for the heads up.

AfromanGTO > BeaterGT 07/01/2016 at 11:27

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No problem. Check out these 2 GTOs for example. They both have great owners and they are well taken care of.

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthr…

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthr…

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 07/01/2016 at 12:09

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I always liked the blue arrows, but at the same time I feel like that’d be too much blue. You have a picture of them.

Oh I know, I am at the point i would but any color now and send it out to get restitched. I found a red stitched one, but $400!!! No thank you!! I don’t understand why anyone would have changed the knob. The stupid ass Momo one is nice, but not as nice as the factory one with the short throw.

Yeah, most people around here seem ok with the new ones. There are around 10 new ones in this county that I know of.

Posers are usually haters. Some reason the guys with the old cars don’t think the new car owners know the history and such. Hell, I spent years around Pontiac guys and doing things with Pontiac groups and events before I got mine. So I know my old school cars and they are just ignorant of the newer ones.

Personally though for a vintage Pontiac I want a ‘67 Firebird 400

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/01/2016 at 13:45

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Actually they aren’t as noticeable as you would think. They are billet and blue. I really like them. Here’s the front arrowhead.

Most people wanted a different knob or got one with a new short throw shifter. My knob with the blue stitching isn’t in the best shape, but it still looks nice. My buddies had his leather come off. It looks ok without the leather and stitching. Just buy a used one, and send it in to have it redone.

One of my friends has a 67. It is a beast of a car.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 07/01/2016 at 16:33

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Oh, that emblem is really nice. I have been trying to find a used one. Just gotta keep looking I guess.

I am a big fan of stock and modifications that look stock. Also the Momo shift knob just isn’t what I like out of a knob.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/01/2016 at 16:43

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If you are Facebook they always seem to pop up weekly for around 50 bucks. You can try to find one from Australia, and see if they will ship one to you. Maybe you can even get an HSV steering wheel too.

I am a huge fun of having clean modifications that looks like they were designed to be there in the first place.

I am also a huge fan of the OE+ look. Taking parts from other models from the same corporation to make mine better. Like my CTS-V front brakes, ZL1 rear brakes, or my C7 flywheel.

Check out the digital climate control and cup holder location in the Aussie Monaros/GTOs.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 07/01/2016 at 18:33

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You have no idea how badly I have wanted to switch out my heater box and controls so I can do the electric swap. 10/10 so much cleaner. I had never noticed the cup holder. That is amazing!! I also want to add the gauge pod to mine. It looks so boring up there with nothing.

Would you please message me on FB when you see one? I haven’t see one ever pop up there.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/02/2016 at 22:28

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The only problem with the swap will be that the temperature will be in Celsius not Fahrenheit. we didn’t get them in the American GTOs, because it would cost too much to convert the software... I am a huge fan of the cup holders in the dash, it is very Saab and Catera esk. You have to hack up a Monaro and GTO center dash piece to get this, but it looks great!

I actually got a JHP gauge pod that I bought for my birthday a couple of months ago. I got mine in blue, and I got a great deal on them. Make sure you get a LHD one and not RHD, so it is facing the driver.

I will definitely message you if I see one. Actually there’s a blue one for sale in GTO owners. He is selling the shift boot with blue stitching too, and a bunch of other stuff. He has it so you can’t comment on the post though. It should make it easy to find.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 07/05/2016 at 11:34

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Lol, that’s fine with me. Celsius does not bother me. I should start looking at Australian Ebay.

Yeah, RHD parts wouldn’t be good to put on a LHD

I saw his post. Looks like it is just the boot and the arm. No knob.

I would hack up mine for those holders.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/05/2016 at 11:53

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He had the knob in the pictures when he first posted. Blue stitch shift knobs are getting harder to find. lol

Yes, hack away at the dash. I know Maverick Man has the cup holders, and I think he did a write up on how to do it.