New Project - W Body Love

"412GTI" (sixspeedab) 04/19/2020 at 19:40 • Filed to: pontiac

5

34

I brought back a new project to work on this week, my Grandmother’s 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT coupe! She’s owned it since new and currently, it only has 85,000 on it. I have very fond memories of growing up with this Grand Prix, 8 year old me loved riding in this “sporty” red coupe with the cool sunroof.

However, it hasn’t had the easiest life and currently isn’t in the greatest of shape. Given elderly drivers, it has a fair number of dings, scratches, and mix-matched worn headlights (after being struck  a drunk driver in their driveway many moons ago).

Since the weather will be nicer this week and I’m #funemployed , it seems like a great time to give the Grand Prix a full paint correction & detail. I’m really hoping this will bring some life back into the paint, it always looked great back in the day (which seems kinda rare given that era of GM paint). I’m really looking forward to seeing the results.

Even the inside is in decent condition with very little of the 2000 era GM bu tton wear. Hell, it didn’t even have any rattles on my drive today, I was shocked!

I’ll be sure to share the results later this week. Cheers!

Brickman > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 19:49

1

Driving excitement :)

Boxer_4 > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 19:50

1

Funny thing is that I don’t remember this body- style looking as good as this one appears now .

412GTI > Brickman 04/19/2020 at 19:52

1

It’s those red gauges man! 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 19:53

4

While their interiors looked like crap, late 90's and early 2000's GM interiors are fairly durable. Hard plastic is fairly tough.

412GTI > Boxer_4 04/19/2020 at 19:54

0

I think the color and wheel combo really help this particular one. I never really cared for how the base model and other wheel options look on this era Grand Prix. Not as cool as the 90's model though imo. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 19:54

3

My first real car was a 1998 Grand Prix GT Coupe in white. Those 3800s run forever and these things are great, comfy highway cruisers. Enjoy it!

412GTI > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/19/2020 at 19:56

0

The seats are so terrible in this thing but everything else is fine for a early 2000's vehicle. I’m not sure if these hold up better than the newer ones, but my mom’s 2005 Grand Prix wore so badly. 

412GTI > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/19/2020 at 19:58

0

That’s awesome :D Such a great motor and I truly was surprised how well this cruised on the highway home. Quiet, comfortable, and tracks straight.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 19:58

0

Weren’t these supercharged?

412GTI > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 04/19/2020 at 19:59

3

Some were. The top model GTP was equipped with Supercharged 3800 motor. This being a GT just has the N/A 3800. 

Boxer_4 > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:01

4

The base models did look pretty bad. I’d rather have this one:

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:02

0

Booooo

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:03

2

2004-2005 is when quality tanked, and vehicles developed after 2001-2002 were low quality. My 2003 Corvette has less rattles than my 2018 GTI had, and about the same as my Dad’s LS430. Same goes for his 2002 Suburban, everything has held up incredibly well despite having 250k miles.

412GTI > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 04/19/2020 at 20:03

1

Haha I wish too! 

412GTI > Boxer_4 04/19/2020 at 20:06

3

Look at those rad color match wheels! I particularly liked the squinty headlights version.   

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:06

0

Oh yeah, change the intake gasket so it doesn’t burn down.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:16

1

Lots of parts for those W bodies. Would benefit from the wheels being spaced out about an inch so they’re not so sunken, and then also lowered an inch. Remove the “this has to be able to handle potholes” horrible reality and let the design shine.

I’d love to swap an F40 manual trans (from a G6) into a car with the supercharged 3800. Either a first-gen Lumina Z34 or a two door one of these or a ‘98 Riviera.

412GTI > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/19/2020 at 20:16

0

Was that a recall repair? I feel like I remember some fire related recall being taken care of. 

412GTI > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 04/19/2020 at 20:20

1

You’re definitely right about that. I’d be curious to see how this wheel design would look scaled up to maybe 18 inch too.

Man a torquey sixspeed cruiser would be awesome! 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 04/19/2020 at 20:29

1

supercharged models have a se perate oil cooler/lubrication which people forgot to change and had a bad habit of mechanics/owners forgetting to change and eating themselves.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:34

0

Maybe? All I know is I’ve seen 4 vehicles burning to the ground in traffic, and 3 of them were 3800 powered cars.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 04/19/2020 at 20:34

0

Didn't know that was a thing, interesting.

412GTI > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/19/2020 at 20:38

1

Gotcha. I’ll take a look at it tomorrow. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 04/19/2020 at 20:46

1

Neither did my cousin!

It was every 25k miles. which is why it was often forgotten. W hen it was designed in 98( ?) and synthetic was an arm and a leg GM thought, “this will be good for the consumer” and use regular for the engine

newsflash: consumers are dumb and don’t read the manual.

RacinBob > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:52

1

I had a ‘94 Transport. The 3.8 engine and transmission were reliable but I did install three crank sensors in the last 5 years. I would get a Delco instead of a NAPA were I to do it again. The last one flamed out while towing my racecar and trailer on I-90 west of Chicago. I literally flamed out and I dead sticked it into the Belvedere rest stop 1/2 mile down the road. Hope you have better luck.

I would say I never liked the melted “Playschool” GM dashes of the era. I don’t know who they appealed to, they didn’t to me.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 20:56

0

honestly with a little low and a little spacer I think that’s a good amount of sidewall for a meaty setup. Maybe with white letter tires? IDK

Under_Score > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 22:00

0

I love those older cars, especially when they have older plates and dealer badges for dealers that changed ownership 10+ years ago.

Looking back, I saw you worked at a dealer? Are you really unemployed, or are you just not working because dealers are closed in-person? Dealers are open here thankfully, but I was just wondering how cars were sold in those areas. Sales must hurt in liberal states right now.

zipfuel > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 04/19/2020 at 22:03

1

I feel like lowered with a big offset wheel and a widebody kit would be hilarious. P ush the proportions as far as possible.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/19/2020 at 22:09

1

the fires were valve cover gaskets.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 22:10

0

yesssssssssssssssssssssss

Nick Has an Exocet > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 22:23

1

I had a 4 door of this generation. It was a great car. Comfortable cruiser with good torque for the time. 3800 will usually outlive the car.

I actually like the interiors on these but wow were there quality issues. Dashes tend to separate up near the traction control button, buttons get sticky or stop working, and there’s some annoying mechanical issues. The blower motors can go, capacitors can leak on the electronics, rocker panels that suck up water/rust, and my favorite (and contributing factor to me getting rid of mine) the wiper assembly will basically strip it’s own bolts if you drive it in heavy snow and dare to turn your wipers on.

412GTI > Nick Has an Exocet 04/19/2020 at 22:38

1

Wow never knew about all of those issues! I know she’s put a decent amount into it over the year but nothing stands out specifically. Never any motor issues of course! 

412GTI > Under_Score 04/19/2020 at 22:47

2

I can’t recall if they ever had any dealer stickers or plates on this car but they do have the original Pontiac dealer keytag which is pretty cool!

I do work for a dealer part time running their social media and other digital advertising, but since Pa can’t sell or register vehicles at this time, my position is on hold. My fulltime job involves a brewery which is also closed currently , so I’m definitely bored now. We’re hoping car sales can maybe resume starting in May.

Under_Score > 412GTI 04/19/2020 at 23:33

0

That’s assuring. If you’re getting some sort of compensation and/or you know you’ll be starting back, I wouldn’t be too worried. Dealers are happening places around here still, which is nice to see.