My $800 GTP build thread!

[Pittman06]

Well here it is, 1997 GTP, Mystic Teal Metallic, 218k miles and counting. Heres whats done currently before i got it.
All upper gaskets
Radiator
All struts and springs
EGR
Water Pump
Cat delete (clogged)

Heres what i need to do currently
Both hub bearings
Brakes, Front and rear
L/F tie rod end
L/R strut mount
fix exhaust
fix rust and repaint, both fenders need replaced (very banged up)
Wheels, bad
L/F window regulator
needs headlights, projectors more then likely
and i believe thats about it for now, check it out and tell me what ya think, she runs like a top and shifts perfect. BTW, check out the last pic of the left headlight, worlds BEST ghetto headlight repair!

[gtpinsc]

that thing has seen better days... good luck with gettin it right

[Pittman06]

thanks man, i just got the coolant flush done tonight (had more block seal then a parts store in it, to fix the head gasket lol) and seafoamed it. Looked like our house was on fire but now shes runnin real good. BTW, is it bad when you clean out your overflow tank by scraping the block seal out of it with a screwdriver?

[blueguy]

Nope...just horrible thats all LOL

You got a long road ahead of you that is for sure but it just needs a good cleaning to start IMO.

[2000GTP]

:O i never thought id see an engine bay dirtier than bios..... holy **** man good luck. and rust? oh my god

[Pittman06]

ohio winters, custom paint and body work is my 2nd best (my dad owns a resto shop and has about 35 years of it under his belt) so that will be in spring when i get everything else fixed. I will be ordering all my front end parts either monday or tuesday and my strut mount

[toolguy]

:O i never thought id see an engine bay dirtier than bios..... holy **** man good luck. and rust? oh my god

That rocker rust is very, very common in states with winters and 4 door cars. It is a rocker defect of some kind.
The rust on fasteners under the hood also is common, mostly if it is parked outside most of its life.

[toolguy]

I love the headlight hack job someone did! LOL!!!

Use Mothers Wheel Mist on your rims and scrub it with an old toothbrush. It will take off all the brown nasty!

Good luck and I can certainly see in my mind what it will look like when done!

[Pittman06]

oh i'm aware of the rust. Its a pain but whatever. Good thing about these is that once i put a rocker on it, it doesn't have to be perfect cause its covered! Its just under the fuel door thats gonna suck. And i'm gonna clean those up as well as i can, and i'll try the mothers, I've always used cheap wheel cleaner or degreaser to save cash but these are bad! They will be replaced once income tax comes in anyway! Then these will be winter wheels

[Pittman06]

Update! So i have put in a few hours and a good 150 in parts this week. i ordered my oil pan gasket, tie rod end, window regulator, and strut mount. Went to install my regulator to discover i ordered the wrong freakin side, so thats sent back, in the mean time i tinted all the roll ups and will be doing the rear next week.
Now onto the fun stuff, started the oil pan gasket and my god is that a stupid design. I got the pan off after a 2 1/2 hours of debate, without a cherry picker, engine stabilizer bar, or dropping the entire cradle! Sizzor Jacks FTW!!! Anyway throwing it back together tomorrow and if anyone knows if you can just buy the front motor mount rubber instead of $50 for the whole damn thing let me know!

[matt5112]

Junker? I mean the only thing people sell are the poly mounts for that app. Other than that, congrats on the good news!

[hgw997]

pittman thx for the update, my only trouble is I am no mechanic, live in a high rise w/no garage and no tools so whatever is done will be hi buck labor... at least I got a tech I trust!

[Odi]

Good luck!

[Pittman06]

So as of tonight i've got a set of headlights (thanks to a98gtp4u) on the way, and tomorrow or monday i'm going to get a set of knuckles with 2 month old timkin bearings, and brand new raybestos pads and rotors for 75 for both!!! I found the deal of the year on this! Glad i waited last week when i was gonna order em. So as of this week she should be on the road finally...Just put in my new window regulator and i'm reinstalling all the glass after a full 50% tint on all sides, I'll take it in to have the rear tinted

[Pittman06]

alright, got all the tint done and heres the quarter windows for reference, 50% all around and i also have the trim panels behind the door half done...rusted, scratched, faded etc. Sanding them down and repaint. In the pic one on the left has basecoat and ready for clear, right is just starting to be sanded, dont mind the **** pics, my camera on my phone has a massive f-ed up spot, gettin a new one soon and will get some good pics this week once headlights are in and front ends done!

[batman1988]

sounds like a fun project!

[Pittman06]

Well i did some exhaust welding, got my new acc belt on since the other one was thrashed (see pic, worse in person and add dryrot), and fixed some vac issues and also seafoamed her again. Took pics this time! Keep in mind this is the 2nd seafoam!

[hourang]

cool build! its going to be a nice car after your done with her. i would love to see some after cleaning pics, especially the wheels.

[2000GTP]

all i can say is good luck... and i wanna see the thing fixed! finally someone isnt junking a grand prix all because of the condition its in

[real diehl]

For $800 I would've left it lay. Could have spent the money on a nicer car, that was at least rust free. You can get GTP's in the 2-3k range easily that need a lot less work.


Just my $.02