Ok, the Panther is now tinted 35% all around. Got that done today, along with buying struts and strut mounts. Oh, and a control arm too (other one will be in Saturday supposedly).

This weekend I'm hoping to slap on the lowering springs I got off Tbat AGES ago. Then comes some body work.

Sorry, no pics yet. I'm holding out until it's done.

lol thats no fun rook! post some dang pics! at least 1 teaser pic haha.

Fine fine...

TEASE TEASE!

Needs more go fast goodies.

Yeah, I think it's fast enough to get me in trouble already. Only thing I'd bother adding now is a LS1 TB and/or a GenV. I have no desire to add an intercooler. You have to draw a line somewhere, I think I found mine. So... I'm just going to work on exterior and suspension at this point. She needs it, that's for sure.

I have an ls1 tb for sale. $150 with adaptor.

DONT TEMPT ME!!!! xD

dooooo it! haha

Nice to see you back on board. I'll be looking forward to seeing and hearing the PP once again.

Mine is getting in need of some serious renovation as well.

You haven't been posting too much around here as of late, either man. What's up with that?

I've been lurking from time to time, but havent been posting much because I'm kind of in limbo on the car. It needs a good deal of work nowadays to get it back to how I would like it to be, but its getting into the area of heavier bucks.

On the other hand my daughter would be tickled to have the car as is (and it is a darn sight nicer than the POS Escort she presently has) but I really cant afford to go in debt for another car, so things are just kind of on hold.

I guess this is one of those "falling in and out of love with the car" kind of times.

I think you and I both have been going through this for a while. I know you're gonna miss it if it's gone.

Rook has certainly been through a long drought with his ride, I guess it was only natural that it would happen with me as well. THe whole situation with my daughter wanting the car so badly is a big factor, but I've also driven a few other rides that have some toys that I dont think I'd have much luck installing on mine.
I've looked at both a GP GXP as well as a G6 GXP and both have remote start, built-in bluetooth, 6 disc changers and my wifes favorite new feature, heated seats.
I'm sure I would miss the car if I give it to her, especially if she takes little care of it and runs it in the ground. Then I'll be POed.

I'm glad to see Rook back working on his again and the turbo set-up ordonez is working on borders on insane (that thing looks big enough to suck up small children)

As usual, only time and money will tell the course of things to come.

Well, you find things to occupy you more than cars from time to time, even different cars. :p

I kinda just want to get it done so I'm content with it at this point. I've waited long enough to start, so might as well get it over with. I've probably driven it more in the past week than in the past two years (sad but true). Next, I want to take it on a trip somewhere when I'm done.

A trip eh? Like Laps for Charity maybe? or maybe Carlisle?

See this is how these things get started. last night after I had posted my last reply I caught myself looking at racing seats on eBay.

(I'm quite sure my daughter WOULD NOT like those!)

God I hate rusted crap... I've been working a few hours here and there replacing the suspension. New control arms, struts, strut mounts, lowering springs, and brake hoses are in on the front now. It's just waiting for me to get done painting my calipers and brackets.

The rear is going to be such a breeze compared to the front. Just replacing struts/springs back there. None of this suspension work like the front.

Then it's time to get some paint done!

I hated doing the struts on the rear...maybe if I had ape arms where I could reach that far into the trunk.

No swaybar links or trailing arms?

Yeah, sway bar links on the front. I omitted the rear, but we'll see what they look like when I'm back there. :p

I heard you on rusty part. The rear struts was not fun but I'm glad I finished them in early 2010 when I changed this rusty struts to KYB AGX sturt with lower springs.

How hard was control arm? I'm thinking to replace mine as it is very rusty now.

The control arm wasn't too hard at all. The bolts came out fairly easy, only hard part was having to drive the ball joint loose from the steering knuckle. Otherwise, straight-forward and easy.

BTW, she's back on all 4's with new suspension all around. Still need to paint the calipers in the rear, but I'll save that for another time. Still gotta bleed the brakes and do some taillight tinting.

Then it's time to paint!

Can I see pics of sexy pink car?

the last I saw it (years ago) it had green GT bumpers front and rear so the overall look wont so sexy at the time, but it more than made up for it with tire-punishing power and a healthy exhaust note. It was also still rolling on "steelies" at the time, so it was a devilish street sleeper.

I seem to recall telling him then, once he installed some cool rolling stock and the glossy pale pink covered the entire body, it was gonna be one of those "screw with me if you dare" kind of cars. By the time you snicker, he'll be long gone.

The great part about the shade of color on the car is its chamelon effect. In direct sunlight it comes off as very pale pink, while under the night lights it almost strikes you as a white base coat with a candy pink clear over it.

I personally never thought I'd see the day when I thought a pink car would be cool, but "The Panther" won me over.

I get three reactions to the car. Either someone pokes fun for it being pink, or they're like "Dude! You're keeping that color right? That's awesome." Cause it does make one deceptive sleeper. The last reaction is... "That's pink?" It's very subtle at times.

Here's the old cardomain site. Some of the pics were taken by Tbat himself. So, you can see it as he did. :p You can also see the mods at the time as well as some of the process of doing a 3100>L67 swap.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2909293

OMG it's amazing. After getting a setback with bleeding brakes that delayed me a day, I got to take her for a spin today. She doesn't torque steer under hard acceleration anymore, and she handles WONDERFUL. I don't even have the handling package on my car, and she's already feeling as nimble as my smaller Stratus R/T.

I hit some bumps and while the suspension wasn't as cushy from the driver's perspective, it wasn't bad either. I didn't notice any vibration or anything, but I only did a quick trip around some back roads. I'm highly anticipating more testing...

It's amazing, my GT, with about $1500 in suspension, can out handle my Camaro. Despite the GT being about 500 pounds heavier. I opted for fore and aft sways, the trailing arms, STBs, GR2s, the heaviest GTP springs GM made, and KYB and Moog strut mounts. Im really starting to consider heavier sways and subframe connectors. Really glad to see you back puttin time into the Panther. Was afraid she was gonna languish in the KY weather.

wow Rook! I remember you posting back here when i first joined about 3 years ago. I never thought I would see pictures of the Panther again! That car is gonna look sick when its all said and done!

I hate how easy cars can eat money. :p I found myself ordering black projectors yesterday. Now I'm afraid I'm gonna find myself ordering black LED tails... I'll try to resist that for the time being, seeing as I just tinted the factory taillights.

A/C has a leak somewhere. It's on the compressor, that's for sure since it has oil from PAG oil under it (clear, not like engine oil). Not looking forward to fixing that. Luckily I'm used to no A/C. So many little things to fix.

Wonder if the paint shop is open tomorrow...

Then the appearance packages start calling your name and suddenly you've dropped 1k before you can even blink.

Bought paint today It's getting sprayed next week, should be ready in time for the weekend, barring no hiccups.

I'll see about getting exhaust done either between now and then or after its painted. Can't decide.

Exhaust first, just in case some idiot at the exhaust shop scratches it.

Current state of affairs, prior to the paint that should go on this week.

haha it doesnt even look pink. Looks like an off white.

Pictures are very deceiving. Heck, sometimes you can't even tell it's pink in person. It's an interesting color.

The guy at the paint shop thought it was white initially too :p

Oh, I broke down and ordered black LED tails too. Yay!

so, are you buying the side skirts too as well?

Is your front end short, or is it an optical illusion?

Optical illusion.

I've debated the side skirts. I may do it. I've got some quarter rot on the driver side, and it's starting on the passenger. I'll probably repair it myself and do a "decent" paint job and cover it up with side skirts I'll have professionally sprayed.

If it wasn't for rot, I'd probably say no. They don't do much for the appearance thanks to body lines.

BTW, got the black projectors today. I'll get pics at a latter time. Even the park reflector was black, although the pic showed chrome on that part. I was pleasantly surprised.

That is comin together sweet Jon...really looking forward to the finished project

Bronzemist ftw!

on the Panther?...not a chance!

Bronzemist + Pink = Ultimate GP.

Zebra stripes?

BTW, talked to the guy Saturday and got a price. Gonna have him slap the exhaust on in the morning. If everything goes to plan, I'll get some exhaust clips.

I have two 4 doors gp at junk yard now. Not sure about door molding & sideskirt shape. If it is good shape. Are you interesting them? I think I brought $30 for whole thing. Again it was holiday weekend sale that I saved lot of money. I think it should be around $40-50.

I can't remove side skirt black rail that support side skirt because they are rivet. Morad has TON of them on warehouse when I visit them twice. That's up to you. I think Morard charge like $200 for whole thing. That's why I rather pick my own parts at junk yard for pull it out myself.

Yes, very interested. Let me know more about it.

Unfortunately for me, there are no u-pull-it yards around here.

3" all the way to the Y, then 2.5" the rest of the way. Sadly, I'm already wanting to change it. The interior resonance is horrible with the Flowmasters. And it's right at cruising speed, idle and high rpms, it's not an issue. I got em on sale some time back is why I used em... but coupled with headers they're just too much, even with a cat and glasspack for a resonator.

So... anyone got any mufflers to recommend? Preferably something more affordable this time around. Live and learn, right?

Magnaflows, FloPros, or some cheap summit turbo mufflers.

i am thinking of going with some borlas.

try swapping your glasspak out for a Hushpower II...it will cut the noise and drone down and still not restrict the flow enough to hurt your performance.

That was what did the trick for my system.

A 3" Hushpower II is $179 at Summit. It also looks to have a rather large body, I don't know if it would fit in the exhaust tunnel. At that price, however, I could easily get a set of Magnaflows or something else. Hmm...

The unit is a bit pricey, and I winced when I bought mine but I was so sick of the drone I was willing to pay it. The overall size of the Hushpower is about the same as a cat...mine fits in the tunnel nicely.

I dont think you'll be happy with Magnaflows either because they are fairly loud muffs...the one on my Sebring is a bit too loud for my taste and I'm sure it will eventually come off.

If you want to stick with the glasspak for a resonator then I recommend Summit's Fully Welded muffs. They are cambered for good sound control but still deliver very good flow...and they are priced right.

Well, the 3" Hushpower has a 6" body. I'm not sure the size of the exhaust tunnel, but that's getting close.

She's off to get painted...

Sorry for delay. Just busy.

Anyway, there is price list of my local junk yard website.
http://www.upullandpay.com/Locations/cincinnati/PriceGuide.aspx

Just saw 1 GT already gone on this list. So they have 1 SE model and 1 GT model on their yard now. I might check it out on Saturday if you are interesting them. I can get side skirt, door molding and door rails out. But only I can't removed the side skirt rail out because they are rivet. I see Morad has few good shape that you might want to order them.

There is mine as example. As you see red that other side skirt that I brought it from clubgp member. He has SE model but got GTP so he doesn't need it. I brought it because metal rail are perfect shape but red side skirt was damage during shipping. Really, it doesn't bother me because I already have mine. I'm sure you could use that for sure.


Holy crap. Morad want $45.99 for 1 freaking door molding? Damn. Morad want $54.99 for 1 door molding with metal rail. Wow. I'm glad I got mine in local junk yard. I would glad to help you out if you are interesting them. I'm not sure how good side skirt becasue mostly underbody cars are lift by forklift that usually damage mostly. Also this car was lift under rims as like jack stand. Sometimes they are under the frame or side skirt either.

Yep, I'm interested. Let me know what ya find. Minor scuffs and things like that aren't a big issue.

Thanks!

lol at Morads pricing.

Theyve been actually pretty good to me, I buy parts from them all the time.

-20$ shipped for an L36 MAP
-FRESH 11.9" rotors w/Imp brackets for 70 shipped.
-2 HD nice axles for 125$ shipped

I have a day off because I'm going to NASCAR Truck Series at ORP tonight. I decide go junk yard today because this GT car was sitting there since June 29, 2010 (date on that car). I have a bad feeling that they will take it out soon after 1 month of sitting.

I have a great news but 1 tiny bad new.

The price is $60 + tax but I knew it is right price.

I gave them a note for
2 rocker panel
3 doors molding
4 doors metal rail

Got 3 doors molding (7.99 each but they forgot charge other one. I arrived home and look paper. I just found out. Oop. lol)
Got 4 doors metal rail (FREE!)
Got 2 side skirt. (19.99 + $2.25 core each)
Got 2 rocker panel metal rail (FREE!)

The pass. side door molding was damage during accident. Sorry. That's last piece of door molding you need. Maybe we will see other GT or GTP on my junk yard someday. There are 2 empty rows on GM section as I will keep eye on inventory. Maybe we will get lucky. They have ton of cars in warehouse to take oil, engine coolant, exhaust cats(against law), battery and some fluids out for safe reason.

I was so shock that I took rocker panel metal rail out. This car is 1997 model. Very deep rusty on rocker panel. I just pull like it is nothing. After I pull it out. My god. this rocker panel is gone.

Please excuse ugly color of this truck. This truck was my mom and it used be safety truck

On 2nd rail of door metal rail (it is little bend because of front pass side was accident. I think you don't mind about that. I'm sure it will hammer it back to make it straight again.) Oh 3 door moldings are very good shape. Just very dirty.


rocker metail rail: Driver side is good shape but pass side is little bit bent. I doubt it will notice under car. (if you don't like it then I can throw it away as it was free anyway)


side skirts (not bad shape. Just very dirty)


receipt


I hope you are happy with that. $70 buck for all but missing 1 front pass door molding vs. 1 Morad door molding $45.99. Nothing against him. I just like cheapest price. I think I went to junk yard probably like 30 times for help members out. lol

Palsut, I love you! How do you want to go about doing this?

Morad's pricing is hit or miss. He used to be reasonable on everything. I used to talk to just him to order stuff (like my engine/trans in my car). Now... it's all impersonal and growing business that has a good foothold in the market, so they don't really have competition.

Palsut is the competition lol.

I never met Morad but I met Erik few times. I went their warehouse twice. Got Daytona 500 trunk lid & 2004 leather seat set for pick up to save me a shipping cost. They got that parts what junk yard don't have. They are about 4 hours from me. Erik cut $100 down for leather seat set when I make offer to him. I think my local junk yard is brand-new business. I think it was open first time in 3 or 4 years ago. Everything in the building is brand-new, brand-new parking lot, brand-new electronic fence (still chicken to touch that :lol) and biggest lot of piles of junk cars. When I found out about my local junk yard. I'm starting fading away from Moard and went local junk yard mostly. They are about 15 miles from me.

Alright about this parts. I'm from Fairfield, Ohio. Batavia was my old apt that I moved out last December. I need update this location on this profile. Fairfield is about 25 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. I see you are from Southern Kentucky. I'm going to guess it is about 4-5 hours drive. Either you come up there or I come down there to give that parts. Either one I don't mind. If I come down. Maybe $30 buck of gas should cover the road trip. Weekend usually best time. Week is bad time which of course I'm working. I think shipping going to cost like $60 because you know side skirt is awful long which it will increase that charge worse.

My neighbor has black gtp which it is abuse. Maybe I could pull the pass. side molding out like 2am. Maybe she won't noticed it was missing and blame on road that it fall off.

Not meaning to hijack a thread, but I've noticed from past pictures that your a good-sized, hefty guy like I am (palsut I mean) and you mentioned having the 04 seats in your car. Do you find that they are much more comfortable, or do they just look nicer and not feel that much different?

I keep eyeballing some of the 04 seats on Morad's eBay store. If I go that route Rook, I'll be happy to offer up my present leather Regal seats (front and back) just for covering gas for delivery. (If your interested of course)

They are best seat I ever had. Really both... it is for look and comfortable on my summer car. I have 2008 base Pontiac Grand Prix black cloth seat set on my winter/daily driving car too. This new cloth seat set (got them on ebay as it was on ebay for like 6 months then I finally decide take it) make me feel like this car is brand-new again. lol

This junk yard always have 5 years. Exampe, it is 2010. They can put 2005 model or older on junk yard. I always waiting for 2004 or 2005 grand prix but nothing yet. Maybe next year I need power wire to connect for my winter/daily driving car. I'm driving with lean chair like I'm gang for my winter/daily driving because I have no power seat connect

Alright I clean your stuffs out as it was collecting lot of dirt or rusty piece from rocker panel yesterday. Wow the door moldings are very CLEAN. Owner did good job for 1997 model. Not sure what wrong with that car as it is tiny pass door damage. Guess that's totaled because they are 1997 model. Side skirt need paint badly but you will get them paint anyway.





I have a day off on Thursday (free) and Friday (have a plan on Friday). I have too many paid time off (PTO) that I need to pick. I thought about use this as ZZP weekend but decide not worth it. I will stay home and do something as "my vacation time" lol PM your address or my address to come either. They are in Batavia on my mom's house because I have no room in my apt. I already have my side skirt & lower door molding under my bed lol. They are pile up on top of my winter/daily car (on car cover) as it was sitting there in garage for month lol

Not sure if you like to order same piece for door metal rail or use your custom clips to hold on that doors. Rest of them are broken as I pull it out.
http://shop.northlandfasteners.com/N19410-Front-Rear-Door-Lower-Moulding-Clip-N19410.htm

Dude, Palsut you gotta come to the ZZP weekend, its gonna be badass!!

Awesome Palsut. We'll have to get together when I get a day off that coincides. Want me to paypal you the money for the sideskirts so you're not left hanging in the meantime?

Tim, say what about those Regal seats?

sd hoodz rock!LoL!

Hey Rook,

I know you had been interested in the seats once before, but I know that's been a while back.

I keep eyeballing some of the 04-up seats on eBay, and if I decide to go that route then I'll want to unload the Regal seats. I could easily fit them in the back of my wife's Aztek, so if we could agree on figure that would cover the cost of my driving out to meet you then I would be good with that.

I would rather cut you a decent deal than to have them collecting dust and taking up floor space in my garage. I wont be making a move on the seats until after my vacation, which is the last two weeks of August...so I'll keep you posted if your still interested and havent changed anything on your own until then.

Sound workable to you? BTW, empty your PM box

Yep, I'm interested. PMs cleared btw.

I don't mind either. You could give me 70 buck with 3% paypal fee or hand me a cash when we will meet. I'm okay either one.

I will be busy this weekend for ZZP weekend & car show on Sunday. Then other car show at Pontiac National on August 8th. Again other car show on August 21st. Dang.... I'm getting busy on August for me and my car.

I'm free on August 14, 15, 22, 28 or 29 which they are weekend. Week is usually bad time because I'm working. I work night shift.