Hello everyone. I bought a used 1999 Trans Am about 2 months ago. Nice shape, but needs some work. 60k miles on it. 6 speed, and convertible. While replacing the shocks in the back, I found THIS piece and I am wondering where it goes?!

 

Could this be where it goes?!

 

Yep, this is where the piece goes. I just installed it, confirmed. Strange...

 

Glad you figured it out. I'm always amazed at how many pieces there are in the 'verts. I just replaced all 4 shocks recently on mine at 85k miles.. $1400. Ouch!
That's a nice find and purchase despite needing 'some work'. A 1999 with only 60k miles and a rare 6 speed on top of that. Not many 'verts are made with manual transmissions. Care to share some photos??

 

Some clear coat peeling on the front bumper, and a tiny bit on the rear bumper. I will get it fixed eventually.

 

Cool
Thanks for posting the photos. Looks like we have relatives, yours being the older one by two years. It's worth doing the bumpers too. I was tired of seeing the rock chips that accumulated on my front bumper over the many years. It looks so nice now.
I've been spending $$$ on my T/A over the years, especially more recently, but zero regrets as I enjoy it as much as I did when it was new. The rear end comes to mind a few years ago at about $1,000 plus I had to get new wheels almost 3 years ago when the originals kept leaking by the bead area.

 

Looks good! Here is everything I have done so far, LOL!

New upper dash pad to fix cracked one.
All 4 o2 sensors replaced.
Passenger side catalytic converter replaced to get rid of check engine light.
4 new tires on stock rims
Both headlight motors replaced
New drilled/slotted rotors and ceramic brake pads
One new front wheel bearing
Calipers painted red
New touch screen double din radio installed
Both power window motors replaced
Both power door lock actuators replaced
4 new speakers installed
Sound deadening compound inside both doors and Trunk area under carpeting
New door and hatch locks installed (I did not get door keys with purchase!!!)
2 new keyfobs purchased and programmed (did not get any with the purchase)
New short throw shift stick installed
New black with red stitching boot installed
New boot ring to hold boot in place installed (old one broken, missing parts)
New shift **** black with red stitching installed
New factory radiator cap (Original had worn off white text)
New low coolant sensor installed to get rid of warning light on dash
New rear shocks installed (Struts will be installed soon)
New button trim plate for power roof top installed (some cars have the traction control here)
New VSS (Vehicle Speed sensor)
New door lock trim panels to replace older popping out ones
New seat belt holders that attach at the seat tops, one was missing
New red top gel battery installed
Bag for the Tonneau cover was missing. Found one and put all three pieces I had in it, now in the trunk
New LED lighting for all interior lights including door handle red lights
New LED lights for tail lights and reverse lights
New LED compatible electonic blinkers for the tail lights so they flash instead of staying solid on

 

That is some list. Good job bringing it back to it's glory days.
I do want to welcome you and your fine machine to the convertibles section. It can be a bit lonely here as apparently there are fewer remaining verts around than we know, plus many owners just are not posting on forums like these anymore.

 

Thanks, I used to own a 95 Trans Am GT for 8 years of my life, in my 20's. Then I owned a 99 Trans Am for 3 years, but traded it in on the 2011 Camaro SS. It is nice to be back to a LS1 Trans Am again. This is the first one with a convertible and a manual transmission that I have had. The other two were T-Top coupes. There is one thing bugging me about this new one, the speedometer is off by 10-15 mph depending on how fast you go (when compared to my phone and dedicated GPS device. Some people are telling me the manual transmission should have come with 342 gears and I probably have the automatic 323 ratio. I do not know how that happened, as I am the third owner. I was wondering if I should buy the 342 gears as a few people are selling them new/used from a Firebird on facebook in my area. Then have them installed and new seals and fluid in the differential while I am at it.

 

Before buying any parts to "fix" your speedo-being-off issue, there are other ways to confirm rear ratio (raise rear, count driveshaft rotations for 1 wheel rotation, etc.). Correct, all M6 equipped F-bods came with the 3.42 rear gear. It may be possible that a PO swapped gears or the entire rear assembly and you now have a different ratio. IF the rear gear was swapped on your car, you DO NOT need to change the ratio back to 3.42 to make your speedo accurate. A tuner can change the ratio used by the PCM to convert driveshaft speed to vehicle MPH. Before I swapped the rear end on my T/A, I checked my speedo against a GPS device and it was dead-nuts on. After swapping to a 3.73 rear gear AND using my HPP-3 tuner to update the gear ratio in the PCM, I re-checked it and it was again dead-nuts-on. Thus, the simplest solution to your speedo-issue is to determine your actual rear gear (and tire height) and use a tuner to correct the PCM ratio.

Personally, if you are still set on swapping rear-gears, I would not waste a dime on the weak factory 7.5" 10-bolt and would instead consider a S60 or 9" swap, which opens the door to more available gear ratios.

 

Thanks, JohnnyBs98WS6. Sounds like good advice.