she has 236k on her right now as she sits, its a 1998 6 speed trans am. I plan to do a motor swap next year. Just wanna get her back up together and running first.
when i picked it up

beside my dads project

After day 1


plans as of now

repaint jetstream blue
new clutch
havent decied if im going to build the motor or do a ls2/ls3 swap yet
newrims and tires
ws6 ram air hood if i can find one


problems i have had that maybe you can help with
the security light keeps coming on, one the dash and wont let me start the car with either key. I know there is a bypass, but is there any other way to fix it?

Any comments or uggestions are appriciated.

btw dont mind the messy garage theres too much stuff and cars in there right now it needs to be cleaned up.

 

nice to see you saving one instead of parting it... How much did you give for it? pull out the ignition switch and check the two white wires, they usually fray and rub causing it to have a vats fault... you can also check under the column and make sure theyre not cut... welcome, you can find all the info youre gonna need here...

 

Security light issue is easily bypassed with a simple resistor. But if you want to fix it you'll need to open up the steering column. You sure you don't want to just bypass?

 

i might just do the bypass its really anoying to not be able tomove it over in its spot in the garage.

Ive been searching around here for like a week and there is tons of good info knew that before i got the car though.

I paid $2600 for it and ive wanted one for a long time ever since my dad go his 25th anniversary trans am, just like the newer ones better.

I need to just steal his ls1 out of his vette though and put in this only has 27k on it lol, yes we have too many cars lol.

 

Ya, your cars got a lot of miles, body looks good tho. Mechanical stuff is relatively easy to fix.

 

yeah probably just gonna get it back together for spring with paint and everything and see if this ls1 lasts until next winter for a swap then.

Couple more questions i have

Do you have to drop the engine out through the botom like i keep seeing, or can you pull it through the top?
Do the xlr(c5) brakes have brackets so i could use them on the trans? i have a set laying around.

 

either way is fine.. if you have never done it from the bottom the just pull from the top, it will be easier than learning to do it from the bottom... if you know what youre doing, you can drop it pretty easy..

I have no idea bout your other question.

 

yeah i searched a little more about it and found out the top was fine too, i know the bottom is easier but i dont have a lift yet. Plus the front end will be off so i could do the bottom and just slide it out also.

 

Shouldn't be an issue at all with pulling it out from the top especially with the front end off. You have to have a hoist long enough for top removal with the front end on the car.....been there done that!

 

yeah i have a long one needed it to get the engine out of my camaro, its actually still holding that motor up come to think of it lol i might wanna work on that tomorrow.

Planning to get all of the other body stuff off tomorrow and preped for paint by the end f the weekend. Cant wait for this thing to be done!

new updates
Still cant get it started after the bypass, got a code p1626 the security code, so i deleted it in hpt and going to try that out tonight, from what i understand that will fix it.



These are the things on the side skirt i cant figure out, tried to pry them out but dont want to brake the skirt. Should i just drill them out?



And the fender mounts got messed up on both sides, gonna need a little body work, all the minch welds look like they had a jack under them forever. Oh well nothing a little hammering cant fix lol

 

goodluck with the restoring it. more fun days to come..

 

thanks, i cant wait until its done! hopefully before this spring for sure

bump for side skirt help, refer to post 12 picture 3

 

Looks like an aluminum rivet which will need to be drilled out, or if it's loose enough, you can get a pair of side-cutters under that head and cut it off that way...

 

ok thanks just wanted to make sure, i was just confused because one side had bolrs and the other side had these

Cut the exhaust out and finally got it running tonight. Only panel that should need replacing anyone know the name of it?

 

Body was n good condition for Thr price paid. I recently bought a very high miles ta also and plan on restoring it

 

yeah im happy with it for sure, just need to repaint underneath and replace this and it will be good as new.

some more progress made

 

Lookin good!

 

thanks man, gonna tear down the motor tonight, anyone have suggestions for motor build?

 

I like threads like this good luck and keep us posted

how easy was it to remove the engine i want to remove everything when i paint my car

 

honestly not that bad, could be done in a weekend i just didnt have much time to work on it did it parts at a time. Have a good video if you would like to see it that i used as a guide.

Update: Block was dropped off and most interior pieces ordered.

Also thinking about doing an antenna delete i dont know yet though thoughts?

Took the engine in should be ready for paint after the weekend, pictures to come later today