New to me '04
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
New to me '04 Did a little cleanup on the '04 I picked up yesterday. Came out pretty good. Not sure where I'm going to go with this one but we'll see where the road takes us lol. It is VERY comfy.
'04 - Auto
142k
Headers, SLP Exhaust, Cam (of not quite known spec), and Dyno tuned by Speed Inc. Heads were done by a shop in Rockford I found a receipt for, so I'm going to see Monday if they can give me some more info. Car really really runs nice. Plus the AC is cold! Has a goofy Kenwood double din that's going in the trash eventually, otherwise pretty untouched. New 235 and 245 series BFGs.
Next up will probably be some headlight resto and caliper painting.
Today I steamed the interior, and used the carpet extractor. Seats are typical GTO and have been repaired okay. Swapped the interior lights to LED, along with the plate lights. Gave the engine a scrub down with 3D Super Degreaser, and P&S Carpet cleaner on the inside. Used Meguairs APC on all the hard surfaces with the steamer, and treated everything with 3D Leather/Vinyl. Smells better!
Outside got a good wash with the foam cannon, and a quick Griots Ceramic Spray application for now. Paint is really nice, need to do some compound work on the hood for swirls, and where the front plate mount was.
'04 - Auto
142k
Headers, SLP Exhaust, Cam (of not quite known spec), and Dyno tuned by Speed Inc. Heads were done by a shop in Rockford I found a receipt for, so I'm going to see Monday if they can give me some more info. Car really really runs nice. Plus the AC is cold! Has a goofy Kenwood double din that's going in the trash eventually, otherwise pretty untouched. New 235 and 245 series BFGs.
Next up will probably be some headlight resto and caliper painting.
Today I steamed the interior, and used the carpet extractor. Seats are typical GTO and have been repaired okay. Swapped the interior lights to LED, along with the plate lights. Gave the engine a scrub down with 3D Super Degreaser, and P&S Carpet cleaner on the inside. Used Meguairs APC on all the hard surfaces with the steamer, and treated everything with 3D Leather/Vinyl. Smells better!
Outside got a good wash with the foam cannon, and a quick Griots Ceramic Spray application for now. Paint is really nice, need to do some compound work on the hood for swirls, and where the front plate mount was.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
Rusty rotor hats were driving me insane. Couldn't take it.
This will do until the new pads and rotors come in. The ones on there are pretty good, but I like shiny stuff lol. Also found out today it has Lovell springs, they ride nicely. Shocks and struts are older but seem okay. I was missing a lug nut, didn't notice until today, went to O'Reilly's in Mt. Prospect since they had the correct one in black. Bought a box since 20 was 7 dollars more than 4 (????). Front and rear end seem tight, most of the bushings look newer so that's cool.
AC is ICE cold. Sweet. Like uncomfortably cold lol. New radio comes in tomorrow. Swap that out and also have to get the ear assaulter 3000 setup out of the Camaro, so I can put the stealth box single sub in. I can have my T-top storage back!
This will do until the new pads and rotors come in. The ones on there are pretty good, but I like shiny stuff lol. Also found out today it has Lovell springs, they ride nicely. Shocks and struts are older but seem okay. I was missing a lug nut, didn't notice until today, went to O'Reilly's in Mt. Prospect since they had the correct one in black. Bought a box since 20 was 7 dollars more than 4 (????). Front and rear end seem tight, most of the bushings look newer so that's cool.
AC is ICE cold. Sweet. Like uncomfortably cold lol. New radio comes in tomorrow. Swap that out and also have to get the ear assaulter 3000 setup out of the Camaro, so I can put the stealth box single sub in. I can have my T-top storage back!
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
So I swapped out the old Kenwood for a 7 inch Double Din today. This is more of an experiment to see how good or bad a sub 100 dollar wireless CarPlay radio can be. Honestly the directions and manual were absolutely terrible but the quality seems good for what it is. CarPlay connects instantly, no real lag, and it sounds good. We'll see how it goes.
Install was easy, soldered together my wiring harness, and re used the install kit from the old radio. Fits very nice. Probably took 45 minutes to do. Found 4 dollars and a socket set under the spare, so I'm already ahead here.
Install was easy, soldered together my wiring harness, and re used the install kit from the old radio. Fits very nice. Probably took 45 minutes to do. Found 4 dollars and a socket set under the spare, so I'm already ahead here.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 809
Likes: 230
From: Nebraska, The Good Life
You'll probably want to replace all the speakers soon, the factory speakers are pretty janky. If you want to remain on a budget, Skar Audio makes some pretty decent reasonably priced speakers.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
I'll check them out thanks! Usually I'm not cheap but on the radio it was too tempting to not give it a shot lol
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TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 809
Likes: 230
From: Nebraska, The Good Life
Also, you can usually get the steering wheel controls working on aftermarket head units (if they don't already have a built-in ability) using an adapter such as the
I have them in both my GTOs and they work perfectly.
PAC SWI-CP2.
I have them in both my GTOs and they work perfectly.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
Yep thats the one I have! Works great. I really enjoy your web pages you've made by the way, great reading!
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 809
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From: Nebraska, The Good Life
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
New fuel pump in. Car wouldn't start after getting to work yesterday.
Went back this evening, and swapped in the new pump, 45 minute job, and I didn't even jack the car up. Filled up with a fresh tank of 93 and we're back to ripping! Drove about 50-60 miles and seems great, so fingers crossed no other pump issues lol.
Tomorrow I'll do an oil change and a wash since it got filthy getting rained on and dirt covered sitting at work.
Went back this evening, and swapped in the new pump, 45 minute job, and I didn't even jack the car up. Filled up with a fresh tank of 93 and we're back to ripping! Drove about 50-60 miles and seems great, so fingers crossed no other pump issues lol.
Tomorrow I'll do an oil change and a wash since it got filthy getting rained on and dirt covered sitting at work.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 809
Likes: 230
From: Nebraska, The Good Life
Hope you had a 1/4 tank or less. Those things get really heavy when full. When I put a pump in my 06 I spent more time disconnecting the fittings on the bottom of the tank more than anything else.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
Just at about a 1/3rd. I was able to heave it out of there alone, did have some good weight to it though. I read the fittings were a pain but somehow I had no problem at all, squeezed the passenger closest one and pushed up then pulled, came right out, the other one I depressed the silver push tap with a screwdriver and it came right off. I loaded my Saturn with a bunch of tools, and didn't even use the jack lol. Think a 10/13/15/17mm and my 3/8 Impact were pretty much it. The triple square or whatever for the brace too.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2020
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Very cool. Glad someone who could bring the car back a bit and take care of it has it instead of someone buying it just to beat on and send to the scrap yard.
Not sure why anyone would put 235s on that car. 245s are skinny enough.
Not sure why anyone would put 235s on that car. 245s are skinny enough.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
Thank you! I appreciate it.
Yeah no idea either. 235 in the front and 245 in the rear. I always prefer a square set up myself.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois
Well the worn steering wheel was driving me nuts too. Figured I shouldn't be able to make it worse.
Spent a whopping 17 bucks on Amazon for a leather dye kit. Very impressive.
Spent a whopping 17 bucks on Amazon for a leather dye kit. Very impressive.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 61
Likes: 86
From: Schiller Park, Illinois