Username: danceswithtools
Name: John V. Brennan
Email: Click to Show

Location: Palm Coast, Florida
URL: blog.360.yahoo.co...
Posts: 12
Title: Member

Date Registered:
03.23.2006 - 6:59am

 

Engine

• Exhaust: No Cat... straight pipe to a simple Walker Tru-Fit Universal Muffler single outlet (part # 18699, about $26 @ Advance Auto Parts) and finished it with a nice dual outlet chrome tail pipe tip.
• Walker Tru-Fit Universal Muffler http://www.walkerexhaust.com/products/mufflers_trufit.asp
• IAT Bypass Resistor
• Remote Engine Cooling Fan Switch on dashboard
• Accel Super Stock Spark Plug Wires (#3008/$23.00) (Universal - Some Assembly Required)
• Autolite 5245 Copper Core Spark Plugs (6/$10.00)
• Other Parts I Use or Have Used:
• Fram ExtraGuard Oil Filter (PH3387A/$4.00)
• Fram Extra Life Air Filter (CA3924/$8.00)
• Fram Fuel Filter (G3727/$12.00) or Purolator (F33144/$8.75)
• Fram PCV Valve (FV299/$1.85)
• Niehoff Ignition Fuel Pump Filter (Carbon Canister Filter #F21/$2.59)
• Goodyear Serpentine Belt: Gatorback (Part Number: 4060710 $30.00)
• APC Cone Air Filter, Red, Part #151414
• Note 1: 144K miles and the V6/3.1 burns clean, cool, & smooth. The car really gets up on it, as necessary, and gets 25 to 28 MPG, depending on how late I am for work.
• Note 2: for my own personal conveniences and preferences, I usually get my parts from Advance Discount Auto Parts or AutoZone.

Exterior

• I cleaned, compounded, massaged, polished, etc... the original paint using a variety of suitable products too numerous to mention and some that may scare you... but I now maintain it using Eagle One NanoWax products (http://www.eagleone.com). I can't say enough about them... super easy to use, a glossy, glassy, gleaming, silky, finish... no residues whatsoever... and most stuff, like bugs and crap, generally rinse right off. I get many complments for the original 17 year old factory paint job. Very Highly Recommended!
• The wheels came with the car... I think they're originally from the Buick Skylark family. I refinished them with Dupli-Color Wheel Coating (HWP101)... new chrome lugs... chrome valve stem sleeves and caps... I also changed the wheel emblems to Pontiac (found on ebay).
• Added the factory rear spoiler... got it on eBay! nuts, wires, light, gaskets, etc... and it was already blue so I didn't have to paint it... about $53.00 total.
• Repainted the black body mouldings, trim, mirrors, and emblems with gloss black.
• Repainted the blue plastic parts that had gotten faded (trim on bumpers, front grill piece, cowl) (Duplicolor T257 & Duplicolor Clear Coat).
• Refinished and preserved the original convertible top with Duplicolor Vinyl & Fabric Paint (White HVP105). The rear plastic window, which was painted black by the previous owner, I cleaned with carb cleaner and painstakingly polished with an assortment of polishing compounds. It's not crystal clear, but useable/vewable, clean & shiny.
• Refinished other black trim with Duplicolor Trim Paint (TP70).
• Tinted the windows myself with Gila Limo Dark.

Interior

• Used Dupli-Color Vinyl & Fabric paint and Duplicolor Trim Paint (TP70), to change most of the dull gray plastic and vinyl to black. The door panels and seats I left white.
• Moved the convertible top switch to under the dash on the drivers side.
• Attached a Chrome AC/DC Shift Knob to the drivers side-view mirror adjusting knob. It kinda looks like the handle for a police car spot light.
• Black leather gas & brake pedal covers. Leapord fuzzy dice and floor mats.
• Installed an antique, rare, one-of-a-kind, never-see-another-like-it, Oil Viscosity Guage w/chrome bezel, where, I guess a clock would be, on the dashboard.
• Illuminated bezel (lighted blue ring) cigarette lighter/accessory socket from a Ford Windstar.
• Also on the dash, above the glovebox, the emblem from, I think, a 1951 Pontiac.
• Removed radio/ashtray console.

Handling

• Tires: Federal Formoza FD1 P21560R14. These are Awesome tires... wet or dry, they ride, handle, and look great!... and a great price too!
• www.federaltire.com
• Monroe Gas-Matic Shock Absorber, Yellow, Part Number: 55896 (about $16 ea.) in the rear.
• Make Waves Coil Spring Boosters from Advance Auto Parts. 4 for each spring on the front. 2 for each spring on the rear. Part Numbers: Front Part #18900 Rear Part #18901 ($5.94 ea. set). Extremely cheap suspension fix and they work much better than expected.
• TRW Heavy Duty Sway Bar Links, Red (part # 18250HD, $5.63 ea. @ Advance Auto Parts) in front.

Audio

• Removed. It was an older cassette deck with poor sound and cheap generic speakers. I removed it, the console, the speakers (6)... I figure, lighten the load, and besides the radio stations suck, and so do cassettes. I rather listen to the purr of my engine and the sound of my own thoughts.

Future

• Brakes (front & rear) overhaul.
• Front Struts.
• Bushing, Bushings, Bushings.
• A UDP.
• A Chip.
• Nicer Rims... probably weed through the salvage yards for some nice factory stuff.

Misc

• Removed power door lock solenoids. They died and I don't find power door locks necessary... so I got rid of the extra weight.
• Removed spare tire and jack. They were pretty nasty, heavy, and frozen in place. I removed the excess weight and opted for Slime, Fix-Flat, A Plug Kit, and portable inflator... and I'll hope for the best.
• I replaced the factory horn with an antique trolley car horn that I found at a yard sale. It fits great, looks cool, is a great conversation piece, and sounds awesome.

Comments

This car came with power windows, door locks, and top. It also has a tilt steering wheel, cruise control and AC.

Suzie and I got lucky obtaining this car. The morning I was to fill out paperwork for a new job... my Ford Windstar mini-van died as I was backing out of my drive way... transmission ground to a halt. Later that afternoon... what with starting a new job and all... I had to get a new car fast. Suzy and I looked in the local on-line news classifieds and found some local prefix telephone numbers for cars in our neighborhood, under $2000 dollars. This was the first one we looked at because it was the closest and the seller was immediately available. Boy were we surprised! The car looked great in the gentleman's garage. The Sunbird started and ran great. There was a thunderstorm in progress. We drove the car around the block. The roof didn't leak. We did a quick overall inspection and an hour later, it was ours for $1400 dollars. It's a sweet little ride... and I think, in retrospect, I guess it wasn't such a bad morning when that 'ol Ford of mine died.

Ps. Special Colossal Thanks to my Very Awesome and Most Beautiful Super Greatest Girlfriend in the Universe... Suzy!

Pss. It's a riot to see my 2 big black dogs looking all happy and hilarious... ears and tongues, flappin' in the breeze, when driving with the top down.