TNTumbler's DD/Project .... Answers to questions

[TNTumbler]

I've had a couple of people ask me about my blue Pontiac in my signature. Well, here's the story of Rush, my 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix SE2 Sport (Special Edition). I bought Rush April 2007 from a Nashville Pontiac Dealer. She had 99k miles on her and I gave $4800.00, but the amazing thing is I saved her from becoming scrap metal. She's been awesome, survived one accident with a guard rail (reason her nose is a li'l twisted). A couple of years back she hit 200k miles. No smoke, no pinging, but was acting a tad sluggish. So I went through the top half of the 3.1L 3100 engine deburring, porting the heads, porting and polishing the upper intake hat, along with the exhaust manifolds. She has been chipped, programmed, blue printed, balanced, and had a good high flowing exhaust put on her. Other li'l trinkets are 3.8L Supercharged Fuel Injectors, 3.8L Supercharged LSD's in the tranny. The engine has been dyno'd in and out of the car. 251hp out of the car and 245hp at the wheels. I've upgraded the front discs, hubs, and axles from a GTP Supercharged GP, the rear brakes are from a GT (better calipers). Didn't have to change the proportioning valve, just upgrade the power booster with one from a GTP.

What makes this car a Special Edition? Well, it had a different hood, rear wing/spoiler, interior, wheels, front bumper cover, and had Rocker Panel Ground effects. It had a different chip in it boosting the power from 170hp to 180hp, reprogrammed transmission, and dual exhaust exiting out from under the SE rear bumper cover. It has taken a beating since coming to Memphis and I'm working on trying to bring this car back to its former glory, but at 252k miles, I'm starting to think I'm losing the battle. But me being in the Auto Industry for so long, I can't see myself letting this car go without a fight (unlike Dr_Snooz and his Accord SE). She's been good to me, I've had Eibach Springs on her before, slotted and drilled rotors all the way around and could stop on a penny and leave you 9 cents for the parking metre.

Maybe I'll add to this later about my experience working for Honda (both factory and dealerships) as well as GM and Ford, some progress on what's going on with this car and what's going on with it, and whatever non-sense rattles through my head. LoL Y'all have fun .... 3Geez for Life!

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[Dr_Snooz]

Lol. :)

[TNTumbler]

Well, I have to say Thank You Mother Nature for having yet another Bi-Polar Episode! Memphis, TN got hammered with ice and snow. I was having flash back of Ice Storm '94 when it started lighting and thundering. In the end we got 3" of ice and less than an inch of snow! Other areas vary depending if you go north or south. I did have to get out in this mess this morning to go check on my mom. So Rush was happy getting out and going to play in the snow and slush. She's been wrecked due to ice and I didn't want to go through that again. Did get a couple of pictures. LoL

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As soon as it warms up Rush will be getting a bath and getting this crap washed off. Don't need my toys rusting out around my ears. LoL

[Dr_Snooz]

Is that a rear drive?

[TNTumbler]

No, Rush is FWD which is good, but the bad part is the Traction Control is out due to a bad ABS/Traction Hub in the right front wheel thanx to a pothole. One day I do have a mean idea involving her becoming AWD using parts from a Pontiac Aztek. ;) For now, she's my daily driver and go get'er. I have been looking for another car to become the "Traveler" but that'll come in due time. I am looking for possibly a newer Honda Accord or Civic, just hard to get one that hasn't been ragged out, tuned so much that it requires lessons from NASA to drive it, or priced so high that only the President's daughter can afford it. The right one is out there, just a matter of finding it.

[Vanilla Sky]

That would be a waste of an Aztek to convert... Wait, there is no wasting an Aztek.

[TNTumbler]

LoL @ Vanilla Sky ..... You got that right! Some thoughts rattling around in my head is using the front and rear suspension of the Aztek on the Grand Prix and make it a Grand Prix Rallye. LoL They are based on the same platforms and I don't see any complications of doing that. Or just make it a low slung autocross Audi killer. Hehe Either way its gonna be rad and a ton of fun!

[TNTumbler]

Well, at 255k miles, I think I've reached my limit. There comes a time when you have to cut your losses and move forward. I have put Rush up for sale as I'm looking at rescuing a 1980 Accord and a 1996 Civic. Kinda hoping to go look at the Accord soon but that's a good 2 hour drive. Just hoping a friend of mine can help me with towing it home.

[TNTumbler]

Well, I sold the '02 Grand Prix. I am now the proud owner of a 1998 Oldsmobile 88 LS with 96k on the clock. Got a hell of a steal as I bought it at an auction for $1200. She is a one owner car in really good condition. Don't worry, I still have my 3G, Lorelei.

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[TNTumbler]

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[TNTumbler]

Well, I'm having to jump into this car already. Good thing I build cars. The L36 plastic UIM melted due to the EGR stove pipe. Which in turn melted through the cooling ports making one think the heads just blew a gasket. To resolve this issue (and prevent future problems) I'm doing a L36 to L26 swap of the intakes. Just gotta get the rest of the parts to complete the swap. Good thing I'm an auto mechanic or I'd be screaming right now.

The L26 intake manifold.

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