Twenty's '92 Grand Prix

[Twenty]

Seeing as how the Focus has a thread now, why not the Grand Prix? It's the reason I got the Focus in the first place anyway.

Yes, it's a 20 year-old GM sedan. Yes, it's automatic. Yes, I bought a brand new car to preserve this one from winter. I'm crazy like that.

I got the car back in high school when I got my license. It was originally purchased new by my parents so I had grown up with it, and gotten a little attached. For the longest time I always imagined I'd have something else when I got my license, but when the time came I wanted the GP.


This was the car when I got it. All original and stock (paint included) aside from a couple of retrofitted OEM options and an alarm system. It had about 128,000 kilometers at the time despite being a daily driver for its entire life.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1080036.jpg

It started off very slowly as the car has no aftermarket and funds were limited. I threw in a Broadway mirror and new air filter, had the windshield replaced, repainted some of the black trim around the car, and it rocked a roof rack for a little while.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1090503.jpg

An AWeb rear strut bar was added next, a common upgrade for these cars.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100428.jpg

I snagged a few small parts from the local junkyard; I changed the lights on the doors from white to red (to match the Garnet Red interior) and installed an OEM optional rear lip. The lip was from a black sedan, and was installed in that colour as the front valence was black too.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100494.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/Judge/P1020959.jpg

Following that came a front strut bar, from a 3.4L Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible. Another common upgrade, since both the Cutlass and GPs of those generations were GM W-bodies. Plenty of parts swap, or are the same.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100600.jpg

To replace the old brake lines, stainless steel braided units went in.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100612.jpg

I then was able to get from the junkyard ('tis where you have to go for parts for these cars, most of the time) a pair of OEM side skirts, to go with the rear lip. As you can tell, it took three cars to piece together a decent set.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100618.jpg

That was about a year and a half into having the car. Then it picked up speed...

[Twenty]

At this time the car was showing its age a little bit. These GPs are notorious for being rust-prone, the sedans even moreso than the coupes. Add to that the fact it had seen many Canadian winters, and it needed a little attention. Overall it was very solid but three areas needed to be addressed:

-the roof had rust, so it was stripped, repaired, and repainted.
-The driver's door was rusting from the inside out, so it was replaced with a brand new shell.
-The driver's quarter panel was starting to rust on the inner lip, so it was repaired and repainted.

At the same time, I had the side skirts painted white and the whole car was polished. The trim for one of the doors was also repainted as it was a little damaged. The rest of the car (aside from a mirror and door handle) had all of its original paint, and I wanted to keep that.

I took out much of the interior in order to drop the headliner, and keep it all safe at home. Garnet Red is a rare colour and I didn't want to risk damage to it.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100675.jpg

The car then spent a few weeks getting worked on, and came back looking much better.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100685.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100701edit.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100689.jpg

While the car was in the shop, I finally managed to find a nice set of '88-'91 LE tail lights and dropped them off to be polished. These lights seem to age very poorly so it took a while to find a set that met my standards.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1100928.jpg

Finally the GP came home. I requested that the skirts and lights be left off, for me to install.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1110240edit.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1110242.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1110377edit.jpg

I should point that at this time I was working at a GM dealership; now I work at a Ford dealership and have the Focus. Anyway, this meant I abused my employee discount. When the catalytic converter bit the dust, I ordered in a Magnaflow replacement.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1110382.jpg

[Twenty]

Next I decided to play with a bit of vinyl. The fog lights were tinted yellow, and the brake lights were lightly darkened as they looked pink in some light.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1110848.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1110853.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1110869.jpg

A few months after being painted, the side skirts finally went on. A friend and I installed them over the course of a couple of days. They were a pain.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1120565edit.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1120585edit.jpg

The red trim running around the car was in good shape, but on the bumpers it had aged. A little red vinyl trimmed to size (not trimmed in this shot) fixed that.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1120101.jpg

...and then the rear view mirror was wrapped in CF vinyl. I was having fun with vinyl.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1120600.jpg

[Twenty]

It was 2011 by this time. I began looking for more ways to set the GP apart.

I realized I wanted a set of side diffusers to go under the skirts, so I fashioned my own set.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/SideDiffusers.jpg

The chrome trim around the car's beltline matched...nothing, so it was blacked out.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1120769.jpg

I then changed out the fog light bulbs for yellow ones, and replaced the license plate lights with LEDs.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1130163.jpg

And then, wheels!

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1130323e.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1130334.jpg

I knew for a while which set I wanted and was able to find a set out east through a forum. They're Crosslaces, found stock on certain coupes from my Grand Prix's generation. They were 1.5" wider and had an offset of +25 compared to +38, so they filled the wheel wells much better.

To clean up the sides of the car, the side reflectors on the front and rear bumpers were wrapped in white vinyl to match them to the paint. Making and painting a set of plugs is on the to-do list.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1130405e.jpg

After all this the home-made side diffusers finally went on too.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1130661.jpg

With warmer weather the wheels also saw a repaint after being stripped bare. I went with quick and simple matte black as the car had a lot of black accents. Ultimately a silver time attack stripe was added.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1140111.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1140158.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1140311.jpg

[Twenty]

A new set of dogbone mounts were thrown in but I only kept them for one summer. They were a bit too stiff for a daily.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1140325.jpg

The CF-wrapped rear view mirror was replaced with one I had painted white.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/P1160810.jpg

With that, that was how the car ended the summer of 2011:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/JudgebyPrashantQP2011.jpg

At this point the Focus came into the picture so the GP went into storage for the winter.

When it came out of hiding this year, I decided to change some of the black accents to white.

The rear lip, originally black, was repainted in white. The front valence was then wrapped in white. It was too nice for me to have scuffed and painted, so I didn't want to permanently alter it.

When these cars were fitted with the lip kit at the factory, it and the front valence were body colour. When they didn't have the skirts or rear lip, the front valence was black plastic.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/Judge/P1060521.jpg

With ill.motion's Sunday School approaching, I detailed the car and made last-minute changes. Yes, that is original 2 decade old paint.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/Judge/P1060647.jpg

The black Crosslaces were changed to white, to match the original 5-spokes. I think the car pulls off white on white extremely well. With that, the car was 'done' for this year and appeared at the show and shine.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/Judge/P1070133.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/Judge/P1070032.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/Judge/P1060922.jpg

All of this covers most of what has happened to the old GP in the time I've had it. I've tried to do what I can with it despite no aftermarket and the difficulty in finding OEM parts in good condition. Overall I'm pleased with how it's come together and plan for it to be around for a while to come. There are times I hated it and wished I had something else, but I like having such a distinctive car.

[Errol.]

Amazing attention to detail. Love how you've kept on it even though its not your typical platform. Can't wait to see what else you have in store for this thing.

[eglove]

Not my cup of Tea Bill, but can't say no to love and attention you've given this car man. Thumbs up :D Just give her some moar low!

[Twenty]

Originally posted by Errol.
Amazing attention to detail. Love how you've kept on it even though its not your typical platform. Can't wait to see what else you have in store for this thing.

Thank you Errol! I'm not too sure what else will come aside from continued restoration and preservation. I'm pretty happy with how it is now. I do want a Grand Prix GTP hood though, they had louvers similar to the new 5.0 Mustangs.


Originally posted by eglove
Not my cup of Tea Bill, but can't say no to love and attention you've given this car man. Thumbs up :D Just give her some moar low!

Thanks Mario! Lowering is a very complex process for these cars but it can be done...I've got a few parts for the conversion to coilovers, which I started collecting over two years ago. :nut:

[corsvette]

It looks great! I love the all white look. I had a white 96 GP GT 4 door about 10 years ago. It had all the toys like the 3.4 dohc V6, Heads up display, leather, etc.... I bought it off a friend who was moving back to the states and needed to unload the car. I really liked the thing. Im like you and grew up around cars like this, I'll never forget when my uncle bought a new 1989 Bonnieville SSE I instantly fell in love with that car. I want to find a mint a 88-91 SSE one day but they are like your GP, getting darn near impossible to find in good shape.

[bourge73]

Nice work man, looks great :thumbsup: I love these old GMs, have had a ton of them. And +1 on the Bonny SSEI I want one.

[gretz]

My first car was a mint 1994 GTP, black, same rims as you have pictured above (black with polished lip)... The motor was a pain to work on, had to pull the front dog bone to do just about anything lol... Loved the car, great job on yours...

[Hallowed_point]

Originally posted by Twenty
Thank you Errol! I'm not too sure what else will come aside from continued restoration and preservation. I'm pretty happy with how it is now. I do want a Grand Prix GTP hood though, they had louvers similar to the new 5.0 Mustangs.

Does that hood look like this? If so, yeah that would look wicked on your Grand Prix.

[Twenty]

Originally posted by corsvette
It looks great! I love the all white look. I had a white 96 GP GT 4 door about 10 years ago. It had all the toys like the 3.4 dohc V6, Heads up display, leather, etc.... I bought it off a friend who was moving back to the states and needed to unload the car. I really liked the thing. Im like you and grew up around cars like this, I'll never forget when my uncle bought a new 1989 Bonnieville SSE I instantly fell in love with that car. I want to find a mint a 88-91 SSE one day but they are like your GP, getting darn near impossible to find in good shape.

You did have the toys in that one! Compare that to my 3.1 and cloth.

The Bonnies were really nice cars too, I particularly like the 00-05s.


Originally posted by bourge73
Nice work man, looks great :thumbsup: I love these old GMs, have had a ton of them. And +1 on the Bonny SSEI I want one.

Thanks! Hard to believe these things are approacing classic status though.


Originally posted by gretz
My first car was a mint 1994 GTP, black, same rims as you have pictured above (black with polished lip)... The motor was a pain to work on, had to pull the front dog bone to do just about anything lol... Loved the car, great job on yours...

Ever have to change the battery in it? GM and their engine bay designs... ;)


Originally posted by Hallowed_point


Does that hood look like this? If so, yeah that would look wicked on your Grand Prix.

That's the one! That particular car is actually a Turbo Grand Prix (TGP) but it's the same hood. Very nice. :thumbsup:

[Cos]

.

[gretz]

Originally posted by Twenty


Ever have to change the battery in it? GM and their engine bay designs... ;)





Lol... ever change plugs and wires? How about the alternator? let me know how that goes for ya... Agreed 100% on the 3.4DOHC engine bay

[Twenty]

Originally posted by Cos


exactly what I was going to say. Not really something I would do but you are doing more to that thing than I am to my Cobra! Haha

I was determined to work on it, no matter how unpopular it was. :)

Even among fans and owners of these cars, the sedans get pushed aside in favor of the coupes.


Originally posted by gretz


Lol... ever change plugs and wires? How about the alternator? let me know how that goes for ya... Agreed 100% on the 3.4DOHC engine bay


Not yet, fortunately. Won't be fun though.

[Chantastic]

Great work! My Dad used to have a buick century, and my uncle a bonneville. If memory serves they both had that same garnet red interior. Classic.

[Twenty]

Originally posted by Chantastic
Great work! My Dad used to have a buick century, and my uncle a bonneville. If memory serves they both had that same garnet red interior. Classic.

Thank you! It definitely divides people, I find very few are on the fence about the all-red interiors. I wouldn't have any other colour though. :thumbsup:

[Chantastic]

Originally posted by Twenty


Thank you! It definitely divides people, I find very few are on the fence about the all-red interiors. I wouldn't have any other colour though. :thumbsup:

It's the nostalgic factor for me. I always will remember when we first got the Century, and it smelt of some wonderful cigar. And the Boneville, it was just so comforting somehow. I loved the red steering wheels too.

If it were any car but one of these older GM models, I wouldn't want an all red interior. But somehow for those models, it just worked.

[Twenty]

This old thing is finally back on the road. It was at a show and shine on Sunday and I brought it with to Chinook tonight. :)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g112/Twentyspics/Judge/iMFirebirdShowandShine1_zps305e0aab.jpg (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Twentyspics/media/Judge/iMFirebirdShowandShine1_zps305e0aab.jpg.html)

I don't really know what will come next for it, I'm pretty happy with where it is right now. I plan on keeping it lightly modified and focusing on preservation.

[never]

Just curious, what's complex about lowering it?

Can you get some stock spring and give them a trim?

[Heru-Farukon]

Originally posted by no|uno
Just curious, what's complex about lowering it?

Can you get some stock spring and give them a trim?

Cutting springs is a no-no

[Twenty]

Originally posted by no|uno
Just curious, what's complex about lowering it?

Can you get some stock spring and give them a trim?

There is a way to assemble custom coilovers for these cars and it requires a mix of OEM and aftermarket parts. I have most pieces but it can be hard to find them all. Additionally the rear is a leafspring from the factory and that has to be changed to the coilovers.

[Hallowed_point]

Originally posted by Heru-Farukon


Cutting springs is a no-no

Cutting springs is permissible; IF and only IF you live in the N.E.

[never]

Originally posted by Heru-Farukon


Cutting springs is a no-no

Cutting springs is fine as long as the spring type, design and perch can support it while still maintaining the ride quality. And if it's cut properly (i.e., minimize heat generation). Have to be reasonable on how low you want to go too...I definitely wouldn't cut springs to get completely slammed.