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My heart was set on buying an extremely rare 1989 5.7 V8 Convertible Trans Am GTA made by PASS. I already spoke to the owner and we struck a deal, but late 1997 I changed course when I first saw the new 1998 look for the Firebird at a Burger King parking lot. It was the most beautiful car I have ever seen. I consider myself a fan of 3rd gen. F-body than anything and I was never impress with the 4th gen. Fbody especially when it comes to the looks department, but the 98+ look really impress me.
I quickly went to Mueller Pontiac and Chevy Dealership and in the line up of Firebird, Trans Am, Camaro, and Z28 the black Firebird was the best looking one of all of them. With only 14 miles on the odometer I test drove it and found out that it was slightly faster than the 1989 Trans Am GTA and the handling way better. I can't believe how many people starred too when I was test driving it. So that night I went home with a brand spanking new A4 Black Firebird with T-tops. I actually wanted an M5 but the salesman said A4 with Y87 package is just as good. I felt like a king.
It didn't take long though that a performance bug bit me. After beating 5.0 Mustangs, 3rd Gen. Camaro IROC Z, and some Ricers in street races I came to realize that I made a mistake buying a V6. I wanted more power and so I began lusting for the V8 Formula or Trans Am. I planned on trading it after I finish the payments. I abused the heck out of my V6 Firebird because I wanted to have as much fun with it as possible before I trade it in. Well in 1998 after slightly beating a non-Turbo Nissan 300zx in the freeway I lost control of the car. I fish tailed badly and hit the side divider. The car wound up with over 4k worth of damage and the car had less than 5000 miles on the odometer. I felt horrible and stupid for being so careless and immature. I've learned my lesson to never street race again. Most of all, what made me feel bad was that I never respected my Firebird. I forgot the very reason why I bought the car in the first place.
After getting the Firebird back from Cosmolision Specialist the bird looks like it was brand new again. The first thing I did was made up my mind that I'm keeping the Firebird till the day I die. The next thing I did was take the Firebird to Vector Performance where James Bawkey put a Powerdyne Supercharger and Borla Exhaust. I was copying his set up on his 1995 Camaro. My craving for the V8 disappeared as soon as I felt the power of the Supercharger and the mean sound of an open Borla Cat Back.
I later found out how difficult it was to modify a car in S. California. I have to be careful about emission and EPA regulation if I want my car to stay legal and to pass smog. It's been quite a challenge, a pain, and a dissappointment. There was a lot of things I wanted to do with my Firebird but I couldn't. Like change the injectors to 36 and do computer tuning, Cam, roller rockers, and such. Oh well, the car is mostly for show anyway, instead of more for go. It's over ten years now and I still love this car very much.
Type: 1998 Firebird with T-Tops
Engine: OHV 231 cu in. or 3.8 V6
Transmission: A4 along with 3.42 LSD
Color: Black
~APPEARANCE~
EXTERIOR
-60% Tint and Limo Tint on the Back
-AVS Tail Light Shade
-Fiberglass Fabrication Aggressive Hood
-Batcave Pontiac Logo
-Batcave Performance V6 Logo
-2 Ram Air V6-made by me
-Front Plate Firebird Symbol-made by me
-4 wheel Firebird Symbol-made by me
-Painted side Vents-done by me
-Clear Corner Lights
INTERIOR
-Pontiac Symbol-made by me
-Firebird Embroid Mats
-Autometer Boost Gauge
-Autometer Fuel Pressure Gauge
-RKSport Dual Pillar Gauge
-Firebird Lettering Decal-made by me
-Ram Air Decal-made by me
-Firebird Symbol-made by me
-Random Tech Decal
-Holly Power Slot Decal
~PERFORMANCE~
EXHAUST
-Borla Cat Back with Quad Chrome Tips
-Extra Thick Exhaust Hangers
-Random Catalytic Converter
-Pacesetter Armor Coated Headers (Uninstalled in order to pass emission)
-Pacesetter Gasket from Abbott Racing
-Stage 8 Bolts
INTAKE
-Powerdyne Supercharger 6-8psi
with Ceremic Bearings
-ASP 3" Aluminum Pulley
with an added single center groove for better Grip.
-Dayco Belt
-Anodized Bolts
-John D Custom Wrap
-Typhoon BOV
-ZZP Breather
-Custom Powdercoated Intake Tube
-Custom Powdercoated Discharge Tube
-Custom Durable Elbow
-Powerdyne Flexible Tubing
-Whisper Lid
-Ram Air Intake Kit from TByrne
-Ram Air Kit made by Dominic
-ZZP Throttle Body Spacer
Waiting to be installed.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION & OTHERS
-Internal Engine is Stock
-Vortech 6:1 FMU
-NGK Spark Plugs
-NGK Wires
-Hypertech 160* Stat
-Water Wetter
-K&N Oil Filter
-Lucas Pure Syntec Oil Stabilizer
-Mobil 1 10w40 Syntec or Royal Purple Oil
-Stock 3.42 gear with LSD
-Transgo Shift Kit
-Steel One Piece Driveshaft
soon to be replaced with light weight Carbon Drive Shaft
I'm sure I'm missing a lot from this list, but for now this is all I can think of.
This Bird is under the protection of Thor.
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