Jean-Seb's 1995 Grand Am progression

[Jean-Seb]

Hello FP,

This will be the progression thread of my car.

1995 Grand Am SE

2.3 Quad4 5-speed Getrag

A lot has been done to this car, more than meets the eye. A few projects are unfinished, but it doesn't bother me. They will be completed at some point in time, so please bear with me. All the work is done by myself.

I've used this car for many road trips across Canada and US, even a rallycross event, so reliability is one of my priorities.

Modification list:

-Exterior:

92-95 GT front bumper cover

96-98 GT rear bumper cover, trunk lid, tail lights (w/ smoked amber and clear sections)

Smoked side reflectors

LED license plate/rear sidemarker lights

Removed body cladding and badges

Tinted windows

Thule roofrack w/ fairing (not shown)

-Interior/audio:

Autometer ES pedestal-mount tach

Isotta leather/suede shift knob

Gentex self-dimming rearview mirror

White LED dome/footwell lights

Leather passenger and rear seats

Custom "Grand Am" stitched floor mats

Fully soundproofed (except roof)

Pioneer DEH-3800MP head unit

CDT Audio 6.5" front speakers

CDT Audio 5.25" rear fill speakers

CDT Audio 8" sub in sealed enclosure

Pioneer GM-D7400M amplifier

-Engine/drivetrain:

5-speed swap (1990 Getrag/Muncie 3.61FDR)

True short shifter (15% reduction)

MRZ Performance dogbone mount

HO-spec flywheel

-Suspension/brakes/misc:

Eibach lowering springs

KYB struts and shocks

28mm front sway bar

-94 J-Body front strut tower bar

'93 N-Body subframe brace

Rear Dodge Neon disc brakes

1975 Mercedes-Benz Hella horns

Big 3 with 1/0ga.

-Wheels/tires:

Summer: 17x7" Borbet Type LS w/ 215/45R17 Kumho Ecsta AST

Winter: 14" OEM steel w/ 195/70R14 Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q studless

Originally purchased in July 2001 with only 86,000kms on the odometer and no mods whatsoever.

And as it stands now.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

It's come a long way, can't wait to see the bodywork finally finished up.

[Ringo64]

Wow, great progression!! Great amount of work done to it so far!

[Twenty]

Hooray for another '90s Pontiac sedan getting some love! There has definitely been more done to it than I expected.

[Jean-Seb]

Hehe thanks guys ! Yeah appearance mods haven't been the priority, so you can't really tell. It drives like new though and that's important to me.

And the progression begins...

2001-2002

Tinted windows

Lower grille insert

2003

New paint

2004

Soundproofing

Those were the "early days".

After moving out west...

2005

Boom. Connecting rod bearing #3 failure.

The car was parked for a year before I decided to take on the challenge.

2006

Yes, all the work was done outside, and I finished only a few days before it started snowing. Kinda nerve wracking.

I was actually lucky to be able to use a part of my landlord's garage for the engine work, but the car was still outside.

Did a small mod while I had time.

2007

Rocking the winter tires on a little road trip, installed 92-95 GT bumper covers.

Not much happened in 2007 as I was busy working on my 1982 Chevy Malibu Classic (now gone ). Took this car to Tofino, B.C. on yet another road trip.

2008

After lowering with Eibach springs, also deleted body cladding...

96-98 GT rear end

August 2008, the fun starts ! 5-speed swap.

My Quad4... butt naked !

Shiny resurfaced flywheel

Fabricating the new brackets, there was no turning back after cutting the auto ones.

The easy part...

Took me about 3 months by myself, in the cold. But THE best mod ever.

[Jedi3]

WOW great stuff there!

[95naSTA]

WAY more badass than you would expect at first glance. Lots of cool sht going on here. Nice work.

I bet that Quad 4 felt like a totally different animal with that 5spd. Especially with that FDR.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

I just noticed J-S,

You parked next to my buddy Chris Jutting at Albany for the show that year. I see his Camaro RS very often.

[CraiGM]

Ah. This guy again.

[Jean-Seb]

WAY more badass than you would expect at first glance. Lots of cool sht going on here. Nice work.

I bet that Quad 4 felt like a totally different animal with that 5spd. Especially with that FDR.

Indeed, it was already pretty fun with the 4spd auto but nothing beats a stick (except a bigger stick ).

I just noticed J-S,

You parked next to my buddy Chris Jutting at Albany for the show that year. I see his Camaro RS very often.

I sure was ! Too bad you couldn't make it yourself.

Ah. This guy again.

[valid]

Color me impressed. Nice work!

[Jean-Seb]

Color me impressed. Nice work!

Thank you !

2009

Dodge Neon rear disc brake swap.

Nasty drums; leaky cylinders, cracked shoes...

Time to go !

Hello discs.

Random interior pic

When the Borbet Type LS wheels went on a few weeks prior to a cross-country road trip

Seen here on a side road in Saskatchewan

New timezone in Western Ontario

Pictured here in Albany, NY.

With Darren (PontiacGT201) at the car wash

Here at the show 'n' shine (pictures courtesy of Matt Yarema)

It is far from a show car but I had a blast nonetheless. I could make up with the fact that I drove very far. haha

2010

Two of my favorite picture taken on another road trip to Jasper, Alberta.

After gaining welding experience on a project for my truck, I decided to modify my shifter.

That gave me exactly 14.97% of reduction in throw.

Now we're pretty much up to speed on my Grand Am. Bodywork is in order for 2011, and I'll keep you posted on that. Thanks for watching !

[Ramairgt2]

Sweet J-S i had no idea that you knew what you're doing LOL Car looks good man. I can't wait to see what it looks like all finished

[[ChaosweaveR]]

I sure was ! Too bad you couldn't make it yourself.

I think I would have been banned quicker if I made an appearence there.

[Jean-Seb]

Sweet J-S i had no idea that you knew what you're doing LOL Car looks good man. I can't wait to see what it looks like all finished

Thanks ! I hope you have a comfortable chair because it may take a while. But I do have a few top-secrety projects in the making, I'll make sure to post about them in due time.

I think I would have been banned quicker if I made an appearence there.

Indeed ! lol

[Jean-Seb]

So yeah sorry, but I had to do some changes to my first post because of a technical difficulty, so I hope the order of the posts and comments doesn't upset anyone.

[havoc1482]

Secret Projects? >