Joining the Pontiac clan

[Poncho15]

Hey everyone, Geo from NYC here have always loved Pontiacs even worked at a Pontiac dealership when I was younger. Right now have two Pontiacs, an 88 GTA in need of fixing and a 73 Firebird. The '73 may be not be that special car to many of you since it's just a 350 poncho but it's a special car. The 15 on the door represents my late daughters birthday, I lost her at the end of 2016 in a car accident and she loved this car so much she would work on it with me. It has a 350 4barrel, edelbrock intake , mild cam, dual exhaust with dump at the middle I have no rear pipes. it has a Richmond Gear 5 speed and its just a great cruiser save for no overdrive or AC which this car used to have before I purchased it. The car when I bought it back in 2011, was a different shade. When I lost my little girl an amazing guy took the car to a guy he knew and they repainted the whole car in 2019 in memory of my daughter and my late wife which I also lost in 2007 to cancer. Right now, I am trying to make the car as drivable as I can since my daughter and I used to drive this car for hours and hours everywhere in NY.  I am not the car show type, I drive all my cars far. Working on an issue right now on a broken damaged timing cover bolt hole that rotted out, I don't want to change the engine so I am just going to muggy weld it and then re tap a hole. . If I get back to work eventually I hope I can put some more money into it. Thanks for hearing me out

[Ringo64]

Sorry to hear about your late wife and daughter.

Great looking 73 though!

Whats progress on the GTA like?

[Poncho15]

Need to do basically body work and the dreaded overheating issue that just have to diagnose. Probably missing an air dam or fan switch is bad. thank you

[Frosty]

Poncho15 - I am touched by your story. I would love to see you get your GTA back on the road.

Your '88 GTA is no different body-wise than my '86 TA. You mentioned you have an overheating problem. The lack of any grille openings hinders cooling in these 3rd-gen Trans Ams. So Pontiac installed a ridged plastic air dam under the front clip, just in front of the front wheels, to force air flow over the radiator. If this air dam is missing or damaged, you are not getting enough air flow to the radiator. These air dams are often damaged on parking lot cement stoppers or curbs.

Please let keep us in the loop as you progress thru your repairs.

[Poncho15]

4 hours ago, Frosty said:

Thanks for the info. I have yet to check the dams. I know about those that if they are missing they overheat especially if you are going over 35mph. I had an 86 trans am in red too like you. That one had the inner plastic baffles missing and overheated. Lets see if I can get it running good again thank you.


Poncho15 - I am touched by your story. I would love to see you get your GTA back on the road.

Your '88 GTA is no different body-wise than my '86 TA. You mentioned you have an overheating problem. The lack of any grille openings hinders cooling in these 3rd-gen Trans Ams. So Pontiac installed a ridged plastic air dam under the front clip, just in front of the front wheels, to force air flow over the radiator. If this air dam is missing or damaged, you are not getting enough air flow to the radiator. These air dams are often damaged on parking lot cement stoppers or curbs.

Please let keep us in the loop as you progress thru your repairs.