Getting my foot in the door. Need help!!

[phatdaddymackc]

So as those who have read know I am totally new to not only the bonnie world but also to just being into cars period. I signed up for this site by googling questions about the bonnie and this site popped up the most and was more helpful than any other so this was the obvious choice. Now that being said I am wanting to get as much information as possible and google isnt really helping me find anything else. So basically my question is where else do you guys go to look for stuff? Look up stuff? Or talk to other enthusiastic? Any facebook/google groups I can join? Or anything else that would help me just kinda get my foot further in the door into the world of cars and car mods so that when I have a question I can stop bugging you guys every time lol. Thanks for any and all your help you can offer.

[Franksdad]

You're here browse the forum more and ask questions if you have to.

[Archon]

Check out the techinfo section, too.

[phatdaddymackc]

Hey guys, thanks for the info. I been all up and down this forum and will continue to keep doing so. I am asking like are there other things that I can look into as well? My friends modding a mitsubishi and has like facebook groups and stuff like that she follows. I am asking so that say if I need something I can post out asking for it and have answers at more than one spot.

[rustyroger]

Tell us about your car, model, year, modifications etc.
Information is power, the more we have the more we can help.

Roger.

[phatdaddymackc]

I dont mean to sound rude rusty but the car info basics are in my little things to the left under my name. No mods rights now. The question isnt about what to do for the car. Its simply about finding more information on the internet with other groups or facebook groups.

[crash93ssei]

There really is no major following for these cars, basically what you see is what you get. There is a facebook group, but it is rarely used and basically anyone on there that would answer you is also on here. There is pretty much zero aftermarket support for our cars other then basic engine and trans stuff and even that is only because the Grand Prix has the same drivetrain. Sure, you can do a lot to these cars and make them pretty respectable as far as quickness goes, but other then paint and wheels there is nothing you can do to change the appearance without complete custom stuff that you do yourself.

[Calplaya]

Assuming your question is broader then Grand Prix/Bonnevilee information, just tinkering with your car is a great resource. When I turned 16 I began getting into cars, prior to that I wasnt interested at all. Saw them as a mode to get from one place to the next. Then my eyes were opened wide. I fell in love with cars, mostly muscle cars and trucks and sleepers (like our Bonnies) and I began on a quest of knowledge. memorizing cars so I could identify them from long ways away, recalling technical info about size of engines and rated power output for said power plants. Did I know what I was regurgitating? No, not really, but I began to sound more and more like a car expert in my circle of friends. Soon my dad got me a Chilton manual for 3800s cuz he knew it would come in handy. I was a poor high school student afterall, and couldnt afford to take my high mileage Bonneville to a shop to have work done to it. When things would go wrong with it my dad who actually knows a thing or two about cars would brainstorm with me. We would identify the symptoms and go over a list of possible causes, poping open the hood or jaking it up if need be, and going from there to identify the problem. I learned what a waterpump was and a harmonic balancer and alternator and intake and fuel rail/injectors were and subsequently how they relate to the overall package and function, learned that the starter sits on the bottom of the engine and turns the flywheel etc etc etc. After a while I no longer needed my dad and can 9 times out of ten diagnose my issues and fix them. This knowledge I slowly accumulated through first hand experiance translates to all internal combustion engines. Since Im also into muscle cars I read a lot on camaro, firebird, mustang etc forums and picked up what I could there. The basic premise is the same, even carying over to the world of diesel as I have no qualms tackling issues on my 7.3L Powerstroke F350 as they arise. I also watched shows like muscle car, hot rod tv, two guys garage, gears (which may be the most helpful, Stacey David has a ton of awesome info if you want to check out youtube for some of his stuff) and chop cut rebuild etc. I learned about carbeurators, high flow intakes, headers, cams, rockers and lifter, pistons, crank shafts etc, all that stuff, I immersed myself in car culture, even listening to classic rock and roll while cruising and working on my ride (there are so many cool hot rod and cruising songs that you just dont get with todays music haha!) I got subscriptions to Car Craft and Hot Rod and Hemmings Muscle Machines, I read tons of Auta buys and dealer mags, identifying the cars as I would and dreaming of owning them etc. It was a process, and you never stop learning. When you do quit learning, your passion is dead. Dont let it die, trust me, its worth it. I have rebuilt engines with my friends, supped up our cars together, and gotten into a lot of trouble along the way, and theres not one thing I would have changed! Good luck!

[DaMaroon]

Happened on the strip where the road is wide.........two cool shorts standing side by side...........

[Calplaya]

Happened on the strip where the road is wide.........two cool shorts standing side by side...........

yeah my fuel injected stingray and a 413, were revving up our engines and it sounds real mean! tack it up tack it up buddys gunna shut you down! Declining numbers at an even rate, at the count of one we both accelerate! my stingray is light, the slicks are stating to spin, but the 413 is really digging in! gotta be cool now, power shift here we go! super stock clutch running out in low but my fuel injected stingrays really starting to go. to get the traction im riding the clutch, my pressure plate is burning my machines too much!"

see, new music dosnt have it, gotta go with the oldies haha!

[phatdaddymackc]

Dang Calplaya, that was deep man. But exactly how I feel right now, I NEVER do anything to my car I am a computer guy and major techy. I have a Bachelor in information systems security, so I can build and secure a network from the ground up. But never had a interest in cars really, not in the performance sense at least. I had a 92 cadillac deville that I planned on making a show car, mostly for looks and sound. But seeing as she was my daily driver at the time I didnt have the option to put her up in a shop and since I didnt know what I was doing I didnt want to do anything. My roommate is like you say though he can tell the car by the headlights or tail light a mile away, and can tell you how much HP and torque it has and what mods make it better. So whenever his computer needs fixing I do it, and whenever my car needs something he does it. But idk man this bonnie has got me all immersed and interested in the different possibilities that can come out of it, so I am like a kid in a candy shop in a sense. But like crash mentioned doesnt seem to be a aftermarket world, unless you want to customize everything. So that sucks, but I think I will just solidify my bonnie as a good daily driver, and get a project car to make my monster. Just not sure where to start, any suggestions?

[CMNTMXR57]

Well, think of your car as a rolling laptop. Albeit a '98 is more primitive to current stuff. It is essentially an engine and transmission, run by a central PCM with a bevy if external input from sensors that it then makes determinations and commands to run ignition, fuel, etc to run the engine. Moving up a few years and it gets a little more complex, but relating it to being a computer guy, anything GM 2005+ (as well as most manufacturers is CAN (Controlled Area Network), much similar to a LAN on your network. The PCM becomes the main controller, but sublets BCM's (body control module), security system, entertainment systems, etc, all make their own decisions, while the PCM itself focuses on running the engine solely allowing for greater processing speed and capacity for even more finite adjustments to fuel and ignition curves and emissions compliance.

But from a mechanical standpoint, pick up a Haynes or Chilton manual for your car, pop the hood and start reading.

[deano55]

Well, think of your car as a rolling laptop. Albeit a '98 is more primitive to current stuff. It is essentially an engine and transmission, run by a central PCM with a bevy if external input from sensors that it then makes determinations and commands to run ignition, fuel, etc to run the engine. Moving up a few years and it gets a little more complex, but relating it to being a computer guy, anything GM 2005+ (as well as most manufacturers is CAN (Controlled Area Network), much similar to a LAN on your network. The PCM becomes the main controller, but sublets BCM's (body control module), security system, entertainment systems, etc, all make their own decisions, while the PCM itself focuses on running the engine solely allowing for greater processing speed and capacity for even more finite adjustments to fuel and ignition curves and emissions compliance.

But from a mechanical standpoint, pick up a Haynes or Chilton manual for your car, pop the hood and start reading.

+1

[gweg_b]

What I know about 3.8's and H-bodies (and well, engines and cars in general) I learned right here, on this forum. When I was in college, I'd spend 6+ hours here a day, reading every post I could (if my classroom had a computer, I was here, ). Once I joined, what I could not find, I asked about, and usually got a quick response.

I was an art student and a computer tech that knew nothing about cars. That changed once I spent time here. This has been the most helpful place on the internet for me when it comes to cars. Lots of good people here, too.

[CMNTMXR57]

And now he has a G8... Along with everyone else here, except me!

[phatdaddymackc]

Ahha nice, yeah that is about the amount of time I spend on here gweg off and on. I havent started doing much so havent asked to much minus the usually starter stuff. But I did start buying parts to fix a few normal things and am about to start making a couple other changes so will need some help so be on the lookout for more posts lol

[nubuilder]

This has been the most helpful place on the internet for me when it comes to cars. Lots of good people here, too.

Once I started looking for 00+ Bonnie's, I quickly found this site searching Google with issues. Once I found this site, I began to learn more about the cars before I even looked at one. Then once I bought one, I turned right to it when I discovered my carpet wet.

I don't know if it will help you more or not, but I found that Googling "site:pontiacbonnevilleclub.com (topic/issue/question)" [minus quotes and parentheses] really helped weed out all the junk answers that were never answer and kept me searching only this site.

Honestly, forums have been the only way I've been learning about trucks and now my car. There's nothing better than great, knowledgeable people that are willing to share their experiences.

And now he has a G8... Along with everyone else here, except me!

Don't worry! I'm here right along with you!! (a G8 would be sweet, but WAY out of my price range for a car; plus I'd like to drive my car year-round unlike my truck; maybe someday I'll snag one that was babied....)

[phatdaddymackc]

Yeah I appreciate all the info I have got on here so far, I wish there was a bigger aftermarket need for these but I am not really going to go to crazy so O well. Once I have my bonnie pretty well set as a good daily driver than I will buy and build up a project car something that sparks my interest and has a big market.

BTW guys posting a new post so help me out there to lol

[DaMaroon]

Happened on the strip where the road is wide.........two cool shorts standing side by side...........

yeah my fuel injected stingray and a 413, were revving up our engines and it sounds real mean! tack it up tack it up buddys gunna shut you down!

see, new music dosnt have it, gotta go with the oldies haha!

Sure, but its not oldies to me.

Probably should have went with:
Three deuces and a four-speed and a three eighty nine
Waa Waaaaaaaahhhh
In the family anyway.

[Calplaya]

Dang Calplaya, that was deep man. But exactly how I feel right now, I NEVER do anything to my car I am a computer guy and major techy. I have a Bachelor in information systems security, so I can build and secure a network from the ground up. But never had a interest in cars really, not in the performance sense at least. I had a 92 cadillac deville that I planned on making a show car, mostly for looks and sound. But seeing as she was my daily driver at the time I didnt have the option to put her up in a shop and since I didnt know what I was doing I didnt want to do anything. My roommate is like you say though he can tell the car by the headlights or tail light a mile away, and can tell you how much HP and torque it has and what mods make it better. So whenever his computer needs fixing I do it, and whenever my car needs something he does it. But idk man this bonnie has got me all immersed and interested in the different possibilities that can come out of it, so I am like a kid in a candy shop in a sense. But like crash mentioned doesnt seem to be a aftermarket world, unless you want to customize everything. So that sucks, but I think I will just solidify my bonnie as a good daily driver, and get a project car to make my monster. Just not sure where to start, any suggestions?

This website, Powerblock on Saturday mornings, Car Craft, Hot Rod Magazine, and a Chilton manual are going to be your best friends. The concept of the engine underneath your hood is the same as any other internal combustion engine. It needs air, fuel, and compression. Even new engines are essentially the same, but with more advanced computer stuff behind them, but when it comes to working on an engine, aint no better place to learn then under the hood of your Bonneville. You can take what you learn from it and apply it to just about any other car engine out there. A Chevy small block will essentially work the same way as your 3800 does. An intake is an intake, weather its computer controlled fueling or carburetor fueled. Heads are heads, cams are cams, starters are starters etc etc etc. It all translates. You can build your Bonne up, replace the factory manifolds with headers, put on a nice exhaust, buy a cam, reflash the computer etc. It is possible to eek some more power out of it, and it will give you a general idea of what to do for future fun cars, say you get a Trans Am down the road, the same principles will apply. Buy a bigger carb and higher GPH fuel pump, put in a cam, put on headers and exhaust, put on a better flowing and lighter weight aluminum intake and make the 400 scream lol! Or if you get an LT1 or LS1 powered Trans Am then the same mods minus the carb would apply. See, engines arnt scary at all, but you have to be willing to get dirty and to realize you don't know it all, that the only way to learn is truly by just...digging in! Enjoy it, cuz your in for one hell of a fun ride! Its an addiction, once you start, you cant stop. And if you have questons, ask us, we will do our best to help you from where we are.