PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

BonnieBoy08 wrote:

Nice.

Just as a side note, I didn't have to do any bending on my tailpipes when I installed the tips (original factory muffler). Just had to cut about 2" off of them to get the new tips to sit under the bumper cover, then position them to look right, and tack them on!

I was hoping you would chime in! Thanks for the source! Hope you're not too upset I copied you haha, I couldn't resist. Was the pipe coming out of the rear of the muffler straight? I'm pretty sure the way mine was put back together doesn't match factory exactly. I'd like to see what one looks like that I know hasn't been altered with.

My exhaust was pretty straight out on my 03. I don't think I have any pics, but it was never messed with.

Tips look great. Dual tips on these cars really look great

BonnieBoy08 wrote:I was hoping you would chime in! Thanks for the source! Hope you're not too upset I copied you haha, I couldn't resist. Was the pipe coming out of the rear of the muffler straight? I'm pretty sure the way mine was put back together doesn't match factory exactly. I'd like to see what one looks like that I know hasn't been altered with.

I provided the source just for this reason - so anyone could upgrade if they like. I still grin when I look at the back of my (wife's) car with the new pipes.

I don't have access to the car at the moment, but I'm pretty sure the tailpipes aren't a straight shot out of the muffler - they make a shallow "S" curve first, but the last few inches are straight. Hard to see the bends in the photo, but you can see that the tailpipes are pretty much centered in the bumper cover cutouts.

Double duals look amazing on these cars for sure. The exhaust shop I went to had trouble getting mine to come out straight. They had to heat up the existing pipe and bend it into place. They asked me if I approved of the location before they lowered it down from the lift and I gave the okay. However once it was back on the ground I would have liked them to be sticking out flush with the bumper rather than tucked in. But I let it slide, I wish I hadn't.

Sirius wrote:...the tailpipes aren't a straight shot out of the muffler - they make a shallow "S" curve first...

Verified this last night while I had 'er up on the rack changing the oil.

Well, Gina is officially in six figure territory. The miles are adding up faster than I thought on this, I love driving this car! Not really sure how I feel about that yet haha, it is definitely a little weird looking at the odometer. I’m treating her to a long awaited undercoating and rust protection. Taking it in Monday at noon and I’m told it should be done by noon Tuesday. Just in time for the lovely winter road salt that will be coming sooner than later. Also within the next month I am getting a Compustar two-way remote start put in. And over the winter I hope to install my GXP brushed aluminum door handles and shifter knob as well as upgrade the front speakers while I have the door panels off. Also want to buy 2 front rubber floor mats for the winter to preserve my carpet SSEi ones that are in pretty darn good condition yet. Hoping for another joyful next 100k! Any maintenance things I should do at this time?

Congrats Gina!

I assume you have the LIM gaskets done since you already have the alum coolant elbows mentioned in your siggy. Maybe time for a trans pan drop and fluid/filter change.

Oh good, it's broken in finally!

Thanks! Yup LIM, supercharger, and valve cover gaskets were all replaced about 6,000 miles ago along with the coolant elbows and thermostat. A pan drop is probably needed for sure! I want to have a shift kit from Intense on hand when I do that though haha. The previous owner seemed to keep up on maintenance well and the fluid still looks pretty decent on the dipstick but I still want it done soon. If I'm gonna wait on shift kit funds it might be closer to spring though

RJolly87 wrote:Oh good, it's broken in finally!

Hahaha I hope so! I wanna drive the wheels off this thing! Hoping to reach 300k or get close with minimal setbacks!

Awww, little Gina's finally growing up. Hell, I'll probably hit 100k in my 09 in the next year...

Alright, lots of updates to put on here. Getting Gina into winter mode! I am turning that into a spendy process haha. The undercoating and rust protection are done and I am very pleased so far. The car smelled like varnish fumes for quite awhile but those are finally fading. I took it to Ziebart, they supposedly took some before and after pics like I requested but they haven't returned my email to get them yet. Should have just done it myself. If I don't get them I will take my own after pics but won't have any before ones. I also got around to doing plugs and wires. Dropped a heat range to Autolite 605s and put PRJ Performance Wires on it. Didn't take care of the "surging" in overdrive at freeway speeds like I had hoped so I guess next I will have to test the coils. Anyone care to chime in on how to do that? If that checks out hopefully a shift kit will take care of the problem in the spring. Here are some pics I took of that project:

I wasn't able to utilize the metal "sleeves" that go on the plug boot anymore because my new wire boots were a lot larger and came off at a 45 deg angle instead of going straight into the wire. Hopefully it isn't an issue, I've been keeping an eye on it and they seem to be holding up fine so far.


Crappy phone photo but is this normal for plug wear? Its been so long since I've done a set that I don't remember how a normally worn one should look.

There was no oil on any of them and they all looked like this


Some pics after it was all finished, I think they look pretty good under the hood!





Some nice busted knuckles getting those back 3 done but I managed!


Alright, onto operation winter traction project. The tires on my bent 5s were fine in summer but are showing their lame traction in winter. Front end doesn't hold the road in turns for sh*t and accelerating at stoplight and icy condition performance is pathetic. I picked up a pretty clean set of 16" rims from a '98 Bonneville off Craigslist last week for a nice deal. Was a long drive but the old guy was pretty nice and we BS'ed about cars for a bit. They were dirty but cleaned up nice with a little magic eraser, soap, water, and Windex. (All my car care stuff is back home at the parents so I had to improvise lol) Anyways here they are, glad I didn't sell my old center caps or lugs and lug caps now! They fit the wheels nicely I think.


Here are the original center caps they had. And he gave me 18 lug nuts and 8 plastic chrome lug caps, 4 of which were still good. Not sure how he ended up with such random quantities of stuff


My factory lug nuts from the bent 5s on the right and the ones he gave me on the left. No reason why mine shouldn't work even though they are "taller" right?


Thanks to Matthew (nubuilder) for demonstrating how to fit 4 rims and tires in your car awhile back



One put up next to the car. My baby is covered in salt :( I run it thru the carwash almost everyday but its a lost cause until they finally get the *dang* roads cleared and dry here



It goes into NTB on Thursday to get the snow tires put on the wheels. Going with Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70s. I wanted the WS-60s that were 10 bucks a tire cheaper but that's the older model and nobody has them in stock anymore. I looked online and considered Cooper Weathermaster S/T2s as well. They would have been about 60 bucks cheaper but I would have had to wait for them to ship from CA and then take them to a place to get mounted and balanced. And then I would have had to figure out how to fit 4 more tires without rims into my car lol. Wasn't worth the hassle IMO. 215/65R/16 is the size I decided to go with, Ryan said they will be the same diameter as the size I have now. All of this for less money than it would have cost to get a good set of all seasons on my bent 5s. Made getting new wheels and a dedicated set of snow tires seem like a no brainer. Just goes to show you how much cheaper tires are for 16" rims compared to 17". I will be able to keep the road salt off those this way and hopefully preserve the life of the chrome too. AND everyone tells me you cannot beat snow tires in the winter, we shall find out but I'm sure they are right!

Yet ANOTHER mini update, this is turning into a lengthy post...got these LED bulbs for the plate area to replace both of the burnt out ones I had. They look even better in the dark but you get the idea. Very happy with them so far.



Also got my new GXP shifter installed (thanks Ryan!) Also notice my new winter floor mats, wanted to keep my SSEi carpet ones looking good since they are in amazing shape yet



Car goes in for remote start on the 20th and then I will be officially set for winter! Going with a 2-way Compustar Accustart, I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Getting a good deal on that too, guy who tinted my windows will be doing the install on that. Hoping maybe you can program it to turn on the heated seats too??

Oh and I snapped a couple pics of the downtown Minneapolis skyline on my short walk back from the ramp...enjoy! It looks sweet this time of year since it gets dark out so early and a lot of lights are still on early in the evenings



And my neighbors ridiculous house with Christmas light display

Always nice to be ready for winter. I just bought 4 winter tires in the same size you got 215/65/16, funny because i went with the cooper weather-master st2s you mentioned. Theyre a cheaper tire but they have some nice deep treads, they go on friday and i cant wait to test them out . Your car should look pretty good with those wheels too.

Looking great! You will absolutely love the new tires

DJC906 wrote:Always nice to be ready for winter. I just bought 4 winter tires in the same size you got 215/65/16, funny because i went with the cooper weather-master st2s you mentioned. Theyre a cheaper tire but they have some nice deep treads, they go on friday and i cant wait to test them out . Your car should look pretty good with those wheels too.

Not going with the GXPs now for winter?

Looking good Nick! I should double check my trunk, I have a spare 3800 coil and ICM either in there or at home (99% sure it's at home) that you can have if you want 'em. I don't have a use for 'em anymore, lol.

The gaps on the old plugs look like they've opened up quite a bit.

Forgot to mention that. Looks like the iridium electrodes had worn down considerably...

Thanks Ed, if you could look that would be great. How do you test them? Or would I have to bring it into a parts store maybe? Yea the plugs were definitely worn, does it look like normal wear though? Nothing to be concerned with, just long overdue?