What did you do with your Trans Am today?

**Badass WS6** · 01-24-2014, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

ok guys let's drop it and move along on staying on subject.

But I still don't quite understand.

English class wasn't one of mine strong suits back in high school.

**Decadence75** · 01-25-2014, 11:08 PM

The weather was nice enough today so that I was able to start on the T56 swap. Got the auto out and tomorrow I will probably be hacking up the tunnel and installing the T56.

2000 Trans Am Carblog

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-26-2014, 07:10 AM

link no work....

**Decadence75** · 01-26-2014, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

link no work....

Wierd, I'm able to click it and go to the page. Here is the straight URL.
carblog.signaturepcservices.com/2014/01/26/driveline-swap-in-progress-day-1/

**OhTwo** · 01-26-2014, 11:10 AM

All I see is a "related links" page.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 01-26-2014, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by OhTwo

All I see is a "related links" page.

Same.

**Decadence75** · 01-26-2014, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

Same.

Hrm, that's really odd. I am able to get to in all my browsers and the cell phone from that link even without being logged in. Oh well.

I did work on it a little more today though. Cut out the trans oil lines and fill tube, took out the flexplate, installed the pilot bearing, flywheel & clutch, then pulled the T56 bellhousing and gave it a cleaning to get rid of alot of the built up crud inside.

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-26-2014, 03:15 PM

reinstalled the POS 10 bolt in prep for roller, need to be able to move it in order to get the motor back in.

**speedyWS6** · 01-26-2014, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by 02 red hawk

Speedlines are clear coated, you don't polish. Treat them like the paint. Wash, claybar, wash again, wax. They will glisten & be slick as ice.

Iman.... This is very true. Being they are clear coated you cannot polish the factory polishing job but do as you suggest.

But.......... If you look closely at the rim you will see all sorts of lines and stuff from the factory polish job, primarily in the harder to reach areas that the mops missed. They are ripe for improvement and with the correct equipment will shine like you would not believe and to just mention another quote from another post of yours...
"I had no idea people were stripping their speedlines & polishing them. Seems to me, they would dull if neglected & need repolishing. No thanks, I wash, clay bar, wash again, then wax. 5 spokes= cake. As far as my posts, I hope I'm not stepping on anybody's toes".

You are right and if a daily driver then it would be a bit of a prob but as it is a sunny day car ( not many of those here right now) I would suggest a product such as Optimum Opticlean, which is a spray on wipe off polymer sealant which gives the rim enough protection from dulling and keeps the lovely shine the wheels now have!!!

Have to say though, it is not a job to relish as it is about 10 hours per rim if done right, (both front and back). I prep the rear of the rim for normal base/clearcoat in a nice reflective bright silver to keep the maintenance down and have a wipe clean finish from brake dust etc....

When I get home later I will post some pics.

Trev

**speedyWS6** · 01-27-2014, 12:14 PM

Guys,

As promised.... a few pics of the process. Like i said, it is more involved than you might think to get a real good shine on a rim as you can see from all of the "tools of the trade"! I defy anybody to obtain a finish such as this with the ubiquitous Mothers Powerball or similar. They are just not man enough in my opinion (ready for the flak here from people who swear by them).

The rear of the rim, as you can see, is painted in base/clear for ease of cleaning and i am very pleased with the paint finish here. It was done by a wheel specialist who i had do some Saab Aero rims a couple of years ago and they always deliver....

I got the third rim on the bench today and this one is no exception in that the harder to reach curvy bits are riddled with polishing lines and marks from the factory.

Here we go again!!

**Zapper2003** · 01-27-2014, 12:55 PM

Damn, man..those look great.

**02 red hawk** · 01-27-2014, 06:48 PM

Ditto Trev, those look great. You're close to making me a believer. I bought my nbm ws6 new in 2002. After 2 weeks of ownership, I ordered 4 new speedlines from the stealership because my o.e. speedlines were scratched to hell. It was the scuffing for the adhesion of the clear coat. Still, up close, the wheels looked like crap. New wheels come in, take them home , in their boxes, in my truck. These 4 brand new wheels were the same way. Oh well. I think my speedlines are different than yours, as the barrels on mine (all 8) are unpolished metal. The only paint is the clear coat. Also, I can't tell in the picture what the back of the spokes say, but 1 of my spokes says speedline on it. Do you think you could polish the barrel to rival the shine on the face? If so, I know what I'm gonna look into

**02 red hawk** · 01-27-2014, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I rarely utilize the stereo in our car. Pipe tunes are just too damn nice.

Only in the Firehawk (long tube headers, loudmouth). Sweet music there. The ws6s though, are cranking old school metal. I can't stand pop music.

**02 red hawk** · 01-27-2014, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

What did you use on the brake light?

Try taking it off & cleaning the inside. A lot of crud builds up in there over time.

**02 red hawk** · 01-27-2014, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by wickedbeast

took it out of storage after a year and a half. it started right up after dropping the battery in .

Any puddle under the rear diff?

**speedyWS6** · 01-28-2014, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by 02 red hawk

Do you think you could polish the barrel to rival the shine on the face? If so, I know what I'm gonna look into

Absolutely you could polish the back of the rim to the same level as the front
(never heard the term barrel for the back before).

On all of mine under the brake dust and crap is a painted finish of sorts but I am taking
that down to a clean flatted surface to accept the paint finish so polishing the back would just
see finer grits of abrasives and more mop action!! Dunno about in the back of the spokes though
.... lifes too short for that!

Interestingly the wheel I have pictured is the fifth wheel that Dave (Nutball) sent over to me after I
grabbed it from ebay seller "sulery". I have no reason to suspect it is not a real one and it has GM and USA
and all of that molded in to the casting. The rest of my cars rims do say Speedline.....

Have to say that it is all donkey work and if you pay somebody you will have a good bill headed your way!

Trev

**02 red hawk** · 01-28-2014, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

So I finally got my oil pickup tube bolt installed, that is a pain in the fucking ass. Especially when your jacks go up only 14" off the ground. Now I can actually get my car back together.

Place a length of 2x8 under your jack stands for increased clearance. Of course, you'll want to do the same to the front wheels of your floor jack to raise the saddle accordingly. Works like a charm every time.

**02 red hawk** · 01-28-2014, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by speedyWS6

Absolutely you could polish the back of the rim to the same level as the front
(never heard the term barrel for the back before).

On all of mine under the brake dust and crap is a painted finish of sorts but I am taking
that down to a clean flatted surface to accept the paint finish so polishing the back would just
see finer grits of abrasives and more mop action!! Dunno about in the back of the spokes though
.... lifes too short for that!

Interestingly the wheel I have pictured is the fifth wheel that Dave (Nutball) sent over to me after I
grabbed it from ebay seller "sulery". I have no reason to suspect it is not a real one and it has GM and USA
and all of that molded in to the casting. The rest of my cars rims do say Speedline.....

Have to say that it is all donkey work and if you pay somebody you will have a good bill headed your way!

Trev

The more I look at your wheels, the more I like 'em. I think I'm going to buy a refurbished speedline to use as a guinea pig. I can't risk trashing a mint speedline. I want to practice first.

**02 red hawk** · 01-28-2014, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by 20ws6speed01

Went to a cruise in & this thing had to park next to me...

Not to worry, man. I would walk right past that ugly red pos (& I do mean ugly), & go straight to your car. I have a thing for ws6s, & I would want to see if yours was cleaner than mine. I have yet to be surprised.

**speedyWS6** · 01-28-2014, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by 02 red hawk

The more I look at your wheels, the more I like 'em. I think I'm going to buy a refurbished speedline to use as a guinea pig. I can't risk trashing a mint speedline. I want to practice first.

Go for it!

When I was looking for a fifth wheel to begin this caper with I purposely
searched out a less than happy one and it only cost me $60.

It had bad rash and bubbling lacquer but none of that concerned me as it
was in for a complete re-do.
All I would steer clear of is bad bends and mis-shaped rims.

On my last TA I had a wheel that need a good re-furb as it had a 1" long crack
but I prepped it all and welded it up with the TIG.

I do count my blessings though as I really do have a good workshop at work

Happy to offer any help at all!!

Trev