What did you do with your Trans Am today?

**Decadence75** · 07-23-2014, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by theorangeguy

If you are running factory shocks I'd say it's time for an upgrade.

Yep, still the crappy original orange decarbons. I'm wanting a set of the new Koni STR.T shocks that came out earlier this year but I'm being pulled in so many directions with projects the funds just won't be there until early next year. I will likely stay with the stock springs until I upgrade the shocks and see what a difference in ride height that makes as I am running really low right now.

Originally Posted by sjgreen6

Definitely fender contact. Looks like only occasional as when you launch hard. Since you are running larger than stock wheels/tires did you also upgrade your suspension bumper to the WS6 piece with the metal spacer? The difference between stock TA and WS6 is about another 1/2" of clearance. Might be all you need to solve your problem.

And it is only happening on the passenger side. It has only very occasionally cut into the size a small amount before, but over the 4th weekend I had a couple friends come in from out of town and we took the bird out one day and with right around 600 extra lbs in the car it was riding so low that unless I was driving on a perfectly level road any bump at all caused the turn downs on the dumps to scrape. Yep, I upgraded the bump stop some time ago with the Prothane 1-1301 kit. Here is a shot of what the stockers looked like when I pulled them off the car next to the replacements.

The stockers were so worn down that I had a contact spot in the driver side wheel well where it rubbed off the factory coating.

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-24-2014, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Decadence75

Yep, still the crappy original orange decarbons. I'm wanting a set of the new Koni STR.T shocks that came out earlier this year but I'm being pulled in so many directions with projects the funds just won't be there until early next year. I will likely stay with the stock springs until I upgrade the shocks and see what a difference in ride height that makes as I am running really low right now.

And it is only happening on the passenger side. It has only very occasionally cut into the size a small amount before, but over the 4th weekend I had a couple friends come in from out of town and we took the bird out one day and with right around 600 extra lbs in the car it was riding so low that unless I was driving on a perfectly level road any bump at all caused the turn downs on the dumps to scrape. Yep, I upgraded the bump stop some time ago with the Prothane 1-1301 kit. Here is a shot of what the stockers looked like when I pulled them off the car next to the replacements.

The stockers were so worn down that I had a contact spot in the driver side wheel well where it rubbed off the factory coating.

Just a little worn out

Drop of the heads and with a quick once over he pointed to what was #3 cyl and said there's something wrong with this cyl. It's dead. See here how there's carbon one the others and nothing here. Looks like it was washed in gas but no combustion. So I feel a little better, He's going to look over everything, from the heads, trunion rockers & lifters.

**sjgreen6** · 07-24-2014, 06:55 AM

This is what the WS6 style bumpers look like. Notice the extra metal spacer on the bottom. Sounds like your problem might also involve worn springs.

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-24-2014, 07:01 AM

I got mine from Strano for $28/pair. A slight modification to the frame needs to make them work. Need to grind off a tab.

**Decadence75** · 07-24-2014, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by sjgreen6

This is what the WS6 style bumpers look like. Notice the extra metal spacer on the bottom. Sounds like your problem might also involve worn springs.

I'm pretty sure the prothane kit is the same length as the WS6 kit was so no spacers were needed. I am skeptical that it is a spring problem. Once I manage to replace the shocks we will see though. Maybe I will go get some cheap-o auto parts store shocks just to hold me over until I can afford the Koni.

**Decadence75** · 07-24-2014, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

I got mine from Strano for $28/pair. A slight modification to the frame needs to make them work. Need to grind off a tab.

That is the same pair I am running. Got them for $18 at summit. Had to sawzall a tab off to make them fit.

Here is my blog post where I did the install last july. Some Prothane Loving | 2000 Trans Am Blog

**RONS98TA** · 07-25-2014, 03:40 AM

I got the prothane kit also and had to hack off a lil bit of the bumper to make it fit. My original bump stops were completely gone! Nothing but the mounting frame for the bump stop was there. Although you do know the bump stop is only there to protect you from the tire bottoming out on the frame or fender well. If your are rubbing under normal circumstances, then you have prob put on lowering springs that are too low for your tire combo. Normally the springs should be enough to keep you from bottoming out. The shock doesn't actually hold the car up in place, it just slows down the up and down motion of the spring.

**sjgreen6** · 07-25-2014, 04:32 AM

I think I agree with Ron's guess that you may have lowering springs installed (also could just be worn out and sagging like the pants of so many young men around here). I checked the factory service manual for the rear suspension specifications. To see if you are still at stock ride height measure the distance between the rear bumper bracket that we have been discussing and the top of the axle tube. Before measuring you need to bounce the suspension a couple of times to ensure you get a true measurement (you may need to repeat this process a couple of times and take the average). If your car originally had the P235/55 tires the gap should be 31mm or 1.2 inches. If your car originally had the P245/55 tires (WS6) the gap should be 37mm or 1.5 inches. If your suspension gap is shorter than this spacing you definitely need to look at your springs.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 07-25-2014, 10:35 AM

Am I the only one who removed their bump stops long ago?

**pajeff02** · 07-25-2014, 11:24 AM

I pull mine off when I install the Bogarts and Hoosiers for the track. On the street, however, I do run the bump stops.

**kingls1** · 07-27-2014, 04:03 PM

Changed my power antenna mast. When the last GM High tech came out I read a article on how to replace and where to buy a replacement mast if yours should break.. It was only a few days later it quit in the up position..very simple repair so I thought, could not get the motor out until I cut the antenna ( it was all the way up when it broke) then after getting the mast out of the motor realized the drive cable was shorter than the new one you guessed it about 6" broke off in motor and the case is not ment to come apart. Was able to drill out the plastic tabs remove the missing piece and reinstall the case with JB weld, waited a day for it to dry and installed new mast...so all is well in tune city and in my case as usual it was not a easy fix as High Tech indicated.

**True Blue** · 07-28-2014, 06:28 AM

Put on my new vanity plates.

**Nutball** · 07-28-2014, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by True Blue

Put on my new vanity plates.

....and......What's it say

**theorangeguy** · 07-29-2014, 05:00 AM

drove mine to work today for the first time in like a week and a half...cleaned her up last night.

**True Blue** · 07-29-2014, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by Nutball

....and......What's it say

Is my screen name any hint?

Hey, quick question for you. I am a member of another forum (not a car forum) that is similar to the layout of this one and am able to post pics that are saved on my computer. It doesn't appear to work for me here. Do you have any advice on how to post a picture, or is there something special you have to do? Thanks much!

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-29-2014, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by True Blue

Is my screen name any hint?

Hey, quick question for you. I am a member of another forum (not a car forum) that is similar to the layout of this one and am able to post pics that are saved on my computer. It doesn't appear to work for me here. Do you have any advice on how to post a picture, or is there something special you have to do? Thanks much!

Jennifer, welcome. You will need to get a few more post to be able to post.

You will also need to use something like Photobucket to post pics. Here is a thread on how to.

http://www.ls1.com/forums/f98/how-po...bucket-138199/

**True Blue** · 07-29-2014, 07:08 AM

[QUOTE=SMWS6TA;2899512]Jennifer, welcome. You will need to get a few more post to be able to post.

You will also need to use something like Photobucket to post pics. Here is a thread on how to.

Thanks much, SMWS6TA!

**RONS98TA** · 07-29-2014, 11:47 AM

Welcome to the site True Blue!! Good to see another local MD member. I also couldn't figure out why I couldn't post anything when I 1st joined the site. Just like Scott (SMWS6TA ) mentioned, you need to accumulate a certain amount of post before you have certain privileges.

**RONS98TA** · 07-29-2014, 12:29 PM

Oh yeah. Today I drove the young lady to work. I still love all the looks the car still gets after pushing over 16 years old. I cant wait until this winter to install the Ride tech air ride system in it.