Great to be back!!! 1991,1995,1999, and now a 2001 WS6 40k m

**DiabloX6** · 04-29-2018, 12:09 PM

It's been a long time! The memories just keep coming back! I just (literally) picked up a 01 WS6 that has 40 thousand miles on it. I couldn't pass it up. As the title says the first GTA that actually was my Father's was a 1991, there is a story to that one! I may try to relocate it soon, when my mother sold it, it had 12 thousand original miles on it. Like I said, there is a story to it. My actual first Pontiac experience didn't go so well. I was 19 it was my very first new car, still 1 of the best looking cars I remember! 1995 Black with red leather Trans Am 6speed t tops. Friends called it the Bat mobile! Got so many compliments on it! But unfortunately of the 1st 120 days I owned it over 90 of them it was at the dealer getting "fixed". A 19 year old kid called Pontiac and said, buy it back or give me a different one! The rep offered me a free extended warranty. I said, you can't fix this one, what's that going to do!? Find or build another NEW black and red one or I am taking you to the BBB. Dave Beatty was his name, said no. We went to a arbitrator, I won, he lost. Man it hurt to give it up. When you are driving crappy loaners instead of a T A, you get upset. I knew it was just that one, the tools at the factory do get worn and need to get changed, unfortunately I got 1 that was out of spec.
I have a lot of catching up to do. This 2001 is auto, so a couple things that are already in my head (I just bought it Thursday) the body, do they flex? I know nothing about these transmissions! I can already tell a shift kit or something is needed. If someone could please chime in on what Tuner is the best, I just want it for the summer or next until I do my homework and make it over to the MOD section, cause I know this thing can be woken up some! I know a dyno tune is best, but I recall (I hope I am not that old!) That hypertext made a plug and play, something like that. Any tips, comments, do's don'ts, would be more than appreciated! I would enjoy hearing from anyone who wants to input! Thanks everyone!

***SMWS6TA*** · 04-30-2018, 10:06 AM

Welcome.

Body does flex. Sub frame connectors should have been mandatory on these.

Auto - to be honest the 4l60e is not a strong transmission. 2-3 gear are known to fail at higher miles. The stall convertor could be better. They can be built up to handle up to 500 hp builds but after that you need something better. Tuning can help on shift points too. If you are not going to do anything major like a cam and heads then a mail order tune from Frost can help wake it up and do the shift points too. TunebyFrost.com
If you need more then that in tuning then you need to look for one in your area or be willing to travel to one. Full dyno tuning goes for $500 and up, where as Frost mail order is around $150. His tunes are for basic bolt ons like headers and mild cam stuff like a 228 cam. If you go with bigger stuff then you're back at a full tune session.

Check out the forum and here's some threads that might answer some questions you might have. Feel free to ask away.

http://www.ls1.com/forums/f6/general...tickies-79085/

http://www.ls1.com/forums/f6/technic...tickies-79083/

**DiabloX6** · 04-30-2018, 10:15 AM

Thank you very much, I really appreciate it. I have a lot to learn! If I can ask it may not apply to my car or it might! What is this "lid" I am reading about? It's driving me crazy but I can't find a definite answer! Thanks for the info, helps out a ton!

***SMWS6TA*** · 04-30-2018, 10:47 AM

Air lid. SLP is the most common. There are a couple of other styles too.

If you see any that are 104mm those are for bigger throttle bodies like the FAST102.