What did you do with your Trans Am today?

**SMWS6TA** · 06-03-2019, 06:38 PM

So made some more progress on the Firebird.

Fixed the coolant fans. I had to flip the wires on the connector.

Broke down the center console and back seat panels in prep for paint

**herculesrider1** · 06-03-2019, 06:54 PM

Oh the joys of putting in new carpet!! Looking good!

**hardtrailz** · 06-04-2019, 04:44 AM

Gave mine a bath last night and got the good safe corner spot in the parking garage this morning. Hoping it will be a good top down day to drive home later.

**Whamhammer** · 06-04-2019, 11:44 AM

Got Gracie back, good news is everything is back together and improved.

Bad news, steering column is pretty much worn out, and cant bring the columns play back to close to factory new, I need a new column.

Anyone here have a good lead on a 98-02 manual transmission column with tilt and radio control on the wheel?

**Y2KArcticSS** · 06-04-2019, 11:51 AM

Scott, I responded to your other thread. I will be doing the same with our T/A after the rack & pinion is replaced. There is a LOT of play in the column, along with the tilt lock being broken.

**Naaman** · 06-05-2019, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

OMG ya'll gonna hate me.

4 cars total $79 every year

Yup... I think my Chevy costs about $8 to register for the year.

**herculesrider1** · 06-05-2019, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

Got Gracie back, good news is everything is back together and improved.

Bad news, steering column is pretty much worn out, and cant bring the columns play back to close to factory new, I need a new column.

Anyone here have a good lead on a 98-02 manual transmission column with tilt and radio control on the wheel?

Hey Scott, there is a company on the internet, TransAm Creations, that has a stock of steering columns for our cars. I purchased mine from them out of Heflin, Alabama. You can pick one up with steering wheel controls and tilt for $175-$225. I purchased from them, installed it, and then rebuilt the one that came out with parts off of the internet, and ended up selling the one I rebuilt for more money than I bought the one from TA Creations for. Worked out nicely. Ebay has a few of them with various levels of wear. I just looked at TA Creations USA and they have quite a few but he has gone up on his prices. They are now $250 plus shipping. I think that is because he has started fabricating his own parts due to lack of parts availability. If that is too steep, you could always check with local pull a part junk yards in your area and hope they have a 4th gen TA. Hope this helps.

**SMWS6TA** · 06-05-2019, 11:57 AM

I know we have 2 96 Firebirds in out pull a part. But I believe the internals are different.

**Whamhammer** · 06-05-2019, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

I know we have 2 96 Firebirds in out pull a part. But I believe the internals are different.

Yes , 98-02s are their own design.

**Whamhammer** · 06-05-2019, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by herculesrider1

Hey Scott, there is a company on the internet, TransAm Creations, that has a stock of steering columns for our cars. I purchased mine from them out of Heflin, Alabama. You can pick one up with steering wheel controls and tilt for $175-$225. I purchased from them, installed it, and then rebuilt the one that came out with parts off of the internet, and ended up selling the one I rebuilt for more money than I bought the one from TA Creations for. Worked out nicely. Ebay has a few of them with various levels of wear. I just looked at TA Creations USA and they have quite a few but he has gone up on his prices. They are now $250 plus shipping. I think that is because he has started fabricating his own parts due to lack of parts availability. If that is too steep, you could always check with local pull a part junk yards in your area and hope they have a 4th gen TA. Hope this helps.

Those are just pulled out of a car and not rebuilt, right?
If so, sounds like his prices are keeping in line with Hawks Third Gens prices, as its getting harder to find good/lower mileage ones.

**Whamhammer** · 06-05-2019, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Y2KArcticSS

Scott, I responded to your other thread. I will be doing the same with our T/A after the rack & pinion is replaced. There is a LOT of play in the column, along with the tilt lock being broken.

That shop you recommended ended up paying off, got one getting shipped for $165 for the part, and $45 for shipping.

Let this be a lesson to you guys with garage queens, get the columns tightened up every so often, so you don't ruin the housing.

**herculesrider1** · 06-05-2019, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

That shop you recommended ended up paying off, got one getting shipped for $165 for the part, and $45 for shipping.

Let this be a lesson to you guys with garage queens, get the columns tightened up every so often, so you don't ruin the housing.

Where did you get one for $165? That's a pretty good price.

**Whamhammer** · 06-06-2019, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by herculesrider1

Where did you get one for $165? That's a pretty good price.

American Camaro and Firebird is the name of the shop.

**Y2KArcticSS** · 06-06-2019, 06:02 AM

Awesome! Glad I could help. It really is a great place. We are lucky here to have two 4th gen specific salvages in the area, that one being the better of the two IMO.

**herculesrider1** · 06-06-2019, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

American Camaro and Firebird is the name of the shop.

Thanks Scott. Never can have too many places to draw from when parts are no longer being produced.

**Brian Lundell** · 06-11-2019, 12:11 PM

I was enjoying driving it, but have experienced the power steering leak everyone talks about on here. So this weekend will dive in and try to repair it.

**SMWS6TA** · 06-11-2019, 12:27 PM

Leaking over the alternator?

Most likely it's the o rings. The reservoir has one too.

**Brian Lundell** · 06-11-2019, 12:50 PM

The Trans Am sat for about 16 months in storage. It is a leak that is hitting the engine making some smoke. The leak is steering fluid, so I will have to check out the rings this weekend. I will change out the hoses while I'm at it. Everything is original on my car as I bought it new in 2002. It has 157K miles on it, so things are popping up here and there now.

**SMWS6TA** · 06-12-2019, 04:43 AM

When cars sit for a while seals dry up.

**Whamhammer** · 06-14-2019, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by herculesrider1

Thanks Scott. Never can have too many places to draw from when parts are no longer being produced.

Oh trust me, I know the feeling. No garage, almost 200k, been a workhorse since I got it in 2007, took care of me when I went back to college, and was the dar we brought my daughter home from the hospital in. Ive done my darnedest to to keep it looking as young and as beautiful as it can be.

Still runs great!