Topic: 2001 trans am ws6 fix / clean up thread (Read 5729 times)

random-strike · « **on:** April 13, 2020, 12:03:19 PM »

Bought this 01 ws6 off Craigslist for 4000 yesterday.

Had to drive 6hrs to get it but worth it. the guy bought it from his dad (original owner) in 2009 for $10,000... thanks dad haha... put 10k miles on it in 10 years.

Only a few things didn't get mentioned that I know of right now in the cl add...

Issues:
Both windows don't work
Drivers mirror mount broken
Center console door busted up
New gears and driveshaft but pinion angle not set professionally

Issues not mentioned:
Clear coat coming off on roof
oil leak
Belt sequel
Exhaust leak on drivers side manifold connection to exhaust
Small dent by drivers side door

It clunks some when put into gear / reverse in the back. Like a loose u joint or something

Pros:
Very nice interior
114k miles
All stock except 411 gears and aftermarket driveshaft.
Aftermarket torque tube

random-strike · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2020, 12:04:02 PM »

random-strike · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2020, 12:05:37 PM »

after first wash / wax

random-strike · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2020, 12:06:08 PM »

As seen from the pictures the cleaner wax isn't aggressive enough to fix the roof.

I'm going to have to try some aggressive polish on the roof and see if it takes it away.

Of not I will try some fine sand paper and polish after.

Worse case it should cost about 500 bucks to have that part professionally fixed and blended

random-strike · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2020, 12:08:52 PM »

this stuff always makes me nervous, never seems to turn out very well for me, i'm not a good painter. but i tried to do this as best i can

sanded down a little bit with 800grit. trying to make it flat but starting burning through...

filled in a bunch of spots that either burned through or because of the peeling it was missing paint

sanded down again with 800grit

coupe coats of clear coat

random-strike · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2020, 12:10:07 PM »

later that day when it dried i used 2000 grit to smooth it out and tried to blend it best i could

after that i did some rubbing compound
after that i have some regular polish but im not there yet. ran out of light yesterday

after a couple days i will try to put some wax on it.

'm not trying for perfect, i'm trying for 2 things:

1. its black
2. it looks decent standing next to car

if it looks terrible i'll just bite the bullet and have the body shop down the street paint that entire piece, probably cost 500 bucks.

random-strike · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2020, 12:11:20 PM »

i don't have pictures yet, but amazingly its actually turning out pretty decent. i'll take some more pictures today.

i had to cut and buff it with rubbing compound and 2000 grit probably 6 times on each side.

you'll be able to tell there are some spots that aren't flat. but it already looks good from 5 feet and i'm only half done cutting and buffing

random-strike · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2020, 12:22:21 PM »

sanded, spray clear coat, cut and buffed a bunch of times. looks good from 5 feet, once you get close you can see it plain as day.

after rubbing compound on entire car and washed..

rawr · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2020, 02:01:09 PM »

Nice. My boss at my first job had that same ws6. Always thought it was cooler than the camaros.

random-strike · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2020, 02:09:32 PM »

Quote from: rawr on April 15, 2020, 02:01:09 PM

Nice. My boss at my first job had that same ws6. Always thought it was cooler than the camaros.

#metoo

lowered with some nice normal sized wheels, like the ones that are on my z28 would be badass. thats what i want.

i will probably 90% sell my z28. its just sad that i got it for so cheap and fixed it up so nice when it started out pretty bad.

but if i were to get 6500 for the z28 i would make about 2000 dollars on it.

if i switch the brakes / strut bar / shocks & springs / other misc crap maybe between the cars i would make another 1500 bucks aprox

i if were able to sell the z28 for 6000-6500 i would probably buy a s/c or something awesome for the trans am

random-strike · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2020, 11:51:54 AM »

the shit came through almost immediately on the sail panel, could start to see some white.

i grabbed a cheap can of spray on plastidip and put it on, it looks like it might actually keep it from showing.

there are a shitload of bugs and pollen in in cause i did it outside, but if it looks good other than that i'll get a new can and spray it inside

random-strike · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2020, 12:14:31 AM »

The wrap looks great at night. It's dull in the bright sunshine. It's not too bad tho

I had it up on the ramps, fixed exhaust leak by just tightening the connection to the cat on drivers side. Pinpointed the oil leak looks like it's from the passenger valve cover. Dripping down the side of the block.

Door motors are in the mail

random-strike · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2020, 12:17:42 AM »

random-strike · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2020, 12:27:55 PM »

window motors should be here soon. doing the "shbox" method so i don't have to drill out the rivets holding a lot of the window stuff in there.

random-strike · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2020, 12:40:48 PM »

i put the window motor in,was extremely easy with the shbox method. tremendous method, very power. no one has ever seen a method like this

anyways the window goes up and down fast. i should do the passenger side as well. the guide hasn't even shipped yet so i'l have to pull the panel off and install that at some point

i also replaced the passenger side valve cover gasket and the grommets. i would really like to punch the people / person who mounted the coils like they are. they have so many bolts and long ones too, very hard to get to the back ones... lol

i need to put the coils back on and it'l be done. i really hope thats where the leak was from, was hard to tell

i also fixed the drivers side mirror mount with the quiksteel

random-strike · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2020, 01:06:38 AM »

finished the coils and tighten oil pan bolts and leak stopped thankfully

random-strike · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2020, 12:42:27 PM »

i bought a set of BMR 1.25" lowering springs last night, and a pacesetter y pipe $50 each.

i was supposed to buy 4 LT1 SS camaro wheels and tires for $200 but when i got there the guy said he couldn't find them and he thinks he sold them but doesn't remember. i think he backed out because of the price. they had really expensive falken tires on them too.

random-strike · « **Reply #17 on:** May 04, 2020, 03:38:05 PM »

so basically:

put new motor in passenger, works great.
trying to find oil leak... i think i found it. broken PCV hose
bought kooks headers, kooks catted y, magna flow y pipe back exhaust for $550 bucks. had to drive to seattle tho.
its like a $3000+ setup new...

i would never pay that lol... $1300 headers, $1300 catted y, $500+ magna flow y pipe back?? not sure.
went crazy with black crinkle

(my garage is a mess, house is getting remodeled and shit is literally packed into the small garage with no room left anywhere

random-strike · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2020, 11:47:33 AM »

old exhaust

no knock sensors

makes it a lot easier

Passenger side header was the hardest header I've ever installed. Tried taking off oil filter then grinding down tab on subframe then unbolting motor mount and removing heat shield, and finally with car jacked up as high as possible. Uggghh

random-strike · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2020, 12:30:01 PM »

its basically ready to drive except i can't get plates because dmv is closed

random-strike · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2020, 12:36:49 PM »

im pissed because i tried to put a tune using hptuners onto the car, but its giving the "checksum error" which after googling means there is a locked handheld tuner tune on it. how about a specific error message... hptuners is very powerful but confusing with lack of clear copy in the app. they need to hire someone to focus on UI.

i wasted 2 credits $100, then i thought id download a 2001 tune from the repo and vin swap / os swap... still says "unlicensed vehicle" when i try. another 2 credits $100

the dealership will put pcm back to factory for $95 bucks.... i'm afraid i'll have to buy 2 more credits $100 because the tune i licensed will have a different OS than when the pcm is put back to factory.

i begged them for mercy to refund my $ for 2 credits and leave 2 credits available for after the pcm is back top factory

random-strike · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2020, 02:28:51 PM »

i have a pretty significant vibration at like 40mph....

the guy said something like the pinion angle wasn't set professionally which i assume he set it himself and didn't just bolt it on and guess....

i went under the car and used the tremec app to measure it, and i get wildly different readings depending on where i set the phone.

this is what i get when i set the phone on the front of driveshaft, middle driveshaft, and on the torque arm where it bolts to the axle.

it says the angle is fine, but i don't trust it. when i measure it on the bottom of the trans pan, middle of shaft and save place on the axle is says the first and last measurements are bad.

it could be something else causing the vibration, but the U joints look and feel fine.

random-strike · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2020, 02:30:53 PM »

random-strike · « **Reply #23 on:** May 13, 2020, 03:44:44 PM »

i drove the car to get some lunch and i didnt really feel the vibration like i did before, maybe it was the road.

it rides terrible with these horrible wheels and the BMR torque arm.

im really torn on the two cars, i think i will try to sell both but make sure i at least get my money back but i should be able to make some money

98 camaro about $5000 into it

PROs:
originally paid $2500
setup for the most part how i wanted it (mods wise)
straight body no damage anywhere other than superficial things rock chips, dings, etc.
runs, drives, and stops great. a few rattles. cruises nicer than the trans am
decent wheels and brand new bfg geforce 2 a/t tires and all normal sized 275/40/r17

cons:
interior not as nice, not in as good of shape, seats not as comfortable etc.
almost 150k miles
not "as cool" as the ws6
probably won't sell for as much as firebird (i'm trying to get 6500, but would sell for $6000 without hesitation)

firebird: about $5000 into it

pros:
almost loved the WS6s, looks cooler to me
nicer interior, more comfortable, all pieces there. hasn't been messed with at all except to install new window motors
lower miles 114k
probably sell for more
i think i will like it a lot more with different wheels and when i put on the BMR lowering springs
probably sell for more than camaro, i'd probably ask 7000-7500 for it

cons:
will have to buy another ~500 in parts to get it how i want it (brakes, trans pan, trans cooler)
has sail panel issue, but looks ok black plastidipped even though it doesnt match color
has a dent and crack around it, looks like bondo. they must have done some body work on that panel but has clean title, i would want to get this fixed eventually
doesn't drive as nice, the BMR torque arm makes EVERYTHING creak, clunk, etc...

random-strike · « **Reply #24 on:** May 14, 2020, 07:08:14 PM »

i checked yesterday and no oil spots. hopefully its fixed. could've been a combination of a lot of things.

i finally was able to put hptuners tune on it, it drives a lot better with the changes to the transmission. much nicer.

i REALLY need to get these horrible wheels and tires off of it. tomorrow i think i will at least switch the wheels and tires around with my z28. to make sure that is the only thing making the vibration. but i also want to put the BMR lowering springs on it, shouldn't be too big of a hassle at least in the rear since im going to leave the shocks that are on it there.

hopfully it won't be a pain taking apart the stock front strut assembly, on my z28 the nut was really corroded and i said fuck it and used a sawzall to cut shock

i don't feel anything in the brake pedal, so i will leave the brakes alone for now. eventually i will want the same brakes as the z28

the horrible clunking and creaking from the torque arm is going to take some getting used to

i guess the 4.11 gears aren't TOO BAD on the highway. at about 60-65 its like 2200-2300 RPM. with my z28 and the highway gears its like 1900 or 2000? something like that

Ntrain2k · « **Reply #25 on:** May 14, 2020, 07:26:28 PM »

Yea, I was thinking the other wheels would look better on it.

random-strike · « **Reply #26 on:** May 15, 2020, 12:18:10 AM »

I put other wheels and tires on and it drives really nice. I really like the car now

4.11 are growing on me

installed BMR lowering springs

random-strike · « **Reply #27 on:** May 18, 2020, 01:29:32 AM »

Sold trans am today for 7000.

Made about 2500 bucks on it. Sad to see it go... It looked fucking sweet driving away

random-strike · « **Reply #28 on:** May 18, 2020, 01:30:41 AM »

random-strike · « **Reply #29 on:** May 18, 2020, 01:31:52 AM »

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Author Topic: 2001 trans am ws6 fix / clean up thread (Read 5729 times)