[ZumpTA]

The plastic part between the vinyl dash and windshield is called the Upper Dash Pad. Very common part to crack and fall to bits. An OEM replacement is over $300. There is a company that sells a thin plastic cover that you can glue over the existing. Many go this route. Those are a bit over $100 and are very easy to install.

Not sure what the situation is in Italy for parts, but even in the USA it is hard to find many items. Most of us find parts from local cars being parted out before going to the scrap yard. Probably the best resource stateside for you would be carparts.com. its like a search engine that searches scrap yards.

You may wish to head into the 4th gen section and grab the Factory Service Manual specific to your vehicle. The link for 4th gen service manuals is pinned at the top of the forum. The FSM is an invaluable resource. Orders of magnitude greater than any other type of manual such as Chilton or Haynes.

I see the car looks a little rough, but I assure you, mine was worse when I got it 16 years ago. Loved it then, still love it today. It's a long road, but not a hard one. Example: It took me 7 years to locate the trim ring and leather boot for my shifter. Unique to my case as there are far fewer 6-speed cars than 5-speed and auto. Persistence is key tho. Right about the time you want to give up, that's when you'll find what you need.

Looking forward to your thread. Welcome aboard!

 

[ZumpTA]

Unfortunately, we have a few problems with our site that our host keeps saying will be fixed "in the next update". That section is one of them. For now, it would be acceptable to post your request in the 4th gen section.

 

[ZumpTA]

More tire spinning from you in those 10 seconds than from everyone after an entire day at your track. THUMBS UP! Sounds like it's running well too. Keep on keepin' on.

 

[ZumpTA]

Where every linkage bar slips into a hole, there should be a plastic "keeper" to lock it in place. They are very fragile and easily broken. The older they get, the weaker they become. Eventually they will just fall apart on their own. Not sure if these are the exact part, but, they are like these.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/dorman-help-door-lock-rod-clips-75450/9110113-p?c3ch=PLA&c3nid=9110113-P&adtype=pla_with_promotion&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhuvlBRCeARIsAM720HoMYnAGS-_dq4r3UHEBJZHD5zvY6d9fzccIQk_utDipn8USmCYKjHoaAmP1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[ZumpTA]

The color and consistency of the gear oil looks like it was contaminated with water. I would certainly say you made the right call in getting to the differential right away. That was possibly a disaster waiting to happen.

If you have a Y87 'bird, don't forget to put a posi-trac additive in the differential.

Keep up the good work!

 

[ZumpTA]

Start by checking brake fluid level.

The front ABS sensors are part of the wheel hubs, and depending on if the system is 3 or 4 channel there is either 1 sensor at the top of the rear differential or 1 at each rear wheel.

You can try cleaning them.

I had heard that the wheel hubs need changed to replace them but I see the sensors for sale as seperate units so I have no idea what is right. Maybe they weren't serviceable at one time then were redesigned, or maybe the source where I got the hub replacement notion from was incorrect.

There are several other causes; wiring, bad module, etc. There should be a code related to this stored in the ABS module but youd need an obd2 scanner capable of reading the ABS module.

I'd look over the most obvious things first tho like cleaning the wheel speed sensors and checking wiring/connections for continuity.

About that radio... You should have grabbed the '97 Factory Service Manual which has the wiring diagram you need to figure out the wiring. If you have an OEM radio but dont have the harness in the dash or on the radio, I might suggest buying one from a junkyard. If it is an aftermarket radio and you have the factory harness in the dash, buy an adapter harness. They are $20 or less and plug directly into the factory harness leaving open wires that match industry color codes or are labeled or both. So much easier and no cutting of the factory wires.

 

[ZumpTA]

Here are 2 "1997-2002" Camaro/Firebird upper console plates. Yours appears to be the bottom, but the top storage compartment is likely an option for you as well. If the area can be used for either/or here is a link to an auction for the storage compartment.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/93-02-TRANS-AM-FIREBIRD-99-02-CAMARO-SHIFTER-POCKET-COMPARTMENT-STORAGE-TRIM-11/183839648434?hash=item2acdb26ab2%3Ag%3AKIcAAOSwwR5c-s5-&fits=Year%3A1997%7CModel%3AFirebird%7CMake%3APontiac

Thinking switch in lower image is traction control or "sport mode" or something along those lines. With a manual transmission, probably traction control. I wouldn't know, my console doesn't have an opening there at all.

Here is a link to the switch bezel which also verifies it's for traction control: https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1997_1999_Firebird_Trans_Am_Formula_TCS_Switch_p/wir-2800a.htm

Thinking yours should be a switch. Got an unknown wire harness down there?

 

[ZumpTA]

You know, looking at your upper console plate and comparing to the 2 different options, I think yours was hacked up. Your console has a hole cut from left side to right up against the right side where the side protudes out perpendicular to the face.

Now look at the 2 "correct" options. Neither hole goes fully left to right like yours. The "pocket" option leaves enough space to the right for a cigar lighter with plenty area around it, and the switch plate fills the same size hole as the pocket.

Looks to me like your either going to have to get creative or replace that entire top console plate. Looking at the top image in my previous post, you can see how it is seperate from the console.

...last time I saw a "new" one, be it "new old stock" or from a dealer, it was over $300USD.

As it looks like the factory radio harness was butchered, I would think previous owner had an EQ or something down there. Or, just a punk who needed several switches for meaningless accessories.

Good luck with it!

 

[ZumpTA]

I'd bet a large amount of money the cigar lighter was moved. It's current location is not ergonomic for the driver in any way. While my console is completely different, my cigar lighter is at least ABOVE and in-line with the e-brake. I couldn't imagine an engineer expecting a driver to fuss around a handle like that, let alone have it angled towards the passenger. Doesn't seem right.

 

[ZumpTA]

Looks great! Excellent work, and bonus points for Eminem.

 

[ZumpTA]

Curious to hear how that turns out.

 

[ZumpTA]

That's about all the faster I've gotten my Trans Am the one time I felt the time, place, and conditions were safe. But I think maybe the penalty for exceeding the speed limit isn't quite as severe for you. Half that speed around where I live is still breaking the law by 40KPH and incurs severe penalties.

I get my kicks literally idling down the road at 75KPH.

Lucky you!

 

[ZumpTA]

I doubt anybody thinks bad of you or the speed run. Heck, one or two probably thought "130MPH? That's nothing". I'm just saying that 75MPH could land me in jail, or at the very least cost over $1,000 in fines and revocation of my drivers license. Hell, 9 years ago I got caught going 15MPH over the speed limit on the Interstate while passing a group of semi- trailers. That cost over $1,500.

My wife and son love drifting, so, on rare occasion I'll give them a little thrill if it's safe. No harm there besides burning up expensive tires. When I'm alone, I kick the ass out every chance I have. I live and love the sideways life.

Is your quarantine really so strict you can't even be out on your own property? That's insane. Now is the perfect time to be working around the house or on the car. My state (Florida) has ordered people to stay home and business to close, but, anything retail/wholesale/services can remain open and that's just about everything. Also, religious institutions can remain open and have assemblies, and folks like me are allowed out to shop, bike, swim, walk, run, care for others, visit doctors, walk dogs, etc. More or less the extreme opposite of yours. I'm actually having trouble figuring out what exactly I can't do. State parks are closed, but local government owned parks remain open. It's really stupid how Florida is handling this crisis.

 

[ZumpTA]

If you stored it with ethanol blended fuel, test the gas. After sitting, you should only see the ethanol and gas seperate. If you see a second seperation / 3rd liquid, there you go.

I'd lean on fuel pressure and injectors next, then move onto ignition system.

...but if ethanol is involved, my brain goes there first, that stuff has kicked my butt one too many times.

Good luck! Hope it's a simple fix.

 

[ZumpTA]

I wasn't talking about E85. I mean E10 or E15. ...10% or 15% ethanol blended gasoline. It's very common, at least it is here in the states. But, if you drove to near empty nd got fresh gas, that's not it. The crap on the sail panels is probably the sticky residue left over from tape. The original grills probably fell out often and were taped in place.

 

[ZumpTA]

I wouldn't say the paint looks bad. In all honesty, that looks like the orange peel effect I expect to see when I paint mine. So many things have to be just right when painting and any one of them being off a little results in this. You might be able to take it down with just rubbing compound, or you might have to wet sand. Polish when done. The end result could be pretty nice.

 

[ZumpTA]

Sorry to hear about the Jeep. ...but glad you weren't in the 'bird.

 

[ZumpTA]

That looks really good man. Great job!

 

[ZumpTA]

Cool. Never seen one with T/As before.

 

[ZumpTA]

Tires make all the difference. I found a brand/model that let me dump the clutch at 80% throttle in the wet and still pull a hole-shot. Next time around to save $50 total I got the next model down. ...and now had a tire that required zero-throttle second gear starts in the wet and still could spin if I came off the clutch a little fast. Braking is reduced, and the weaker sidewalls see a lot of scrubbing and offer up a tons of understeer in return as well. NEVER skimp on tires. You can put $30,000 into your chassis and brakes and the wrong tires will negate every penny of it.