criticisms (yes I welcome cirticisms 👈 . . ..this is how we grow)!

Spelled it 2 different ways, there's your criticism. Lol

Car looks good and curious to see how others modded their car so I can get ideas myself.

 

At least he didn't spell "circumcisions."

A lot of people have done the "stubby" antennae modification. I've never had an issue dropping the top but that's probably because I almost always do it from the drivers side.

Good luck with your mods - look forward to seeing the results!

 

At least he didn't spell "circumcisions."

A lot of people have done the "stubby" antennae modification. I've never had an issue dropping the top but that's probably because I almost always do it from the drivers side.

Good luck with your mods - look forward to seeing the results!

no pun intended??

 

I use 3" ones on mine. that way the car covers dont need holes and no issues getting in the way. that sure is a pretty one. I talked to a lady yesterday that has that color solstice. she needs a paint job. one side is dead. she said she got a quote for about $6000.

 

i'm not fond of the 'rubber ducky' antennas; but if they work, great.... i use the shorter Opal antenna for aesthetics, but i don't have a top to put down AND i unscrew the antenna when i put the cover on.

Bill

 

Is it a manual trans? The shift boot and knob are not really separable, so you may wish to plan for a boot and knob.
DDM sells one and there is an ebay vendor that makes a leather one as well.
There are forum threads on the topic worth reading..

 

It is a manual trans. I would have assumed (key word there - assume) the knob and boot are seperable. Judging by your post, I'm thinking it will probabby require some motivaiton. If it does take some extra work, I may just have a new boot made with stitching to match the OEM stuff.

I saw what DDM has on their site. I also saw their aluminum shift knob. What I didn't see was an option for orange stitching. There is a local trim shop that I've worked with in the past on various projects for other cars. If I decide to go that route, I'll have them custom make something.. . . ..but there is a LOT of other things I'll need to do, before I get to this point.

A few months ago, I bought a vacuum chamber / pump kit with the intention of making stabilized banksia pod parts for my GTO (banksia pods are sort of like pine cones, but are from Australia). I intend on making a bunch of parts (shift knobs, e-brake handles, as well as steering wheel spokes) for the VX/VZ platform, essentially the Pontiac GTO and Holden CV8 (Z).

 

Good idea. Looking forward to seeing what you end up doing.

RTE

 

in all honesty who even listens to the radio these days? If you want to listen to the radio almost all radio stations stream on either IHeart radio or from their website. There is really no need to have the antenna anyway.

 

I don't think you can stream to a stock radio.

 

The stock radio has an audio port. I used it to play an iPod. The right iPod can stream though I have not actually done that. I use satellite radio and my iPod via the USB port.

RTE

 

Congratulations on the find. What a beautiful car!

Eventually, I'll be making a shift handle and e-brake out of stabilized wood.

Interesting. Can you elaborate on that? Stabilized wood?

 

Congratulations on the find. What a beautiful car!


Interesting. Can you elaborate on that? Stabilized wood?

Why...YES I can.

Roughly 9 or 10 months ago, I purchased a vacuum pump and 5 gallon chamber. My intent was to (eventually) make some parts for my GTO. Specifically a shift knob, e-brake handle and either make a stabilized wood topped steering wheel or steering wheel spokes for my GTO. I also imported numerous banksia pods (which are sorta like pine cones) from New Zealand.
(I would upload a picture, but the forum has that blanked out...so that isn't happening right now)

Anyway, to stabilize wood, you soak the wood in a resin bath and pump the air out. When the vacuum is released, the air within the wood is replaced (impregnanted) with the resin. Depending on what type of resin you use (can harden over time, with heat, etc.) will cause the wood to become very stable. During the stabilization process, you can choose to use various dyes to either enhance the color of the wood, of completely make the wood a unique color (green, purple, red, orange, etc.). There are limitation of the dye, but depending on the dye you use, how long you vacuum the air out of it and whether or not you sand the surface down, will allow you to dye it more than just the one color.

Once the wood is stabilized, most or all of the air gaps within the cellular structure are gone. These air gaps are what allow for the wood to expand or contract with temperature and humidity. The air gaps also (over time) cause the wood to crack. When the wood is stabilized, it could last for decades or much much longer.

When used for gear shift knobs, the heat cycles of the sun of an interior will cause the wood to degrade and crack. The stabilization will help this last longer. Plus, I can impregnate the wood with black / orange and red dye.

 

By the way. This (rather expensive) antenna works perfectly and has increased the reception range for my car which had an aftermarket ~ 17" antenna.

Amazon.com: AntennaMastsRus - The Original 6 3/4 Inch is Compatible with Pontiac Solstice (2006-2009) - Car Wash Proof Short Rubber Antenna - Internal Copper Coil - Premium Reception - German Engineered : Electronics

Buy AntennaMastsRus - The Original 6 3/4 Inch is Compatible with Pontiac Solstice (2006-2009) - Car Wash Proof Short Rubber Antenna - Internal Copper Coil - Premium Reception - German Engineered: Antennas - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

I have my entire collection on my Sony Walkman (512 gb of storage) in loss-less format. Play it through the aux jack.

 

@Doc-Z

I've got the DDM boot and can measure it for you if needed. It's not too hard to separate

 

I suggest buying a used Solstice shifter to modify, and store the OEM away. Over the years there's been a lot of talk about removing and replacing the OEM manual knob, however I'm not having any luck on finding a thread that documents how it's precisely accomplished.
$126 + $35 S/H = $161

Manual Transmission Shifter Assembly Floor Mount Fits 06-08 Pontiac Solstice OEM | eBay

@cammerjeff might be able to give pointers on how to remove the manual shift knob. See his post and pics in this thread. He cut off the manual shift knob in order to install it on a Tremec 6 speed for his V8 conversion.

https://www.solsticeforum.com/threads/remove-a-stock-gearshift-knob.160642/

 

I suggest buying a used Solstice shifter to modify, and store the OEM away. Over the years there's been a lot of talk about removing and replacing the OEM manual knob, however I'm not having any luck on finding a thread that documents how it's precisely accomplished.
$126 + $35 S/H = $161

Manual Transmission Shifter Assembly Floor Mount Fits 06-08 Pontiac Solstice OEM | eBay

@cammerjeff might be able to give pointers on how to remove the manual shift knob. See his post and pics in this thread.



https://www.solsticeforum.com/threads/remove-a-stock-gearshift-knob.160642/

At $59 the DDM shift adapter will be cheaper and will still allow the OEM shifter and boot to be kept intact. I suppose a shift boot can be made to order by an upholstery shop fornleass than $100?

 

You're right about the rattle. I only managed to fix my shifter rattle when I had a shift rod made that would plug into the lower half of the OEM shifter rod -- it is one rod inserted into another, with a bit thick plastic/rubber bushing between the two that I imagine absorbs the vibrations.

 

Didn't you document that on the forum? I seem to remember reading about someone posting a solution for getting rid of the shifter rattle.

Sorry for the hijack Doc.

 

I like the rattle. I have a JPM shifter with a custom Armor Branch knob Joe made for me. It’s got a resonate frequency in second and third.
RTE

 

Another way is to add a heavier knob. It moves the frequency out of the range where it exhibits in normal driving

RTE

 

To make the car legal in Illinois, I had to remove the tint from the headlights, fogs/turn signals. I still have to dothe tail and backup lights, but this was really annoying.


BEFORE:

AFTER:

I like the after, my girlfriend like the before. I personally, like being able to see at night and not having to use my high beams in order to see the road.

 

The tinted lenses made the SE look too Halloween-ish. And as you pointed out they are a hazard. Nice to see the car returned to its intended look.

 

Nicely done

RTE

 

Looking good (er)!

 

Did I mention I like the rattle?

Acceptance makes life so much easier and less stressful

Lesson learned from 53 years of marriage.

RTE

 

(1) JPM Shifter install | Pontiac Solstice Forum

Dont click on any of the live links on this page but its a good procedure

RTE

 

and
(1) JPM Performance shifter | Pontiac Solstice Forum

RTE

 

I wasn't happy with the job I did on the passenger headlight, so I removed it and started over.

I managed to find a G.M Performance Parts Kappa intake from a guy in Rapid City, S.D.. I got this for (what I thought) was cheap.

I'm not sure if I want to install it, or put it on the side and wait for it to become more desirable. It is in really good shape.

I had one of these in my G5. I can't say whether or not it did anything. It did look better IMO and made the engine sound better. As far as added H.P.; I would be hard pressed to say yes to that. For what I paid for it, it would look nice in a frame on the wall next to the car.

 

I wasn't happy with the job I did on the passenger headlight, so I removed it and started over.

View attachment 139564

View attachment 139565

I managed to find a G.M Performance Parts Kappa intake from a guy in Rapid City, S.D.. I got this for (what I thought) was cheap.




View attachment 139567


I'm not sure if I want to install it, or put it on the side and wait for it to become more desirable. It is in really good shape.

I had one of these in my G5. I can't say whether or not it did anything. It did look better IMO and made the engine sound better. As far as added H.P.; I would be hard pressed to say yes to that. For what I paid for it, it would look nice in a frame on the wall next to the car.


View attachment 139569

View attachment 139570

I vote you slap it on and enjoy it brother. You only live once!
Its only true value is in that CARB sticker for folks that live in California.
Many others have noted the benefit (as you noted) is looks and sound. No real HP gains to be expected.
I will warn you to be gentle on the clamps as the thin pipe GM provided collapses pretty easily under torque. At least they did on the GMPP one i have on my GXP.

 

I like it

RTE