[2.3T_GT]

hey guys, its been a while since i posted on here but don't think i've given up on my GT. i started a new job not too long ago as a drillers helper and so time is now at an extreme premium since my work week is 21 days long and then i my weekend is 7 days long (kinda nice that part is). well i've managed to get the interior stripped out, the dash out, windshield removed, motor completely disconnected (but not removed yet), bumpers off, modded the front turn signals into fog lights and the front running lights into dual filament bulbs so i can use those for the turn signals.

i'm getting ready to drop out the motor and tranny but cant find a place that will rent out a lift for me to use. how hard is it to take out from the top an do i need to cut out the radiator support? is there any way to take the motor out with just using jackstands to lift the car up or will they not give enough room?

also, i have a 10 channel door solenoid kit from a previous car that i saved and would like to use. while i admittedly have not took the door's interior panels off and looked it over too hard, i noticed that it uses a latch system i'm not familiar with. anybody have any tips on a plausible set up?

and last but not least, i have bought a 21 circuit painless universal hot rod wiring harness. has anybody installed anything similar to this in their GT? i've got my certificate in electronics so i'm not too horribly worried about it. i was just wondering if anybody had any tips on optimal paths for the wiring harness or anything else to ease the installation

thanks again guys hope to hear from ya.

 

[nobody]

In the 2.0 thread there are some picks of a motor removal that was pretty quick and painless. I'm not going any farther than that in this issue.

Your going to have to compare compatability with the 2 systems you have as far as the door locks go.

 

[manyopels]

Eerie...

2.3 GT...
Any information you can provide as to manufacturer of the solenoid kit you plan on using on your door handles? I was about to post and ask if anyone else out there, perhaps in hot-rodderdom, could recommend where to find the hardware to shave the door handles.

If anybody out there has an opinion on a reputable, quality supplier of something that would work, I'd definitely like to hear about them.

 

[pvcar]

i do no the curve at the bottom portion of the gts door is the same curvature as the sheetmetall in front of the door on the piec all the way to the front tire. dont no if this could work at the top also if u cut a piece of sheet out of infront of the door on a parts car and grafted it into the door handle spot, im not really into the shaved doorhandel look.

 

[opelwasp]

instead of shaved handles, maybe handles from a miata would look cool and still serve there function.

 

[GTJohn73]

I was actually thinking of taking the approach of grafting the door handles of an older Geo Storm into the doors of a GT. It would have the smooth door with a paddle-type latch on the back jamb of the door itself and the indention for your hand to fit in the area of the body behind the door. What is the general consensus on this modification idea? Cool or Not?
It would almost give it a "shaved" look without the hassle of a selenoids.

- John

 

[Old Hippie]

Yes, I think paddle handles would look good IF you are doing a body mod (my #2 GT). "Stock the stock, Mod the mod" . I prefer the non-chrome style but that is a personal choise.
My 2c's

 

[saxybiker]

shaved door handles

I have had the door handles shaved on my current project. The poppers are located at the bottom of the door right where the door frame and the rear carpeted floor area come together. We just used a street rod kit, you can get them most anywhere.

Picture attached (I hope)

Vickie

 

[ging]

Dropping the motor

Heya Opeler,
This became the door handle thread fast, didn't it?
I am definitely NOT the most experienced person here for this sort of thing but I have been working on the crankshaft removal/replacement-some-day-god-help-me and don't have a shop to speak of. Believe me, you haven't lived until you've done this in a gravel drive. I have found out one thing. When the manuals talk about needing 24" or more clearance to drop the engine I don't think they were kidding. And jackstands? They just don't do it unless you have the jackstands from hell. Then you end up looking at the car sitting up in the air on those little posts thinking 'yea, I can get under that... it won't keel over... that center of gravity is just fine ... '. It certainly makes you go over your medical insurance with a fine tooth comb. Mine, obviously, is not on the jackstands. I also am not dropping the engine out all the way. Wish you could 'cradle' a car like you can a boat.
JMO, and as I said, I'm not the most knowledgeable here.
Best of luck and smooth sailing ahead of you (sorry),
Ging

 

[GTJohn73]

Geo Storm handles

Attached are some pictures of what I am talking about. Imagine how these would look on the GT body, giving the car that "smooth" look.

What do ya think?!?

- John

 

[GTJohn73]

Responses...

Any responses?!?... What do members think about the Geo Storm handle idea?

- John

 

[Old Hippie]

It is a very good looking setup. However, my personnal taste is still a paddle. Close enough not to change the body, different enought to catch the experienced eye.
My 2c's.

 

[GTJohn73]

"Paddle" handle...

Old Hippie -

Do you have any pics of what this paddle hanlde setup looks like on a car? Or maybe and example of what type of cars this came on? Let me know because it sound interesting.

- John