Vehicle Owner

Member ID: strc09

Location: Spring Lake, NC

Vehicle Info

1988 Pontiac Trans Am

Bought: Apr, 2005

Bragging Rights

  • 1/4 Mile14.71 sec @ 90 mph
  • 0-605.55sec
  • Top Speed154mph
  • HP273
  • Weight3260lbs

Major Upgrades

  • turbo
  • nitrous
  • bore increase
  • port and polish
  • supercharger
  • extrude honed
  • stroke increase
  • engine swap

Ratings

    • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
    • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.

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Last updated: Nov 15, 2009

Hits: 19,341

Patrick’s Pontiac Trans Am
“Vader”

  • Currently 3.8466666666666 /5 Stars.
120 guestbook comments

Welcome to my CarDomain site.

My name is Patrick and this site is dedicated to my ride, Vader, a 1988 Pontiac Trans AM GTA. This makes my sixth Firebird/Trans AM that I've own over the course of my life. Each of Vader's predecessors slipped thru my grasp due to one pitfall or another in my life, but I think this one is here to stay. I'm an avid F-Body enthusiast who loves to tinker and drive this awesome machine. Such a thrill. Vader isn't perfect, but this fine GTA still manages to turn a few heads on occasion...even after 20-years. :)

Before you get to far into my CarDomain site...if you're an enthusiast like me and live in the Fayetteville, North Carolina area be sure to check out my car club, "Fayetteville F-Body".

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New stuff added to my CarDomain site!  Check out the new pictures and the mods on my modifications pages.  I've also added some new pictures and a video of Vader at play on the Track and at Play page and on the Car Shows and Events page.  Continue watching Vader's transformation and restoration as it happens right here on my CarDomain page.  Also, please don't forget to rate my ride and I'll do the same for you.  Thanks for checking out my site.
Nominate Vader for

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Enjoy my CarDomain page...

 

strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am


My smiley symbol. I created this image in 1996 when I was overseas in Hungary to initially be used as a tattoo. I got the tattoo. I generally paste it up as my identifier. This image will generally be located somewhere on stuff I own.

 

 

strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am


My car's namesake...the evil one himself; Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith (Darth Vader copyright 2006, Lucasfilm, Ltd.) I love this wallpaper. :)

 

strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Amstrc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am
These were taken right after I got my GTA. I hate that tacky looking gold pinstripe on the car. Hideous. Why would someone put pinstripe on a car? It looks so much cleaner without it. Dunno...will it stay or will it go? Hmmmm.

strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Amstrc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am
Yup...it had to come off. The pinstripe wasn't in great condition to begin with and came off easily in the North Carolina heat/humidity. Just a little time consuming. I believe it took me about an hour and half to get it all off the car.

 

strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am


It looks so much nicer without the tacky looking gold pinstripe on the car. Nice and clean looking now. I like this a lot more. :)

 

 

strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am

 

strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am


Me posing with Vader a few days after I purchased the car. A clean ride. The GenIII body style F-Body has always been my favorite of them all. I've owned GenII thru GenIV and I always come back to the GenIII. This car makes my third GenIII car.

 

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Some info on Vader (stock):
- 1988 Pontiac Trans AM GTA (Grand Turismo Americana)
- L98 Tune-port fuel injected 350ci (Courtesy of the Vette)
- TH700-R4 Overdrive transmission (Yeah well...it didn't come any other way with the L98, which sucks.)
- WS6 Performance Suspension
- Four-wheel power disc brakes (A nice bonus)
- Borg-Warner 9-bolt rear axle w/3.27:1 gear ratio
- Gunmetal Gray exterior color (Sweet!)
- Charcoal/black interior color (Matches the outside.)
- Digital dash and gages (Not all it's cracked up to be.)

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strc09's 1988 Pontiac Trans Am

 

GTA Fact:
There were 9,765 1988 Pontiac Trans AM GTAs produced in 1988. Of those 9,765 GTAs 6,913 of them had the B2L / L98 5.7L V8 option. Also, of those cars only 930 Gunmetal Metallic GTAs where produced in 1988. Furthermore, there were a total of 1,770 GTAs produced in this color for the duration of the run on this model between 1987 and 1992 (Courtesy of The GTA Source Page).
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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: RPO and Technical Data
Page 3: How RARE is it?
Page 4: Photography of Vader...part one
Page 5: Photography of Vader...part two
Page 6: Photography of Vader...part three
Page 7: Vader's Heart
Page 8: Inside Vader
Page 9: Modifications, Upgrades, and Repair...part one
Page 10: Modifications, Upgrades, and Repair...part two
Page 11: Modifications, Upgrades, and Repair...part three
Page 12: Modifications, Upgrades, and Repair...part four
Page 13: Literature and Awards
Page 14: Car Shows and Events
Page 15: The Track and at Play
Page 16: My other Firebirds

Guestbook

Displaying entries 1-5 of 120

EricShoHo  

Posted by: EricShoHo

11/15/2009 08:30AM

WOW beautiful GTA...I like the hood,and it looks super clean,easy 5*****s from me!

Joes87GT  

Posted by: Joes87GT

11/15/2009 07:54AM

whoa, what a trans! Super clean. Nice job pullin the numbers on your car, haha, perhaps inspiration for me to do the same for mine! I'll tell you to keep up the good work with no doubt that you wouldn't have it any other way! 5*

laspiedras  

Posted by: laspiedras

11/15/2009 05:22AM

Sweet Looking Ride, luv all of the mods rims very clean nice job. Def. 5***** for sure.

donnyh18  

Posted by: donnyh18

10/05/2009 08:03AM

looks good. check out my car and let me know what you think.

kaefergarage  

Posted by: kaefergarage

09/21/2009 06:50AM

Your calculation about the rarity of your car is pretty cool. Maybe I should do this to. I think the main point is, that you have no T-Top (mine as well). I think the most had it. I like it without T-Tops anyway because the design looks much better. Nothing disturbs the lines. Very nice. I own a 1988 Formula without any electrical stuff and: no T-Top. For that I'm a German I have the export variation. no miles or Fahrenheit you know. I think that makes my Formula even rare. Nice car and 5* for all the work you've done

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: strc09

Location: Spring Lake, NC