This jaw-dropping T/A features ground effects and a hood from an '89 GTA.
"The only difficulty in this project was the '98 wiring harness," Flannery confides. "It was not a stand-alone. I was told by Hawks that they could edit the wiring harness to make it work. I integrated the edited wiring harness to the '91 dash and used a converter box from Hawks to modify the speedometer and tach signals into a format that is recognized by my speedo and tach." The harness sends/receives the signal from a '98 T/A ECM, which was custom tuned by Shocker Inc. Racing, of Lexington, Kentucky.
Suspension And Rolling Stock
For a ride the Third-Gen Trans Ams never came with, Flannery outfitted his T/A with the Air Ride Technologies' RidePROe2(r) (ARC4000e2) Compressor System to control the Cool Ride air springs at the four corners. It allows the T/A to lower its ride height and improve the ride quality and performance capabilities of the suspension-all at the flip of a switch. "I wanted the Trans Am to have a low stance. With Air Ride, I can raise the car to transport it, and lower it for shows. To top it all off, the Air Ride suspension gives the Pontiac an incredibly smooth ride. I never imagined a Trans Am could ride so nicely."
Cool Ride air springs and Baer EradiSpeed 13-inch rotors with Corvette C5 Z06 dual-piston calipers are installed up front with stock '98 T/A brakes featuring drilled and slotted rotors and air springs at the rear. Flannery modified the front A-arms and K-member to make the air springs fit correctly.
UMI subframe connectors decrease body flex, and Energy Suspension urethane bushings limit deflection at the suspension attaching points.
Custom wheels continue the radical theme of this '84 T/A: Boze ZE forged mesh with gunmetal finish and custom engraved center caps in 18x8 and 18x9.5 sizes are wrapped in BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDW 225/45ZR18 and Drag Radial 275/35R18 rubber.
Conclusion
With success proven by his Best of Show trophy, Flannery comfortably looks back at the long road taken to get to Dayton, Ohio, and the Trans Am Nationals. "It took a lot of long nights, hard work, and money, but I achieved my goal. I have always liked Third-Gens, and I wanted to build one to show people that they can be made into nice cars and are not just junk.
"I have learned so much through this build that will be very valuable. The most important thing is just how much work, time and money it takes to completely build a car yourself. I don't know if I will ever build one of this magnitude for myself again, or have the chance, but I have enjoyed it, the people that I have met, and the opportunities it has brought me. Not only did I build this car at a young age, but I did it going to college full-time in the morning and working a full-time second-shift job 10 hours each night. I am currently finishing up my second and third degrees. If I want to keep building Pontiacs like this, I need to stay on top of my education so I can afford this hobby."