Not too many people can turn...
Not too many people can turn a factory paint job into a show-quality finish. Bill and Brenda Downing are the exceptions, as their small enhancements have set their '02 WS6 T/A apart.
A car guy who buys a Fourth-Gen Trans Am desires bold looks, lots of power, and a driving experience that is second to none. With all that going for it right out of the gate, how will he make it stand apart from others of the same breed? Some have taken pretty drastic measures to accomplish this goal, usually with mixed results. We've seen a few interesting Birds over the years that go completely over the top with mods in a specific area but are lacking in others.
The words tasteful and balanced come to mind when viewing Bill Downing's '02 WS6 T/A. At first glance, it looks like a clean, lightly modified WS6. Pull back its skin, however, and you'll find a new bone structure that has been fabricated by Bill, a manufacturing engineer.
The Madness Begins
Bill wanted a Trans Am since 1979, back when the Second-Gen was winding down but still had Pontiac powerplants available under the hood. But, alas, it wasn't to be. "I couldn't get one at the time, and then I had to wait until the kids were older so I could afford one," he says. In March 2006, Bill responded to an online ad he saw from Toy Barn, an auto dealer in Columbus, Ohio, that offered an alluring and right-priced Fourth-Gen for sale.
The taillights and center...
The taillights and center panel have been smoked out to give the Bird's back a darker look.
The automatic '02 Navy Blue Metalic WS6 was everything he had hoped for and it didn't show any of its 24,000 miles via wear and tear. Following the purchase, he quickly became a regular at local car shows with his future wife, Brenda, where they diligently detailed every inch of the metallic paint and dressed the tires. After being surrounded by plenty of custom rides at events, Bill began to explore the aftermarket for little tweaks to make his Bird stand out.
Easy bolt-ons came first: Pacesetter 1.75-inch long-tubes, Magnaflow 3-inch exhaust, and an intake lid stuffed with a K&N filter. From there, a 224/228-degree duration at 0.050, 0.585/0.589 lift, 112-degree LSA Comp Cam and supporting 918 springs and hardened pushrods were installed; the stock throttle body, heads, and ignition remained. The MAF was removed and Tracey Scott of Middletown Performance tuned the T/A for speed density and dialed in the TrickFlow 62-lb-hr injectors. This gave Bill's Bird a big power increase and got the wheels turning in his head regarding more intense mods.
The skilled craftsman quickly realized he wasn't content with slapping on the same parts anyone could order from a website or catalog. No, these modifications just wouldn't cut the mustard. "I decided to put my skills to good use and create parts for the car that would make it extremely unique and functional," he says.
The Wings West W-Type front...
The Wings West W-Type front air dam adds even more aggression to the front-end styling on this '02 WS6.
His first creation for the Downing monster was the intake air lid. The plastic lid was set aside as Bill mocked up a few pieces of aluminum to mimic the design and shape of one of the popular aftermarket lids. This was attached to the factory throttle body with smooth bellows leading into the paint-matched LS6 intake manifold.
Bill was pleased with the results and continued with several other parts aimed at enhancing the underhood appearance to passers-by at car shows. The open hood latch and headlight areas were closed off with more highly polished and precisely cut pieces of aluminum, and mirrors were placed under the factory resin-transfer-mold (RTM) hood. When it was all said and done, the entire engine bay looked as though Robocop had crafted the surroundings with a laser-a really clean-cut look.
The underhood mirrors are...
The underhood mirrors are a nice touch as they reflect the LS1 and accoutrements from nearly every angle.
A masterpiece of metal work...
A masterpiece of metal work looks as though it was etched out with lasers. In some cases, it was! The homemade chrome strut tower brace helps the front suspension do its job more effectively. Under all the glitz is a mildly modded LS1 with a hot cam and free-flowing exhaust. The combo is good for 11.85-second e.t.'s at 113 mph.
Here's a closer look at Bill's...
Here's a closer look at Bill's handiwork.