The SC/T at its first track...
The SC/T at its first track outing at Norwalk Raceway Park during our front wheel drive shootout.
The Pontiac Grand Am for many years has been one of General Motors top selling cars, and for good reason. It offers a healthy dose of performance in a curvy package for a great price. The current generation Grand Am GT is equipped with a 3.4L pushrod engine pumping out 175 hp and has 205 ft-lb of torque on tap, which makes for a great overall driving experience.
Any of you who followed along with our Grand Prix X-P buildup know that I can't leave well enough alone and this Grand Am GT with the SC/T look is no exception. It started life as a '02 Grand Am GT coupe purchased from Bob Sellers Pontiac/GMC in Farmington Hills, Michigan (I highly recommend this dealership, the sales and service are exceptional!). No sooner did we get it home, we started tinkering with it. The first thing we set out to do was set this Grand Am apart from the rest on the road. Jace Stokes and the Grand Am brand team had the perfect answer. They were kind enough to donate an SC/T hood and spoiler (RPO PDE for both on a new Grand Am for a $140 savings, or T50 and D81 for the hood and spoiler respectively when ordered through your dealership's parts department).
The SC/T hood and spoiler gave the Grand Am an aggressive look without being too flashy, just what we were after while continuing the Pontiac's perfect balance of form and function. Speaking of function, the hood is not functional, however if you choose to you may remove the hood block plates for extra cooling as we did.
Next came another visual cue to identify the SC/T from other Grand Am's on the road. We had our friends at Reflective Concepts (www.reflectiveconcepts.com) create some custom door panel and trunk lid "Grand Am SC/T" graphics. These graphics are made from top shelf reflective vinyl with a light silver background and a purple foreground for a tasteful, yet stunning, look. Reflective Concepts was the originator of reflective inlays for Pontiac vehicles as well as being the first to be GM Licensed to use such logos.
After upgrading the exterior to look fast, we had to back it up with some power. Hence this story. An APOC intake and SLP Loudmouth Exhaust system will be installed and tested. So follow along as we show you how to take your '99-03 Grand Am to a new level of performance in one weekend!
Our SLP loudmouth exhaust...
Our SLP loudmouth exhaust (PN 31027) is constructed of 2.5-inch mandrel-bent stainless steel with a single inlet, dual outlet, muffler as well as polished quad tips for a sporty look.
It's a good idea to do this...
It's a good idea to do this in a shop with a lift if you have access to one because it's much easier, but the exhaust can be installed on jack stands in a pinch. Here we have the SC/T up on the lift and ready for surgery. You can clearly see how restrictive the stock muffler is from this angle.
To take out the original cat...
To take out the original cat back exhaust, remove the three bolts securing the exhaust to the down pipe and catalyst.
Preferably using a Sawzall...
Preferably using a Sawzall or other saw, cut the pipe leading to the muffler on the front side of the cradle. We used a die grinder because I forgot we needed a Sawzall for this installation so don't follow my lead on this one. The exhaust does not necessarily need to be cut to be removed, but you would have to drop the entire rear cradle to get it out otherwise, we did not feel like investing that extra time.
You can now unhook the stock...
You can now unhook the stock exhaust system from its hangers...
...and remove it from the...
...and remove it from the vehicle (it may help to spray Windex or another fluid onto the hangers to help remove the hooks). This is not a two person job per se, but it sure helps to have a partner!