As much as we savored the performance of the '04 GTO, our first impression of the styling was that it's less than exciting. Even though its smooth, rounded lines look clean, they don't have the edge (literally) seen in the glory days of the Tiger. A sweet shape, yes, but plain vanilla comes to mind. Maybe just a few toppings to sweeten things up would help, courtesy of RKSport, a company that fittingly calls itself "the styling and performance candy store."
Here is the completed installation....
Here is the completed installation. Note the fit and finish and the aggressive character that the GTO now exhibits. This particular '04 GTO was featured in the October '05 issue of HPP ("Yesterday and Today Tigers"). Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's discuss the installation of the RKSport body parts.
The RKSport GTO ground-effects...
The RKSport GTO ground-effects package comes with the front bumper cover/air dam, side skirts, and a rear valance. The three-piece GTO rear spoiler and GTO ram air hood are ordered separately. All employ OEM-style mounting hardware.
Factory front fascia removal...
Factory front fascia removal procedure: First, remove the three Phillips-head screws holding the fascia under the hood, then disconnect the parking light/foglight harness located at point No. 1. Next, take out the two Phillips-head screws that attach the fascia to the fenderwell area (shown as No. 3 and No. 4) and then gently pull the fascia away from the Pontiac until the first two horizontal clips are free from the plastic retainer (shown as No. 2). At point No. 5 there is a vertical clip right next to the horizontal clips that were just removed. Push the fascia toward the back of the Pontiac and up at the same time, and gently rock it until it unclips. If you decide to simply pull it out, there is a good chance you will break the clip on the fascia. - Chris White
Adding body mods is not as simple as you might think, though. We've seen a lot of aero kits over the years, and they don't always simply bolt on. Custom fitting and shaving of the parts is sometimes required. Also, in some extreme cases, the styling may distract from, rather than enhance, the lines of the production car.
Before installing the RKSport...
Before installing the RKSport front bumper cover/air dam unit, screw the intake screen into the mounting tabs.
Install the new front fascia...
Install the new front fascia by reversing the removal steps presented above. Parts can be painted beforehand, but you'll have to be more careful when fitting them.
Most of the panels can be...
Most of the panels can be attached with a simple factory sheetmetal screw or similar fastener.
Fortunately, we encountered none of those problems with this nicely styled GTO ground-effects package from RKSport. Experience counts here, because Bob Smith, the head of RKSport, successfully raced a number of vehicles (including Pontiacs), and he has a lot of hands-on knowledge about this type of body conversion. In the competition field, ground effects have a functional aspect that their form must follow. And they have to fit properly and securely for track duty.
When removing the factory...
When removing the factory side skirts, note the screw size and type that comes out of each hole because they will be reused in the same locations with the installation of the RKSport side skirts.
The key to getting body mods...
The key to getting body mods to look right is in the details, especially around wheelwells and seams. Make sure they line up evenly. Fortunately, the RKSport components self-align, so there's a minimum of adjustment needed.
The new side skirts require...
The new side skirts require a rubber seal that needs to be inserted against the sheetmetal during installation.
All of which means the body kit from RKSport not only looks right, but goes on easily as well. When Smith founded the company back in the early '90s, he was one of the first to use urethane instead of fiberglass components, which allows for a smoother fit. Note that when painting these urethane parts, a flex agent has to be added to the paint so it won't crack. (For purposes of illustration, we installed parts that had already been painted, but painting them separately is not required.)
RKSport's rear valance is...
RKSport's rear valance is simply an overlay that attaches around the factory valance and provides dual exhaust outlets. You can see here that the GTO was already fitted with dual outlet exhaust so the factory valance was trimmed to allow the driver-side pipes to exit properly. Of course, the new valance cleans up the area completely once it's installed. The RKSport piece fits right into a groove in the factory bumper cover, simplifying installation and alignment.
A screw at each end is all...
A screw at each end is all that's needed to secure the rear valance, according to RKSport.
Note the neat fit of the part...
Note the neat fit of the part and the smooth cutout for the exhaust tips.