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2004 Pontiac GTO - Eye Candy For The Highway

Laying Some Sweet Rksport Body Toppings On A GTO
By Steve Temple
Photography by Steve Temple
2004 Pontiac Gto Finished
Here is the completed installation.... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Finished
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.
2004 Pontiac Gto Parts
The RKSport GTO ground-effects... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Parts
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.
2004 Pontiac Gto Diagram
Factory front fascia removal... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Diagram
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
2004 Pontiac Gto Screen
Before installing the RKSport... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Screen
Before installing the RKSport front bumper cover/air dam unit, screw the intake screen into the mounting tabs.
2004 Pontiac Gto Bumper
Install the new front fascia... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Bumper
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.
2004 Pontiac Gto Screws
Most of the panels can be... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Screws
Most of the panels can be attached with a simple factory sheetmetal screw or similar fastener.
2004 Pontiac Gto Side Skirt
When removing the factory... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Side Skirt
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.
2004 Pontiac Gto Fitment
The key to getting body mods... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Fitment
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.
2004 Pontiac Gto Rubber Seal
The new side skirts require... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Rubber Seal
The new side skirts require a rubber seal that needs to be inserted against the sheetmetal during installation.
2004 Pontiac Gto Rear Lip
RKSport's rear valance is... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Rear Lip
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.
2004 Pontiac Gto Screw
A screw at each end is all... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Screw
A screw at each end is all that's needed to secure the rear valance, according to RKSport.
2004 Pontiac Gto Cut Outs
Note the neat fit of the part... 
   
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2004 Pontiac Gto Cut Outs
Note the neat fit of the part and the smooth cutout for the exhaust tips.

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