A mechanic in Bangladesh makes ordinary cars look like famous sports cars in his garage in Dhaka. He made a Honda into an F50, stretched a Nissan and added a 2.8 litre engine to make a stretch limousine and made a Lamborghini out of a Toyota. Give the man a production line car and he will make it into an exotic car you always wanted, but could not afford.
Can it be done for a 1982 Trans Am? I have heard of all the problems the cars create, be it breakdowns or fuel-inefficiency. Can a production line car that takes care of those problems be remodeled into a Trans Am? It may not feel like one, but that may be a good thing. Good for all those who want to do a KITT replica but are afraid of frequent breakdowns.
If it can be done, what would be the best base car?
Can it be done for a 1982 Trans Am?
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aussieknight
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Arjun
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Here is an article about this mechanic on the BBC News site. I have even seen the video on BBCWorld.
The Lamborghini is a slightly loose copy, though the F50 is a lot closer, and both are missing their retractable headlamps- these use the auxillary ones instead. The mounting of an engine at the back will be difficult, but since the Trans Am has its engine in front (or does it?), it should not matter.
Another issue is the wheel size. The cars in Dhaka amy not have wheels that big, but not too many cars that I see on the streets have big wheels. Does anyone have hints on what to do here? In the US, you'll get cars of all shapes and sizes, I guess.
How many seats do most of these cars have? They're imported second hand from Japan and the sports cars he makes have only 2 seats. That wouldbe a waste of 2 seats. Luckily, the Trans Am is a 4-seater, where the front seats fold back.
The interiors will be a lot more difficult to make, especially the KITT dash.
What can be used to make the body of the car? In a popular hobby known as Kit car making (how about a KITT car?), they buy specially designed car exteriors and mount it on a production line car chassis. This Lamborghini fan built his car body from scratch. The Trans Am may be easier to build. However, there are no blueprints for design. Many might even consider making a Trans Am kit car a step down. But of course, given the kind of problems the car gives- frequent breakdowns, bad fuel efficiency, I thought we can use the chassis and engine of a car that will be more useful and mount the body of a car we have always wanted, on it. A lot less expensive to make and run, isn't it?
The Lamborghini is a slightly loose copy, though the F50 is a lot closer, and both are missing their retractable headlamps- these use the auxillary ones instead. The mounting of an engine at the back will be difficult, but since the Trans Am has its engine in front (or does it?), it should not matter.
Another issue is the wheel size. The cars in Dhaka amy not have wheels that big, but not too many cars that I see on the streets have big wheels. Does anyone have hints on what to do here? In the US, you'll get cars of all shapes and sizes, I guess.
How many seats do most of these cars have? They're imported second hand from Japan and the sports cars he makes have only 2 seats. That wouldbe a waste of 2 seats. Luckily, the Trans Am is a 4-seater, where the front seats fold back.
The interiors will be a lot more difficult to make, especially the KITT dash.
What can be used to make the body of the car? In a popular hobby known as Kit car making (how about a KITT car?), they buy specially designed car exteriors and mount it on a production line car chassis. This Lamborghini fan built his car body from scratch. The Trans Am may be easier to build. However, there are no blueprints for design. Many might even consider making a Trans Am kit car a step down. But of course, given the kind of problems the car gives- frequent breakdowns, bad fuel efficiency, I thought we can use the chassis and engine of a car that will be more useful and mount the body of a car we have always wanted, on it. A lot less expensive to make and run, isn't it?
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Arjun
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Would you go in for a Trans Am makeover for another more reliable, problem-free car? Worth a try. You then have a car that looks like a Trans Am, but is not so much a pain in the neck to own.
You must have heard of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche kits, which can be fitted over cars such as the Fiero, to get lookalikes of the famous sports cars for cheap prices. Have Trans Am kit cars ever been made?
Is this a Trans Am kit?
You must have heard of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche kits, which can be fitted over cars such as the Fiero, to get lookalikes of the famous sports cars for cheap prices. Have Trans Am kit cars ever been made?
Is this a Trans Am kit?
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Arjun
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Probably mould a Trans Am kit out of metal or fibreglass or a polymer, which can fit on the insides and undersides of a normal car available locally, get a stripped-down version of that car (or open up the car yourself), then fit that kit on the car. You then have a Trans Am replica.citizen_x wrote:sounds weird to me
how it can be done? it doesn't make any sense
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citizen_x
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Nice, but the whole process may cost alot more than building your own K.I.T.T replica - don't you think so?Arjun wrote:Probably mould a Trans Am kit out of metal or fibreglass or a polymer, which can fit on the insides and undersides of a normal car available locally, get a stripped-down version of that car (or open up the car yourself), then fit that kit on the car. You then have a Trans Am replica.citizen_x wrote:sounds weird to me
how it can be done? it doesn't make any sense
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Lost Knight
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FuzzieDice
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But YMMV and all that. -
Lost Knight
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FuzzyDice- I guess it just goes by anyone's personal experience with cars. Old cars no matter what brand they are can be a real pain. I have an '86 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 8 cylender with a 307 engine. Constant leaks, burns oil like crazy, not very fuel efficient, etc. But it's still running (knocking on wood) 
If you want to buy a Trans Am and make a K.I.T.T. replica, you just have to be prepared to maintain the car regularly, unless you can make a kit car like what was being discussed earlier.
If you want to buy a Trans Am and make a K.I.T.T. replica, you just have to be prepared to maintain the car regularly, unless you can make a kit car like what was being discussed earlier.“Gimme maximum turbo thrust and blast me outta here, will ya!?”
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Arjun
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Not this one. I remember linking one page where a 1992 Firebird was converted to a Ferrari (mid size or full size?) and was up for sale, but here, they use Fieros and VW's.The point of the post though was that a Firebird was made into a Ferrari.
It will cost as much as building your own car. A better idea would be to start from scratch with parts and assemble one.Nice, but the whole process may cost alot more than building your own K.I.T.T replica - don't you think so?
About the Camaro, the car is out of production, and maintaining these cars may not be easy. The idea here was to make a problem-free KITT replica. A more recent, more reliable two-door car can be modified by adjusting the chassis area, wheelbase, front/rear tread and the furniture. Changes would just be cosmetic, wouldn't they?
A lot of sites are advertising Wings West body kits for the Firebird, but none of them are the Third Generation kits- all cover the 92-02 range! Looks like you have to make your own kit if you want a 1982 Trans Am!
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pewter 02ws6
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i hate to inform you but ever since 1982 to 2002,the mechanics of the camaro and trans am are identical.even the basic body platforms are identical.the only difference between them are the very back,very front,hood and some minor interior differences and to say you would trust chevy over pontiac is unusual being as all of the parts are produced by the same manufacturer,GMLost Knight wrote:Try building the replica out of the Trans Am's "sister" car, the Camaro. I would trust Chevy over Pontiac. I'm sure the old Camaros have similar problems but I have not heard of those as much as the old Trans Ams.
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MonteDoran74
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I believe that any KITT/KARR vehicles
are only F-body style 3rd generation
Pontiac Firebird/TransAms from 1982 - 1992.
That's the main reasons why i hate Gm dealerships
companies, they discontinued in 2003 all parts
and even the vehicles of Firebirds and Camaros.
Im looking for a 350engine harness
T-top headliner and so on....all discontinued.
now, im either gotta search thru salvage yards,
or ebay motors, and thats nothing but a hassel.
n e ways,...
That's one mistake that GM motors made,
in building these crackerjack, plastic type cars,
cuz if u are in an accident, u might as well, buy another
car, one thing for sure, i thank GOD im still
alive, because the car was and is the safest, strongest
car in the world (as Devon Miles) put it best.
Back in the days, where cars were REAL cars
classic and muscle cars, if u did get in an accident,
you would walk away in one piece and as for the car,
you might've had at least a fender-bender at the most.
Dont mind me, im a little hot headed right now....
but anyone who use to own a real car, and/or still
does, knows exactly where im coming from.
But yes, as i was saying earlier,
KITT and KARR, (F-body style) even the Fiero,
82-92, and i also believe that they discontinued these
cars, cuz i think they knew (GM) that KR is making
a HUGE comeback with a movie.
are only F-body style 3rd generation
Pontiac Firebird/TransAms from 1982 - 1992.
That's the main reasons why i hate Gm dealerships
companies, they discontinued in 2003 all parts
and even the vehicles of Firebirds and Camaros.
Im looking for a 350engine harness
T-top headliner and so on....all discontinued.
now, im either gotta search thru salvage yards,
or ebay motors, and thats nothing but a hassel.
n e ways,...
That's one mistake that GM motors made,
in building these crackerjack, plastic type cars,
cuz if u are in an accident, u might as well, buy another
car, one thing for sure, i thank GOD im still
alive, because the car was and is the safest, strongest
car in the world (as Devon Miles) put it best.
Back in the days, where cars were REAL cars
classic and muscle cars, if u did get in an accident,
you would walk away in one piece and as for the car,
you might've had at least a fender-bender at the most.
Dont mind me, im a little hot headed right now....
but anyone who use to own a real car, and/or still
does, knows exactly where im coming from.
But yes, as i was saying earlier,
KITT and KARR, (F-body style) even the Fiero,
82-92, and i also believe that they discontinued these
cars, cuz i think they knew (GM) that KR is making
a HUGE comeback with a movie.
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MonteDoran74
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me again,
Id forgot my little KARR testimony,
since i didnt have enough money to buy a FIREBIRD
i had a transportation car, (90 chevrolet corsica)
now, i know where everybody is gonna say, how
in the world can u make KITT into a Corsica?
If u seen the flopped tv-movie KR2000
where KITT didnt turbo boost, nor crashed through walls, etc....
nor KITT wasnt a black TRANSAM,
in the movie, KITT or KIFT (knight industries 4000)
was refitted into a RED Pontiac Banshee,
but before that, KITT was in a 57 Chevy, only the voicebox,
the tv monitor, and the front scanner.
My KARR (2.2liter 4cyl) engine Corsica light blue
had JC Whitney s scanner light bar, that's it, the car was short-lived
due to a blown headgasket, but you can style ur vehicle
the way how you wanted, it's your world, i mean,
if you have any vehicle that has a grille front like the Corsica,
or if you have a vehicle with a rectangular grille that
will fit the light bar....go for it, that's just an observation idea.
NOw, that i have a 2nd Firebird, after the loss of my
TransAm (from an car accident in July 04), ive bought
a custom front, a scanner, and when im working more hours
or lucky to win the lotto or sumthin....then i can design my
very own KARR.
Id forgot my little KARR testimony,
since i didnt have enough money to buy a FIREBIRD
i had a transportation car, (90 chevrolet corsica)
now, i know where everybody is gonna say, how
in the world can u make KITT into a Corsica?
If u seen the flopped tv-movie KR2000
where KITT didnt turbo boost, nor crashed through walls, etc....
nor KITT wasnt a black TRANSAM,
in the movie, KITT or KIFT (knight industries 4000)
was refitted into a RED Pontiac Banshee,
but before that, KITT was in a 57 Chevy, only the voicebox,
the tv monitor, and the front scanner.
My KARR (2.2liter 4cyl) engine Corsica light blue
had JC Whitney s scanner light bar, that's it, the car was short-lived
due to a blown headgasket, but you can style ur vehicle
the way how you wanted, it's your world, i mean,
if you have any vehicle that has a grille front like the Corsica,
or if you have a vehicle with a rectangular grille that
will fit the light bar....go for it, that's just an observation idea.
NOw, that i have a 2nd Firebird, after the loss of my
TransAm (from an car accident in July 04), ive bought
a custom front, a scanner, and when im working more hours
or lucky to win the lotto or sumthin....then i can design my
very own KARR.
