the209bnr

I accidentally ran it out of gas the other day (filled it up and ran like garbage so i figured it was a bad tank of gas) and I was only able to fit about 13 gallons max into it..

fixed a minimal rear end leak, changed the plugs on it and found that two of them weren't so good, one was completely covered in carbon crap.. (used some e3's) and now it runs like a monster.. (ill have pics up later tonight or tomorrow after work)

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

I really don't think it's a big deal about the bumper. You mentioned earlier about the "bondo" on the frame and gas tank.
Does the tank leak?
How does it drive?
How is the alignment??
Does it dog track?

blackfrontier

iTrader: (1)

I have an 82 Trans Am front bumper. anyone know if this will work on an 87 Firebird?

gman1989

i guess the previous owner replaced the gas tank with a smaller one before i bought it oh well

gman1989

this is my 83 i think i already posted pics but just thought i'd post again all i paid for it was $50 last august with only 83xxx on the odometer

the209bnr

Call me an Idiot but what does Dog Track mean? lol.. It handles and runs fine.. only thing that worries me is it gets warm (gauge goes up) when im sitting at a traffic light or stop sign, but once i get going the gauge goes down and starts running cool again. I need to have it re-aligned as the steering wheel is slightly off centered but it drives in a straight line and it doesn't leak any fuel (thank god)





(bondo on tank)

MAC_87

iTrader: (3)

I'm surprised I haven't seen you around town yet. thats an amazing looking bird, congrats

the209bnr

I always see 'Maro's but rarely firebirds or T/A's.. saw a few parked around town (firebirds and one t/a) but I see the camaro's everywhere lol.. There is this one camaro, similar color scheme like mine I've seen around down that I can't help but stare at it every time I see it.. you've might have seen it its a drop top.

(i stay out on the east side of Modesto, near Johansen High)

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

The rear bumper impact bar has red paint and a VIN ID sticker on it which wasn't used until the late '80s. The car obviously got rear ended some point in the past.

MAC_87

iTrader: (3)

Yeah I'm kinda over towards Enochs. if the vert youre talkin about needs some cosmetic work (ie paint + missing a few parts) then yeah ive seen it. have you seen the white 91/92 z28? its ridiculously clean. i drool every time it drives by.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

Good eye. Yea, the OP said the car had a salvage title, which wouldn't be issued if there was just a parking lot mishap. He bought at a low enough price point so long as it's repairable and the car can be aligned, though I'd be leery of investing any substantial money into it unless I was going to keep it forever, as the salvage title will keep the value low even if repaired perfectly.

the209bnr

Yeah, i noticed that too. the "idiot" who repaired it used a different rear impact bar and It was something I didn't catch until a few weeks after my purchase.

I love the car. But if I find another 84 I'm going to purchase it and built that one up since it will have a higher value than my original one

MAC_87

iTrader: (3)

what difference does the "value" make if youre planning to keep the car?, what "value" do you need it to have besides being able to say its an 84 T/A in excellent condition?

the209bnr

True. I never thought of it that way.

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

It might be the ideal car to build up since building will not necessarily increase it's value.

SolarGoldRaptor

That's a great looking Trans Am. Keep it stock if you can, too bad for the rear end damage though.
And Lear Siegler leather seats are very RARE.

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

I agree with keeping it "stock". Tweak the engine, exhaust, stiffen the suspension maybe, but don't butcher the car. They came from the factory to handle very good. Which engine do you have?

DonMega3000

It all depends whats under the skirt (hood) right?! from looking at it, seems like its pretty clean

blackfrontier

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, pretty clean, well shaved and tight!

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

My inner Beavis is laughing pretty hard right now

DonMega3000

Somebody help me get a custom center console that fits my 85

blackfrontier

iTrader: (1)

You want a different console from stock? I have original consoles laying around both Camaro and Firebird.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

Just an FYI, proper message board ettiquitte would be to start your own thread rather than write your own unrelated post in someone else's thread. It'll get you more responses that way as well.

DonMega3000

Well Jerem, this site isnt as easy as facebook to me so i work with whats working.

DonMega3000

what ya want for it? the console? any pics?

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I see you're new here and I was trying to help.

blackfrontier

iTrader: (1)

Yep he's right about that so if if anyone needs console parts just send me a private message instead of posting on this thread.

DonMega3000

Naw it wasn't meant like that. it's all good, I know you wasn't being a jerk. and I thank you for the insight.

the209bnr

It's all good, here's some more pictures and a small video clip (right after I fired it up this morning).. The rear bumper sticker was put on the wrong side and is the wrong kind (another goof up by whomever did the repair of the vehicle) and the fender alignment isn't perfect either :-/ but if any of you can point anything out about the way its running can you please let me know? (Im a newbie when it comes to 3rd Gens)















<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TANG3-CHxEs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

the209bnr

the209bnr

Click the post below, it should load up a video.. or you can view it here.. http://youtu.be/TANG3-CHxEs

the209bnr

I saw it yesterday, I actually put the handling of my vehicle to a test trying to catch up to it. the plates had a L?1 (i dont remember what the #or letter was at the end of it). We both threw thumbs up at each other and proceeded to go on our way.. That is one super clean z28.. I also drooled lol

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

From the pics you posted, it looks like a very nice bird! Nice tips!

MAC_87

iTrader: (3)

big tips and a gold chevy bowtie in back where the trailer hitch goes?
i still have yet to see ur bird! lol

the209bnr

Help, two weeks after i fixed a vaccum line leak and changed the plugs the car once again is running like ****. Sounds like its misfiring and feels like its lacking power. Only thing i've noticed it right before when I'd try and give it some gas it would sputter for a second then pick up like usual and now it back fires when I first put it in drive?

Tonygxp

my 84 l69 Z28 would heat the fuel up pretty good while parked and would then hesitate upon driving the car again for a couple of minutes. i used some insulation around the fuel line near the carb and it fixed the problem. probably what you experienced that day you spoke of. GM actually discontinued the L69 for that heat soaked fuel line problem (which could've been easily remedied lol (i think in early '86 iirc?)

Beautiful car, live and learn with the whole salvage "light hit" nonsense. And it could've been hit while parked, hit good enough to smack the frame rail. must've taken a pretty hard shot though? Didn't take much to wreck these cars in an accident. if it drives straight that's really all that matters. HAVE a body guy look at it and let you know what he can do to make it right (reinforce it with some plate steel?)

MAC_87

iTrader: (3)

Idk, but you might want to make a new thread for this to get analyzed and diagnosed a little faster than this post.

I suggest rechecking the vac hoses you did, perhaps it wiggled loose.

burnout88

You did not get a good deal. Frame damage, a hack job fix, and salvage title and now you got something wrong with the motor. You honestly think you could resale if for what you paid for it right now?

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

If it looks good, and is repaired so it drives and handles like it should,, then so what? The engine problem could be a minor problem, as everyone who owns a third gen has had.

the209bnr

Changing the Distributor cap and rotor with MSD ones as well as changing the wires with some ACCEL Performance wires.. (these http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...94_92174_2268_) do you think it will make a difference on how it runs?

MAC_87

iTrader: (3)

Of course

the209bnr

Update.. Changed the distributor cap, rotor and coil with MSD ones, (the cap i had to use a generic one for now due to budget constrains) the wires with some bosh platinum from Autozone and made sure the E3 plugs i had just put in it were good.. and problem solved.. the cap and rotor were shot, the coil looked good but i switched it out anyways and the wires also were crap..

Runs a hell of a lot better now

the209bnr

More up to date video.. http://youtu.be/UFbz3Cj8QJI

the209bnr

TWO MORE

http://youtu.be/gEAmagARkfo

http://youtu.be/Rb4Z_u-qink

the209bnr

bump

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

Sounds very sweet. Nice rumble. What exhaust do you have?

MAC_87

iTrader: (3)

the idle sounds a LOT better in real life than on that video. holy crap!
its truely an amazing looking car

84TransAmNY

Hey nice car man. Sorry bout all the issues that you found with the car. If you like it enough keep it and make what you can with it. The longer you keep it, it might be worth something even with the salvage title. Fix it right and it's still got some value with all the options it has. I like my 84 trans am so much i tore it apart and resto-modded it since the original engine was replaced with sbc 350. Fun cars.

the209bnr

It has a flowmaster exhaust with woolrich tips (thats the logo stamped on the tips.) Just need the choke/carb adjusted slightly and im set.

JimRockford

Nice looking T/A,I'm sorry to hear about your discovery,but am not surprised. These are unibody cars,they dont have a seperate frame.

As a rule I always avoid any car that has any collision/ rear end damage for this very reason.the salvage title was a red flag.

I recently passed up a really nice looking black and gold 1982 Trans am with T-tops because it had been smacked in the rear and the owner tried to lie about it.It didnt have a salvage title,but it had obviously been hit in the rear before and repaired,a look underneath told the whole whole story and walked away.

There are plenty of third gens out there still and I've always been able to find straight all original no bondo cars.In fact there was just recently a 1988 GTA in beauitful condition for only $3,000 with 88k miles and T-tops.

Its also very hard to unload a car with a salvage title.

BTW I saw your car when it was original advertised for sale on Craigslist.