the209bnr

Hello,

Just stumbled upon this site and had a general question. I just purchased a 1984 Pontiac Trans Am for $2600. Seller did not want to sell the vehicle as he had purchased it for his son, but his son racked up 3 tickets in 2 weeks so the car had to go.

Vehicle had been a 1 owner vehicle until it was backed into in a parking lot and it caused the following damage to the passenger side: damaged the rear bumper, cracked the tail light, dented in the fender. The damage didn't look bad at all from the pictures he showed me and the frame had no damage yet the DMV labeled the vehicle a salvage title because of this. The vehicle had been mostly all original with the only things being non original were the sony x-plod deck, car alarm, magnaflow dual tipped exhaust and the original owner had 1985 trans am rear lights on it. Vehicle had 55k Original miles No leaks, starts right up and no rust on it. Heater/A.C. work flawlessly. Had Vehicle inspected by a mechanic and found no issues with anything electrical/mechanical with vehicle at all.
Had brand new Michelin HydroEdge performance tires put on it.

Found out the vehicle has the following options
L69
Auto Trans
Posi Rear
Power Antenna (the only thing in the vehicle that doesn't work)
Dash has a sub-woofer switch for the rear speakers (has 1 4x6 speaker with what looks like a 4inch sub in this plastic panel)
Power Door locks, mirrors, windows, rear defroster and latch release.
T-Tops
Has the original T-Tops Bag with working security straps
Has the "Turbo Fin" wheels on it (missing center caps)
Vehicle is a White/Gold Combo with Gold pinstripes around the vehicle. Has the Aero Kit, Has 5.0 Liter H.O. on the hood scoop with a small phoenix emblem on the nose of the hood.





Will Post more pics within the next day or two just have a few snap shots from my phone.. Runs great, took it out for a 5 hour drive and it ran like a champ. The only thing the vehicle needs is the pinstripes on the passenger side rear fender and bumper that were replaced.

Did I pay too much? NADA value for a 1984 Trans am in poor condition was 2600 I believe. And do any of you know where I can get the pinstripes for the vehicle? Any suggestions, notice anything missing or tips and tricks as well? (This is my first T/A with my other vehicles being a Toyota Truck, a 94 silverado and my first car a 1984 Monte Carlo that was totaled in an accident).

the209bnr

I forgot to mention, all I need is the rear latch key cylender, anyone know where I can score one?

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

That car looks like a score! It's in great shape, and looks like it was repaired correctly. I think you got a good deal. Good luck with it.

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Looks like you scored to me... Car looks great!

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Check on ebay for the latch cylinder. They come up every now and then. You will have to bring it to a locksmith to get it coded. I have to check mine, but it might even be the same as the door lock cylinders.

Twin_Turbo

iTrader: (25)

That's an awesome car.

1985WS6TA

That's not bad at all, very clean.

I bought a new GM lock cylinder from my local GM dealer and had a locksmith code my door lock keys to it. Works perfect!

Seppeku

Try these guys for all your decals and stripes you need...

http://www.phoenixgraphix.com/index.htm

thewizard

iTrader: (43)

Definitely a score. Congrats.

Mudluver27

iTrader: (1)

Excellent job.... Beautiful

Coyote850

iTrader: (1)

You got a great deal. The car averages around 2000 miles/year. Fix what needs fixing and take care of it and it'll last you a long, long time.

steves

Sweet ride and I think you stole it. Im not sure those wheels are correct though. I think it should have those 15" (dont remember the name they look like the later formula wheels with a black center cap) in gold. The trans am decals look like the font used on a 4th gen. Just nit picking a little sorry and I could be wrong too. Other than those two minor details I think it looks awsome.

Hal87

iTrader: (1)

Those are the original wheels, same as my '84 TA

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

I want one.

the209bnr

I'll try and post a walk around video of it. Thanks for the feedback!

the209bnr

BTW, funny story behind the pic of my T/A and the Mustang. Stopped at Kragen (forgot what they changed their name to) to order the lock cylinder for the hatch and the person in the mustang came in and started to rev up as he pulled in and wanted to run them. Long Story short was his car died in the parking lot while revving and had to be towed home.. LOL

xcalibur

You're right steves, has wrong T/A font on front fender decals for an '84. Also, the bird
on the hood's larger than the original was. Since many of the decals aren't original,
you might actually have an easier time finding matching pinstripes. Still a very solid score !

Twin_Turbo

iTrader: (25)

the large hood bird could very well be origial, there were 3 sizes available, small medium and that large one.

the209bnr

I need help, just received the trunk latch cylinder for the car but it didn't come with the metal rod. I tried going everywhere I could think of to find one (auto parts stores, two Pick-N-Pull locations 120miles away from me) and couldn't find one. Anyone know of a place that sells them or has one lying around?

the209bnr

The Bird on the hood is original (http://www.musclecars.net/classified...0729487560.jpg) but the font on the sides has me puzzled..

the209bnr

http://www.wheelzinc.com/details.php?id=458

gman1989

go to classicindustries.com they're based in huntington beach and have every part for 67-02 firebird even decals

tuske427

The lettering on the sides are not original. they look more like 4th gen stickers.

The price for this car was very good. Looks like a well optioned solid car. It's well worth a PHS documentation.

http://www.phs-online.com/services.htm

tlandoe

haha pay too much? That guy must have felt sick when he signed the title over. That's a loaded l69 trans am, the best third gen engine in my opinion. Faster than the Iroc 305 for sure

As for pinstripes, IIRC you have to get a whole new kit. I just made my own, you can barely tell the difference

xcalibur

So because you posted a picture of another aftermarket hood decal, you think it too is original ?

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

That is a correct hood bird for an '84 Trans Am. There where three sizes available. Small, medium(which is what the209bnr has), and then the large turbo bulge decal which is the most commonly seen. I'll try to dig up the RPO code when I get back home later tonight.

xcalibur

Chalk that up as your SECOND win, already. Your first win is when you became the proud new owner !

the209bnr

Missing original floor mats .. but here are more pics of my T/A.

the209bnr

The rear end needs help the rear passenger 1/4panel spacing is off about 1/3 of an inch.. and it has a 1985 rear bumper as well.

Looking for a 1984 Bumper/Ground Kit as well as a body shop in Northern California to have this fixed. (more pics are coming tomorrow)..

Sean O'Hara

you did very well for yourself, congrats

the209bnr

I've now developed the following issue.. When I put my foot down on the accelerator, the car starts to hesitate and shake a little. Cleaned the carb and used fuel cleaner and still have the issue.

Went to check around the gas tank and found that the rear passenger side of the frame looked a little off.. sure enough the seller used another piece of a frame that he bondo'd on to cover up frame damage and not only that but upon further inspection my gas tank had suffered damaged and was bondo'd as well.. *sigh* (which explains why my tank couldn't hold more than 15 gallons in it)

Very disappointed in my findings today. I'm now also looking for a gas tank and if someone has a frame lying around i might be interested too

Stevolwevol

iTrader: (1)

Where is the bondo on the gas tank? Is it leaking? I don't think I can get more than 15 gallons in my tank, and it's not bondoed. If your tank isn't leaking then you might as well leave it.

Can you show pics of the frame where it't bondoed? If it's not affecting the way the car runs, then I wouldn't get into a big twist about it.

tlandoe

f bodies should have like a 13.5 gallon gas tank IIRC.

Eagle223usa

Can you post some pics of the frame? Good looking car BTW.

vistageek92

iTrader: (2)

Beautiful steal!

gman1989

actually f-bodies have a fuel capacity of 15.5 gallons

lonestar7

iTrader: (1)

I think you got a great deal! Very nice for the money.

tlandoe

That's strange, think it's a typo on my build sheet?

gman1989

maybe when i cleaned my gas tank my friend and i pushed my car to the gas station and filled it up total gas purchased was like 15.4 gallons pretty close to 15.5

the209bnr

I worked all day today, Ill post pics up of the frame tomorrow (off early at 5pm).. one of my "smart ***" buddies kept telling me they had 19 gallon tanks :-/ as you can tell i'm not the most knowledgeable f-body person out there.. (but if you ask me about monte carlo's 1970-88 i know them top to bottom for the most part lol)

blackfrontier

iTrader: (1)

I always preferred the the 85-up Trans Am's and GTA's, but the 82-84 Trans Am's are growing on me fast! They look "cleaner" and "lighter without all the ground effects stuff. I just picked up one of those Turbo Hoods off an 83 T/A in the junkyard. Looked like a decent car once. Yours is in excellent condition. I wouldn't mind finding a black and gold model myself.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

That looks like a nice '84 bird! The interior is in great condition! Mine was originally that color scheme and would've looked very similar when it was new.

the209bnr

You have one clean Bird..

gman1989

also the 15.5 gallon gas tank refers to firebird only i dont know about camaro

jmd

iTrader: (4)

You could have paid more.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ponti...item19d0912b65

freaky

looks like a good deal to me . congrats an welcome to the board . anything you want or need to know is on these pages .

Jeffs82TA

iTrader: (1)

DOES IT HAVE A 85-UP REAR BUMPER ON IT?

Phenom-1

Allow me to clarify some things, The second gens had a 20.2 to 21 gallon gas tank and the 3rd gen '82 and '83 had a 16.0 gallon tank and the '84s had 16.1 tanks and from '85 they started using 15.5 gal tanks to the end of the 3rd gens. My '92 has the 15.5 tank.

2007xl50

very nice looking car, the slavage title kinda sucks, but for the little money you paid it's not a worry. I think you did good.

the209bnr

Yes, the idiot who replaced is purchased an 85 bumper, not an 84.. it also has the 85 lights