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What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Going through my basement, I have found stacks of Car Craft magazines and GM HTP where vendors really used to support these cars. Cool history on the "builds" and what was considered "quick" or fast back in the day...
In 1990, the big tube runners went to "runner up" status, once the SuperRam, or JL1 intake came about, and then the cylinder head choices were interesting as things evolved on that front, too.
Great times to be up to one's elbow in the garage. Glad I saved all these old mags. Was like a trip down memory lane.
Also found some old GTA parts (still in GM containers), plus a couple old GTA ads. Some Formula ones, too, plus magazine reviews, when the cars were new.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Working from home has saved me enough commute time that I've been able to get a few things done in the garage. I'm finally working on a car I haven't touch in 15 or more years. Getting it running and out of the front garage will allow me to bring the T/A in, so I can start getting some work done to it.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
I really probably shouldn’t complain. Both me & my wife are fortunate enough to still be working full time remotely. It’s just been super hard trying to get work done AND homeschool the kids. I know I’m preaching to the choir. There’s tons of relatable and funny memes out there regarding self quarantine and home schooling.
I have a project ‘84 Trans Am with lots of saved up parts ready to install but it’s still been too cold here to work out in the garage. Timing on all this just sucks. If it were summer kids wouldn’t have to be doing school stuff & I could get some work done on the car.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by QwkTrip
I opened a 5 gallon bucket that I thought had oil in it and found a big car detailing kit.
I can't even remember buying it.
LOL! I opened (2) 5 gallon buckets while cleaning out the storage shed and found used anti-freeze in both. I thought I got rid of that, but apparently not! Now, I still have to do something with it! I should have just left the mystery buckets in the corner of the building.
I also found a Trans Am tail light harness from a car I parted out several years ago and installed the Trans Am tail lights in my base Firebird. I'll post a pic when the rain stops.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Not really from my existing stash, but I've found my bank account being drained...
Picked up a few items in the last month or so.
Got a complete and solid 4.8 motor with 130k on it
Picked up a fair deal on a 4th gen oil pan, dip stick and tube, as well as the windage tray
Also have a used LS1 intake with injectors, fuel rail, and throttle body in shipping.
Oh and a welder to notch the K member and add some subframe connectors.
Now I just need some more funds for a T56, unfortunately getting one for under $2k in my area is going to be difficult, if not impossible.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Nothing too exciting, but the best find was a box of hardware I'd set off to the side for cleaning and thought I'd lost during the move. The worst find was a broken accessory mount (which must have been damaged in the move). So I guess that evens out.
With the 90 minutes a day I save commuting I'm getting more work done on the car though!
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
speaking of the tpi large tube runners. I started to go through some of my tip stuff and so far have found three sets. I'm a tip parts order I'm just now realizing lol
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
The Trans Am tail lights installed on my base Firebird. Really digging the look! These were given to me a few years ago and are in great shape. Anyone know what years these are from? Also, new garage just completed RIGHT BEFORE the virus hit!! Now all 3 have a stable home out of the elements.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by kentuckyKITT
The Trans Am tail lights installed on my base Firebird. Really digging the look! These were given to me a few years ago and are in great shape. Anyone know what years these are from? Also, new garage just completed RIGHT BEFORE the virus hit!! Now all 3 have a stable home out of the elements.
Those should be the 85-90 tailights. I know the GTA got a different set of tailights in '91 but not sure if the regular Trans Am did as well.
And coat it. Paint the walls. Put up lights. Etc. Before you fill it with stuff that's a pain to move. I wish I'd finished my shop before I had to fill it with crap. It's been a constant project for more than the last decade of cleaning stuff out, doing work on the shop, moving stuff back in, etc. It'd be so much easier to setup the shop before moving garage ornaments into it. FWIW.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by Drew
And coat it. Paint the walls. Put up lights. Etc. Before you fill it with stuff that's a pain to move. I wish I'd finished my shop before I had to fill it with crap. It's been a constant project for more than the last decade of cleaning stuff out, doing work on the shop, moving stuff back in, etc. It'd be so much easier to setup the shop before moving garage ornaments into it. FWIW.
Yea, well the plan was originally, electric service, spray closed cell insulation, natural gas heater and air conditioner, but then a virus dropped, so I had to put all of that on hold. Stuff that's in there now, can easily be moved out for all of that. I got tired of going 60 feet back and forth for tools, so I moved them in! Yes, I do need to clean the concrete, hasn't been cleaned since it was done. Swept a few times, but not scrubbed/cleaned. Thing is, I can't decide if I want the epoxy coated floor or the race deck interlocking type flooring. I have friends with both and each have their pros/cons, so not sure yet what I'm going to do. Some say, just leave it bare concrete. One thing I am going to do is build an external air compressor house next year and put a 4-post lift in one of the bays.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by dagwood
Yep, 85-90 Trans Am had those tail lights. Actually the filler piece has a gold bird, so they must have came out of an 87-90 GTA
And yep, the regular Trans Am got the updated tail lights in 91 as well
I had a feeling they were off of a GTA due to the gold bird. I actually need it silver to match the rest of the emblems on the car. I have an extra silver sail panel bird decal somewhere and was going to see if it was the same size as the tail light filler and just put it over it. I also have a silver bird out of a tail light panel, but cannot find it anywhere at the moment. Not sure how easy that would be to swap.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
The bird emblems are just stuck on with double-sided tape. But getting the old one off might be difficult if it's not broken. It's been a few years since I looked, but pretty sure gold was used on Trans Ams with gold GFX in addition to GTAs. Red, Silver, Blue, were all available.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by kentuckyKITT
Thing is, I can't decide if I want the epoxy coated floor or the race deck interlocking type flooring. I have friends with both and each have their pros/cons, so not sure yet what I'm going to do. Some say, just leave it bare concrete.
I'd recommend laying down the epoxy on it first. If you like it, stop there. If you don't, then get the race deck and cover it up when the budget permits. At least the concrete won't get stains if any fluids get spilled because will be sealed up.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
DSE subframe connnectors, Founders strut mounts, Koni struts, Ground Control weight jacks, wonder bar. Want to get more front end components before I install.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
I got nostalgic for my 1988 RS. Went on a mission to track her down. Found her in a barn 19.7 miles from my house sitting on blocks since I sold her back in 2008. Bought her last night. She is coming home next month.
My first project car. Looking forward to gleaning knowledge and expertise from you guys and being a part of this community.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by Big&BadGTA
What have you found while in lockdown?
I found a stash of 3/4" copper pipe, fittings and check valves for an air compressor water trap project that I started and never finished. Even though I'm still working (from home), Covid-19 has increased my free time exponentially. I actually took some time and built it last week. Finally, I can run my air tools without condensation spraying out of them. If you're looking at the air compressor thinking the water trap system probably cost more than that crappy compressor--- you're absolutely right. But it was my Dad's so I'm keeping it going for as long as possible.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Nice! I debated building a water trap when I setup my compressor. But by that point the budget was blown to smithereens. Currently leaning towards plumbing an A/C condenser between the pumps and the tank to cool the air and separate the moisture before it ever gets into the tank. They say that kind of setup results in a tank that seldom needs to be drained.
For the time being I just drain the many valves in the plumbing on a regular basis. There are enough drops between the compressor and the hookups (opposite corners of a 24x24 garage) I usually use, that it has to be fairly humid for water to reach the end of the air hose.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by 88coupedoop
I got nostalgic for my 1988 RS. Went on a mission to track her down. Found her in a barn 19.7 miles from my house sitting on blocks since I sold her back in 2008. Bought her last night. She is coming home next month.
My first project car. Looking forward to gleaning knowledge and expertise from you guys and being a part of this community.
Put the restoration details in the "members camaros" thread. You should have no problem getting help these days. Good luck.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
I found all the 3point seatbelt parts for my vert that I misplaced in one of my moves. In looking for some I found the spare tonue cover for the vert in the rafters of the shed. Now I can make the iroc carseat friendly for my daughter.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
I found a nicely preserved 82 Z28s body in my garage, parts to put it back together after it gets new paint, parts and pieces I collected for and from numerous third gens I used to own, a perfect, flawless dash that has been sitting up in the rafters of the garage, all of my factory service manuals, ads, dealer books, magazines, and even a few engines.
i also found that my 91 only needed it’s fuel lines cleaned out, a new battery and a new clutch to get it running again after sitting for 10 ish years.
I also found my regret that I haven’t been driving my cars for all these years. Also the regret for not buying that 82 Indy 500 pace car from the junk yard all those years ago.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
I was digging through my 89 parts bin and came across this power antenna and mast I bought 30 years ago. It was never even pulled out of the box. I've read on here about the failures they have and not sure if I should switch it over to power.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Originally Posted by F350-TT
I was digging through my 89 parts bin and came across this power antenna and mast I bought 30 years ago. It was never even pulled out of the box. I've read on here about the failures they have and not sure if I should switch it over to power.
The nylon frequently breaks. Wear or not, the nylon is 30 some years old and will likely fail at some time in use. There are some people who repair their antennas.
Re: What have you found while in lockdown / quarantine, from your ThirdGen Stash
Dang, I'm on a roll. Found a NOS molded hose (90°) that attaches to heater core on firewall. I remember buying that 20 years ago. It has turned a bit chalky color in the bag.
Also ran across some Global West Del-a-Lum A-arm bushings that I never installed. Now that's actually useful! Sure beats a 5 gallon bucket of ruined car care products!
04-12-2020, 12:21 PM
I debated building a water trap when I setup my compressor. But by that point the budget was blown to smithereens. Currently leaning towards plumbing an A/C condenser between the pumps and the tank to cool the air and separate the moisture before it ever gets into the tank. They say that kind of setup results in a tank that seldom needs to be drained. 
