TransAm

Soooo my car, Lucy, i've had for a few months now. No real problems at all... She went all the way down to FL from MA and back... 1985 LG4 Trans Am w/ 5-speed... no a/c, AIR pump's off...
Engine compartment is not the most attractive thing in the world, timing is a little screwy (may have a bad chain). 135,000 miles and counting. Interior is nice, except the seats are trashed, completely.
Trying to decide if i should dump the money into her or dump her and find a new lady. I have basically $0.00 to my name at this point, and i figure i can get at least $2500 for her here in Massachusetts (there aren't that many trans ams up here, so they can sell for more than blue book).
When i think about dumping money into her, the first thing that comes to mind is rebuilding... the carbeurator for starters, and the engine could probably use it too. The thing is a mess, vry dirty.
The next thing that comes to mind is it is a 305, not a 350... so it's hard to justify putting a lot of money into something that can never really be THAT sic by nature.

I know it all comes down to what I decide, but i want other's opinions... What would you do? Sell & find a 350 in slightly better condition, or put the money into this one? Questions welcome...

Matt87GTA

I voted for keeping the car (I mean...... you named it (her I guess) ). But that vote is contigent on if the body is clean (no rust or major damage) and you didn't pay much for the car and it is paid off.

If the car is clean and you got it for a good price, it is a good foundation for making it into what you really want. Most enthusiasts don't keep the engine that comes with a car and if they do, they usually don't end up leaving it stock (even internally) for long.

Then again, if you can get a lot of money for your car, there are plenty of 350 thirdgens around that would be in your price range.

Really comes down to how much work you can/are willing to do yourself when it comes to engine work.....

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

I'd get another car. With the 350 also.

TransAm

hehe naming the car is just tradition. I'm not that attached. I only paid $1350 for the car, and it is a good foundation... there's just a touch of surface rust on the wheel well, other than that it's solid... Previous owner put brand new exhaust on it. I'm willing to do a lot of work, but i'm just trying to justify doing all that work to a 305 and not a 350. An engine swap is always an option too i guess...

TomP

Depends on how attached to the car you are; and from the sounds of it, you're not that excited with it. Find a set of better front seats for it (look at junkyard Cavaliers and Celebrities and Grand Ams and Pontiac 6000s and etc, the seats bolt to our seat rails!) and put a for sale sign on it.

Personally, with that little rust, I'd be keeping it- I'd rather do motor work than do body work any day. Unfortunately, looks like I'll be doing some bodywork this summer, dammit... not again!

SoCo80p

iTrader: (5)

i voted for #2, gotta love the late 70's birds

85_ZED28

my car's name is Lucy too!

SoCo80p

iTrader: (5)

tom looks like that guy from boy meets world, lol!

JoelOl75

It's getting to the point where the "Sell it and get the car with the 350 in it" isn't making too much sense. These cars are 10-15 years old and what good is a body thats twisted from non SFC torque with a beat 350 and a slippin 700R4 and a cooked posi. You'd need to rework everything anyway. There still are nice examples, but usually a little more than i'd want to pay, low mi GTAs are nice, but $9000 to $15,000 they can stick them UTA! The cars were probably stickered around there new.

Bluebird

Get a new thirdgen...

but be careful...
try to find one that has been garaged
no winters, and like 23000 miles on it.
Im not kidding.. they are out there