valicswarrior

iTrader: (1)

Not sure the best thread for this but here goes. I am planning to go look at an 85 by this weekend. I believe it's a trans am trim level, from what I know it sounds like it needs a motor rebuild, the owner says its needs a lifter. It's supposed to be an auto with a 350 (not original). Paint has blemishes, interior needs love. Other than looking for rot in the wheel wells, floors hatch are etc, any inherited flaws to be aware of? I have owned a few third gen camaros never a bird. Also some opinions on what something in this state would be worth realistically would be appreciated.

redfivexw

I would check:
Rust : driver side floor, left edge across to center, bottom of doors, rear edge of hatch, over wheel wells, around windshield, if t-tops check the center piece that holds the tops in.
Interior, is it all there? Headliner, visors, carpet, do seats move back and forth?
Camaros and Firebirds rot in the same place, many of the same issues. Regarding the motor, it is a 350. Small block Chevys are cheap, if all the work to swap has been done you could just put in a new motor or a working used. If it is simple lifter, that could be easy but usually if they say a sticky lifter it is something worse. Honestly if it needs motor work, and interior work, the body had better be rust free or i would move on to another car. I would say $600 tops.

gearhead141

Specific to Firebirds, make sure the headlight motors are working. 1985 models still used the same system as the older cars. This means relays and not a module like the '87 and newer cars. A haggling point could be the tail lights. This was the first year for the grid pattern. Mine are de-laminating as so many of them do. It doesn't affect the operation; just looks bad.

valicswarrior

iTrader: (1)

I sealed the deal, previous owner is towing it home now time to rebuild a whole new baby

gearhead141

Post photos when you can so we can all see the new addition to the family.

valicswarrior

iTrader: (1)

only picture I have at the moment.

gearhead141

That appears to be the S/E trim. Only 5200 of those in '85. That does look like a Trans Am hood but the front bumper cap is not from a T/A. There was no Formula that year, and your car looks like more than a base Bird. You may have scored better than you thought!

valicswarrior

iTrader: (1)

According to the vin decoder it used it is a S/E Trim level

gearhead141

I would imagine that the engine is carbureted using an E4ME Rochester. I have the same thing on my T/A. I typically get 21mpg on my commute to work. I had mine professionally rebuilt and it works great. You mentioned that the car now has a 350 so the original equipment may not be there.

The S/E probably has just about everything that a T/A would have, i.e. cruise control, power windows and door locks, and power remote mirrors. One thing that gives problems is the power hatch pull down. I don't have that feature and from all I've read about it, I'm glad I don't. The good news is that there are parts available to make it like new!

Post more photos when you can.

valicswarrior

iTrader: (1)

well i found out tonight the seller lied about the 350 in the car I was able to clean it enough to get the codes off the blocks and its the correct motor for the car not sure what I will be doing now gotta spend some time thinking.

gearhead141

While you're thinking, ponder this; now that you know the original engine is with the car, you can always put a 350 in it. Or you can repair the 5.0 as they are fairly decent motors as far as reliability and longevity. Hopefully there hasn't been a lot of modification under the hood as it would be easier to get it back to operating condition with all the original parts. If you have to pull the motor to fix it, consider changing out the original "peanut" cam for something that will give the engine a little more oomph.

In my opinion, finding out you have the original engine is a plus!

gearhead141

This car sure looks a lot like yours and seems to be from the same area.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/721978...tiac-firebird/

I noticed that the S/E does have a similar hood to the Trans Am except that the rear vent/extractors are missing which is unique to the S/E. Most S/E models came with a 2.8 V6 so consider yourself lucky that yours has a V8. What are the symptoms with the bad lifter? Is it a ticking noise like the lifter isn't holding pressure? Perhaps a bottle of "Motor Medic" and an oil change will clear it up.