Shawn1597

I have a 1984 firebird no t tops or ground effects or anything spec; really. it is an auto that originally had the 305 in it but now has a 350. It has been my dads car sense it was new and I'm wondering if it is wroth it to restore it. this thread is the most similar one i could find i am really new here and don't know much about how to make new treads or where stuff goes

Vanilla Ice

Don't bump old threads. Use the new thread button at the top of the forum you found the thread in.

That said, as far as I'm concerned, EVERY SINGLE third gen is worth restoring. I hate seeing part outs. But that's just me.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

His problem is that new members can't make new threads. I will add that any tbi car is not worth restoring at this time. This will change probably far in the future.

scottmoyer

With the car being a base model and already an engine swap, I'd say do what you want. To "restore" the car means to take it back to as close as original as you can. In that case the engine will be replaced with a smaller one and then you're back to base again. The amount of money invested in restoring a base car will never be seen on the sale end. You'd be better off doing a resto mod or full mod to enjoy the car.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

New members can create threads.

Member has a total of 1 post, joined 4 days ago and created this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/conv...s-plastic.html

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

If the car has sentimental value to you and your dad then go for it. Its been in the family since 1984 so Im sure a LOT of memories have been made with it.

cheesehomer

iTrader: (2)

Looks like your Dad started to "Boost" the performance and I think you should continue. Do what you want with it and just keep all the original parts, I throw them up in the garage attic. Enjoy it the way you want, maybe think of the way your Dad would have done it and do it that way ! . Burn the tires off it, but the main thing is to keep his memory ALIVE.. MY

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

" No TBI car is worth restoring?"....

two-if-by-sea

iTrader: (22)

I thought that was funny too, considering this car is an '84 and TBI didn't even show up till '88.

GOATS2QUICK

iTrader: (5)

i say go for it shawn. have fun, and build it your way, and enjoy.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Go for it Shawn. It already has an upgraded engine in my opinion so you are off to a good start. If you like it then its worth restoring, resto-modding or whatever u want to call it. Not many third gens worth a whole lot of coin in a collectors sense but to many of us here they are priceless. Good luck!

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

This is exactly what I meant only not so detailed. Sentimentally sure it may be worth it but not for selling it. Do what you like to it.

. This is what happens when you try reading on a small phone screen...looked like 89' when I read it.

I hardly see what that has to do with what I said or what the O.P. asked. I didn't say anything out of line or harsh...but I will leave it at that. Attacking someone's personal preferences or what kind of car they have....

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

I have a feeling that Shawn1579 is using the term "restored" like the people being complained about in this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ed-abused.html

bjpotter

Give the guy some slack. Its his first post and he obviously has an attachment to the car like we all do with ours. If its not a basket case there is nothing wrong with fixing the problems and enjoying the car.

If it was my dads car and I wanted to keep it, I would consider the day it came into my hands as its original state. He had a 350, so would I. I would keep most of it the same as I got it. Repair and replace broken or worn parts, repaint if needed but keep it the way he loved it. My father is gone but I have something that he loved that I will keep forever. Just the way it is!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

ANY car is worth "restoring", subject to the answer to the critical question:

WHY???

If you think you should do it because you think it's going to be "worth" "alot" "someday", YOU ARE DREAMING. Put down the crack pipe and back away from the credit card.

Cars are "worth" "alot" "someday" because THE GENERAL PUBLIC remembers them fondly for some reason, and wants to be reminded.

LG4 cars, TBI cars, 6-cyl cars, WILL NOT get that kind of reverence.

These cars will NOT follow the price trajectory of 60s muscle cars. That is, if you think that just because a 69 Camaro is "worth" "alot", and therefore YOUR car will be "worth" "alot" "someday", YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.

Unfortunately it has nothing to do with "these cars", as such, It has more to do with the time they were born into. You're obviously not old enough to know about it, and maybe, even your parents aren't either; so I'll tell you, strictly speaking as somebody that was there at the time. The ENTIRE car culture changed in an instant, during the Arab oil embargo economic shocks of the early - mid 70s. NO cars built after 1972 or thereabouts, had the kind of grip on the popular psyche that they did before that. Just go listen to the Oldies radio... listen to all the songs romancing GTOs, Mustangs, Mercurys, Chevys, from the 60s... and compare to the number AFTER 1972. It doesn't matter that our cars here are SUPERIOR IN EVERY WAY to the late 60s Camaros, with FEW exceptions; it has nothing to do with the car. It's all about the culture at the time they were born.

So if you want to "restore" your bottom-of-the-line plain-Jane car for that reason, because you think it will be "worth" "alot" "someday", DON'T. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.

If you want to "restore" it because you think it's "cool" somehow, DON'T. Same reason. People your age these days AREN'T EVEN GETTING DRIVER'S LICENSES, because THEY JUST DON'T CARE. As our country fills up, and there aren't wide-open spaces left to just go out and frolic naked in, (sorry, showing my age...) the value of having independent mechanical freedom to attain such a thing, is diminishing accordingly.

"Sentimental value" is highly dangerous. It leads into the trap of a cinder-block-supported lawn ornament rusting away rapidly. My next door neighbor has just such a car... sounds ALOT like yours... about a 84 Firebird LG4, minimal options. She moved into the house over there with her husband and their 2 sons who are now about 23 and 26, about 8 yrs ago or so. She remembers it oh so fondly, who knows what sort of enjoyment she had in it. However all that may have been back in the day, the car has not moved ONE INCH since the day it was deposited there. I saw a door get opened acoupla months ago, and it stayed open for .... weeks, in the rain and snow and whatever else. I think somebody closed the door a week or 2 ago but I haven't paid much attention honestly.

THAT'S what happens to "sentimental value" when faced with REAL LIFE.

On the other hand, if you want to "restore" it because YOU like it and YOU want to have a like-new one of the ragged old wore-out used-up POS you now have and YOU would enjoy it for what IT is regardless of "worth", and you're not afraid of sinking your money and time and life -LOTS OF IT - into something that will NEVER give you anything OTHER THAN just exactly that, then GO FOR IT. There's few things in life that are less satisfying than looking at something really exceptional and perfect that YOU created, and the car hobby is one way of plugging into that enjoyment.

Just don't hallucinate that "worth", as in "resale value", will reward you.

Examine your motives carefully. Don't do it for any of the wrong reasons. Do it ONLY for the "right" reason, which is, your own personal enjoyment while impoverishing yourself thereby.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Crossfires were TBI

two-if-by-sea

iTrader: (22)

Crossfires in '84?

zbird90

Shawn, I have been restoring my late nephews 1990 Formula 350 for over 4 years now. For me, it is purely sentimental, so I went in with my eyes wide open, knowing I would be spending tons of money to make this happen, money that I would never get back, more than the car will ever be worth. When people learned what I was doing, they echoed the same thing to me, thinking I was foolish. Well, this is not about that for me, it's about restoring my nephew's first car, a car that he loved and was in the middle of restoring before his death and the sentimental value that it represents to me, and that others clearly do not understand. All I can say is that it has been a blast and a great journey. I do not regret my decision for one single second. Wouldn't trade the experience for the world. So I guess I'm saying, if it's for sentimental reasons, absolutely do it...otherwise I would agree with others opinions regarding value. Parts are tough to find, and when you do, many times you pay through the nose. Good luck, whatever you decide!

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

I missed that part

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Kharris566

I'm currently looking into making a purchase of a 1988 pontiac firebird formula 305tpi it's a 5 spd ws6 package, white t top car, all black interior ,aerowing spoiler, electronic hatch, performance sound system with gain, fully original with 116k is this worth buying and restoring

cheesehomer

iTrader: (2)

DUDE..Did you just High Jack the guy's thread..???

B4C5.7

iTrader: (2)

YES he did, (it is worth buying). NOW Kharris556 start your OWN thread so we can see your bird.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Yes, 82, 83, and 84 crossfires (i.e. all crossfires) were tbi.

simo

The Corvette had the CFI in 1984 but not the F-Body.

F-Body had the LG4 and L69 for the V8s and not the LU5 (CFI).

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

That's correct, I should have clarified. Still, there were tbi's from 82-84 (84 being a vette)

florida_gators

iTrader: (2)

Shawn - Likewise, I'm fixing up my 1990 V6 Firebird. It was my very first car. I'm doing everything except a full frame off restoration (including NOS parts where I can find them). Everyone tells me to do an engine swap to a V8, but I have no interest in doing so. I'm doing this as a hobby because I enjoy fixing it up. I've had my fair share of unsolicited critics and name-calling (such as being stupid for doing this to a base model car). I really don't care, since I'm doing this for myself as a hobby and no one else. Critics don't understand that I don't spend my money going to the bars, building model airplanes, collecting baseball cards, or other hobbies. These things could just as easily be called "wastes of money." My recommendation is that if you need other's opinions to convince you do to something, then don't do it. You need to make sure you're doing this for yourself. Just make sure you won't regret selling this car in the future if you decide to let it go. As far as an investment is concerned, there are few, if any, restorations that end up in a long-term profit.

mmadden55

Make it nice and drive and enjoy.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

.

85Maroon

Any chance to restore a third-gen is golden. So many aftermarket parts are available and you'll find it easy to customize the car to your liking. As far as restoring it to it's original form or modding it I personally would go stock but thats just me

Fireblood83

I agree with the others. You should restore it to at least keep it running and nice looking. Replace everything that is broken or worn to new. I have an 82 Trans Am that I wanted to restore to it's stock look when I bought it. The opportunity arrived earlier than I thought. I was at the right moment in the wrong place. A multiple car crash happened in a split second that I couldn't even avoid it. Long story short, it led me to fix and restore the car that I appreciate since I was a little kid. I don't regret it at all.

Before and after pictures

Shawn1597

WOW. I finally remembered to get back on here and I was pleased with the feedback. Sense posting I have definitely decided to fix up the car. Im sorry about using the word restore wrong, I assumed everyone would understand what I meant. I just finished taking off the exhaust, which literally was just headers and straight pipes. finished installing brand spankin new rotors and brake pads on the front discs. now to look for new exhaust stuff. Im really excited for the car and have plans for it. thank you for all the replys even tho some were not so kind.

Shawn1597

I really love your car! Red is one of my favorite colors, although I am keeping my car gray. I would love some silver snowflakes tho.

FirebirdUSX

That little red car there looks totaled.

bjpotter

Glad to hear of your progress. Good luck getting her back on the road. Post some photos.

cheesehomer

iTrader: (2)

I agree, those snowflake rims look GREAT on that 3rdgen Trans Am

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Nice save!