Aussie Muscle

i'll keep this thread as a blog of my car.
1988 Pontiac Firebird, 2.8 V6, 5 spd manual. I first seen it on ebay. i purchased it and had it shipped to my place from melbourne (aust, not florida). it came with the 16" simmons rims. so, being 88 model it's ULP, so no issues with fuel and being a six shouldn't use too much of it. it's not a T/A so no leaky t-top.
Plans are to 1. get it registered 2. restore it. 3. modify it as needed.





so far i've replaced the hood struts and fixed the RH door (external handle not working, turned out to be a bent short rod). i've ordered a new windscreen as the old one has delaminated. still to get it converted to RHD so i can register it (nsw).

Aussie Muscle

the passenger door (RHS) would not open from outside so i pulled the inside card off. there was nothing broken, just a lot of play in the mechanics that didn't allow enough pressure on the latch. it looks like the rod was a little bent, so i hammered it and it works, albeit right at the end of the travel. the door card was held together by sticky tape , as the top plastic part had separated from the wood lower part. ordered a replacement set.

Aussie Muscle

i'm having trouble getting the RHD conversion done, so i might list it for sale shortly. pm me if interested

The_Wraith

Looks clean , sucks they actually MAKE you convert these cars. Over here there are plenty of full registered R/H drive cars kicking around unconverted.

giantstickman

Yeah mate, RHD conversions are not cheap. If you plan to modify it anyway why not do the work to it now and wait till it's old enough to register RHD (in Australia in *most* states a car must be 30 years old to be registered LHD).
That's what i plan to do with my '88 Camaro. I know it's a long time till i can register it but since this is my first project car and i have very little mechanical knowledge, it makes for a good base to learn on and improve and plenty of time to space out the big purchases (like a bigger engine!!).

Aussie Muscle

Yeah, i dunno if i want to wait until 2018 to be able to drive my car (legally, 8-) anyway). it's possible, but the car is a liability until then, and i don't have a garage to keep it in (car port only).

Wraith, it has something to do with complying with Aust design rules, which pick and choose between world, euro and usa rules. hopefully we'll eventually go to full universal design rules.

Finally, i've already bought a Knight Rider nose to try on it. will post pix shortly, but i wont proceed if i decide selling it is a better option. also bought a new windscreen as the old one has delaminated. add to that i bought some new black/black door inserts, i've already spent some dough on it.

Aussie Muscle

If anyone's interested, i'll consider offers over AU$4,000 (thats less than i paid). i don't want to loose too much money on selling it. i sold my previous car (alfa romeo) for only 2/3s what i bought it for.

Aussie Muscle

i thought i'd mock up the KR front.

Duck

That KR front really changes the appearence, I think it looks pretty hot.

sambo88

Gday Aussie Muscle, im in WA and have an 87 Camaro and it doesnt have to be converted. ADR's, SERVS and RAWS are federal law and not state so you shouldnt have to get it converted. Im currently in the process of getting mine registered (Almost done) so if you need any advice id be happy to help.

These cars come under SERVS as far as i know and that basically says that if the car is over 15yrs old you dont have to have it converted for the sake of the "originality" of the car.

With my Camaro, all ive needed to do is put Aus standard Seatbelts, that includes rear lap-sash seatbelts (~$800, do this work yourself, and get to know a good machinist otherwise itll cost you around triple that), adjust the headlights, and get new tires(~BF Goodrich's Radial T/A from the states for 95 a pop). Thats assuming everything else with your car is in good working order (mine had some issues so the list is actually a bit longer)

I STRONGLY advise you to go to a registered engineer and get them to do an inspection on it. They cost around $200 and a good one will go through everything and give you a comprehensive list of what needs doing for compliance. Too bad you're not in WA or id be able to sort ya out.

Anyways good luck mate and if you have any questions PM me.

Aussie Muscle

That's great sambo, but NSW's laws are retarded (!) to 30 yo cars, not 15. Hey i might move to Perth if it wasn't 2,050 miles. (3,200 km) (yes i had to look that up). It has to pass nsw road regs, so i have two choices for nsw rego, RHD or wait till 2018. sound stupid? it is (how much safer is it the car going to be in nine years time?)

sambo88

get it regoed in vic or qld. got any family over there?

Aussie Muscle

Sambo, got any pix of your camaro on here?

i've got rels in VIC and i'm close to their border, but looks like vic has the same requirement now.

sambo88

man thats terrible. get it prepped and send it here, ill get it regoed for ya! na i dont have pics of it on third gen but i got a couple from when i first got it on fbodyaustralia.org, If you search me up im 'atomicmushroom00' on that forum.

maccamenzies

Bought my 88 GTA Trans Am T Top few months back.Slowly doing restoration.I'll post pics soon.Bought most parts from Eastern States.Waiting for seats to be retrimmed which is taking ages grrr

AussieIROC66

You can't keep a car registered outside of the State you live in Sambo,... unless WA lets you get away with this too!

sambo88

theres ways to get around it. my sister lives here but drives her qld. regod car. she's kept it this way for about 4 years now.