92 Z Vert

Hi TGO Members...

requesting some helpful guidance on a purchase of a 87 GTA.

I would like to use the majority of this components from the car.. like door panels (all nice black interior), shocks (newly replaced), tranny is a 700r4 but I can sell it (I have, want t5 or t56 in future), and the engine is a 350 but is locked.

my real concern is the rear. I have a g80 posi, but since I have a vert, I think it is a 2.73 from the factory. Will the rear end fit with modest mechanical skill? I do like to perform my own work, but only have general expertise on things, so not sure if it is going to be worth it, or difficult... or if it would even fit.

I think I have a 26 spine, with a 2way rear, as opposed to a 3 series carrier... my thought process would be that I SHOULD be able to swap all the things I need, like the 3 series carrier, or is that incorrect?

also, would 1500 cash be too much for a 1987 GTA with a locked up motor?

here is the details from the ad:

I have a 1987 Trans Am GTA for sale. I was my sons car and the motor has locked up. the car is complete and all original. The car has PL, PW, AC... etc. The AC works as does the heater.

The problem with the car is that the motor is locked up and will not turn. With that said, the car does not run and will need to be towed.

It has a 350 ci motor that has been bored 0.30
TPI fuel injection
LT1 hot cam (roller)
Roller rocker arms
Headers.
The transmission was rebuilt about 1 year ago and is in great shape.

what do you gents think? (and ladies if any would like to provide their expertise). Worth 1500?

the under carriage is VERY clean. The man who owns it seems like it was taken care of, with lots invested. There are aftermarket billstein shocks, poly bushings, aftermarket strut mounts, interior is pretty good shape (I could swap it without buying a new carpet kit (and GTA Panels are hard to find, especially in black), it has 1 5/8 hooker headers, 40 Flowmaster.

The bad is that the engine is locked and already bored .30 so I wouldn't have much machining left before needing an engine, if it isn't already cracked.

the man selling said his son left one night, and called the next morning to say tranny was busted and engine was locked... I thought that was weird to be on the same night to lock a 350 and throw a 700r4... so that could be a concern. car is sitting for the last three months. body has from pass fender damage, but not extensive and could be pulled and easily repainted. Car has two year paint on it and rest of the body is good. he SAID the tranny is repaired and perfect shape.

TGO Membbers.... what do you think? worth the pop at 1500 for all the goodies?

92 Z Vert

also, car wasn't ever tuned after LT1 hot cam, boring, and roller rockers installed.

even if it is locked fully and engine has to go... can i swap the heads if not warped and cracked, along with the rollers? thinking I could buy a block and start with those or sell if in good shape and go vortec with the S&D intake...

lots of ideas, looking for some fellow 3rd genners to decide.

92 Z Vert

would the VSS off my car work? the RPMs on the gauge floats at 3K to start for some reason but not sure why. also does the ecable difficult to modify? I searched online but I don't think they fabricate them any more, so you have to fa yourself.

thanks team. sorry for so many questions that are covered before... having a convertible changes the game up a lot from having ttop or HT, so the answers will help us vert guys who got shafted with a 2.73 posi... (REALLY GM)

92 Z Vert

FRONT OF GTA:




Rear of GTA:

big gear head

Your '92 has 28 spline axles. Does the GTA have the 10 bolt or the 9 bolt rear end? If it has the 10 bolt then it will have 26 spline axles, but I would bet that it has the 9 bolt. You can swap the complete rear end into your car.

92 Z Vert

thank you for that confirmation Big! your the man!

yes. it does have a 9 bolt so that is very useful. do you know of any threads that detail with pics on the swap? I know most parts of the swap, but found that pictures help.

especially with the soft brakes lines, as I understand you need to fab that up too.

as for the 1500, do you think its a deal?

big gear head

Check the stickys. There is information there about swaps.

92 Z Vert

so I checked my rear end and it is a 10 bolt.... confused now... was it the 90-92 Z's that had 28 spline? I am worried this might be something that I can't swap.

worried I have a swapped unit in there now and that I will not have the right idea going into this build. sorry for remedial questions. I have looked through the boards, but so much info and tons of posts that don't apply to the 90-92 vert (that I was able to find through searching site or google)

thanks team.

big gear head

All 7.5 (actually 7.6 after '86) 10 bolt rear ends (Camaro, S10 and anything else that used that rear end) were upgraded to 28 spline axles in '90, so your '92 has 28 spline axles. The 9 bolt was not used after '89 if I remember correctly. You can swap the 9 bolt into your car. It's not a big deal. I can't help with brake cables and stuff like that.

Night rider327

iTrader: (13)

Any third gen rear end 4 cyl, 6 cyl, 8 cyl, base model, z28, iroc, rs, se, formula, trans am, gta will bolt right into any other third gen. No probs there. It's a BOLT IN swap.

If one car is a drum brake rear end and other is a disk brake rear end you will need to swap the brake prop valve and e brake cables... But again it's a bolt in swap. All parts will interchange and bolt right in place.

$1500 is a GREAT price on a GTA with trans and locked up engine. Heck being an '87 it has the one year only wheels on it and you can get $1,000 for them, and I seen them sell on ebay for as much as $1800 for just the wheels and center caps.

Yes you can put the heads onto another block. It's a small block chevy. Any gen 1 sbc heads will fit on any gen 1 sbc from '55 to 2002 (LT and LS engines excluded)
The only exception is putting 2.02" valve heads onto a less than 4.000" bore engine like a 305

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

As said above, the 87 GTA 9bolt will swap into the 92 car but I wouldn't swap in the 87 disc to anything but the trash. Find 89-97 rear disc, they use a way better caliper.