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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
If anybody needs help with posting pictures and such then just let me know. Holding off opening for votes until this thread gets some kind of momentum going.
I helped my father buy this car in 2001 from eBay. I had recently purchased a '93 Camaro Pace Car and he wanted the 3rd gen instead, so he found this car in New York and drove it home to Minnesota. The car was purchased with 19k original miles, and it now has 29k. I acquired the car from my father about 4 years ago after he passed away. The old History moderator, Willie, lived about 45 minutes from my parents and helped me get the car to Orlando.
Since I brought it home, I've done a lot of work to it so it runs great now. I replaced the leaking valve cover gaskets, the clutch, carb adjustments, Spohn front and rear sway bars, TDS wonderbar, new speakers, new calipers and brake lines, wheel cylinders, and who knows what else.
There is so much to say about this car but I will try and be brief and tell the major points. The 1982 MSE literally is in my collection because of TGO. I used to scan all of the cars for sale every couple days. This one caught my attention because I had never heard of an MSE In 2010, after it had sold and then was returned because of a "transmission issue", the price dropped significantly. So off to Philadelphia PA we went. 18 hours driving round trip and 2 days later, the car was in my garage. The transmission issue turned out to be just a linkage adjustment.
The car currently has 31,xxx miles on it. The original LG4 engine is still stock, 4 speed manual, with a super T10 tranny. We have the "git kit" still in mostly original packaging. Original window sticker and build sheet, and a few other documents came with the car.
This is car #55 which is significant as its the same number as the MSE race car that won the SCCA series in 1982. The race car was driven by Elliot Forbes Robinson.
In 2011, the car was repainted, to specs as much as possible. Dennis Mecham was contacted several times and graciously offered his info and knowledge. In late 2017, the seats were changed to Recaros. The PMDs are in storage.
We have shown the car several times at National level shows. She always gets a lot of attention as most people dont know about MSEs. In 2018, she placed third at the Trans Am Nationals in a very tough field of 28 cars.
On a side note, we have recently acquired another MSE, 82-0003R. Both cars will be shown together in the future. As the 3rd generation F bodies age, I think they are finally getting the attention they deserve. Values will hopefully continue to rise as well.
Thanks for the nomination! It is greatly appriciated.
I'll keep it short and sweet.
I'm sure everyone has heard about the Red Headed Stepchild.....yes the Pontiac Turbo Trans Am with the 231cubic inch turbocharged Buick engine in it.
Well, Pontiac done good for 1989. They produced 1555 limited production 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am to celebrate 20 years of the Pontiac Trans Am.
I happen to be a very happy owner of number 464.
It has 31,600 miles on it. I have owned from 2014 to present. When I purchased it in St Louis, it hat 29,000 miles on it. I am the 4th owner. It was originally bought new in New Jersey by a 65 year old young lady who happened to like the TV Character "ALF"...(for those old enough to remember the show.) She had ALF's everywhere in that car!
Well, the car was traded and went through a few owners till I purchased it.
It's all original except for the added ScanMaster and Air Intake tube with a K&N filter and equipped with your typical leather interior with T-Tops. I've added the 17" Hawks Reproduction Wheels with Firestone Indy 500 275/40/17 Tires, which made a world of difference in handling and stance. They could be had in the hardtop and cloth, but very limited.
The leather in ours is in great shape with no cracks or tears.
I've had a box of goodies for about 5 years to be installed with includes a LT1 MAF and Translator, 60# Injectors, a Walbro 255L fuel pump with the Hotwire kit, an a Turbo Tweak Chip. Someday I'll get that put on. Life gets in the way and we sorta have other priorities lately.
I drive it when I can and when weather is nice. I've put around 2k miles on it since owning it. We've been to some shows and cruises with it and have taken a couple of Best in Class and Peoples Choice. I don't really care about winning, I just enjoy the company and people. I sorta like to "educate" people on how this car became what it is. A lot of people just don't know about it.
I've come to realize that we as owners are really only caretakers for the next owners down the road, but until that comes, we will enjoy, maintain, and care for it.
It's all about Smiles and Miles!!!!
Thanks again for the nomination and good luck to all this month. A very fine group of cars. You are all winners in my book!
Bob
Last edited by Bob88GTA; 08-20-2020 at 11:44 AM.
Reason: delete picture
I'm going to take liberty to make this re-post from 2013 of Jupiter's car. If he ends up posting then I'll remove it. As some of you know, Jupiter has a lot on his plate right now with Stage 4 cancer. I hope he can drop by and enjoy this COTM thread, but very understandable if he's got much larger things to focus on.
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This $300 car was given to me as junk and became my daily driver from 1996-2001 after a little bit of work. It then sat in storage till 2010. It has taken me the past 3 years to do all this on a VERY thin shoe string budget.
4 bolt 383 all forged lower end full roller lunati cam kit trick flo 2.02 aluminum heads performer rpm manifold + 1" spacer demon 750 RobbMc fuel pump k&n air filter msd dizzy+6al hooker shorties to 3" with no cat to flowmaster with 2.5" tips serpentine conversion electric cooling fan conversion 4th gen coolant bottle conversion 1996 t56 hurst competition plus shifter ram clutch spec billet steel flywheel 3" coleman aluminum driveshaft 10 bolt 4th gen disc rear with aftermarket auburn posi 3.42 with moser axles, c-clip eliminators and perfect launch girdle iroc wonder bar 36MM hollow front sway bar 24mm rear sway bar energy suspension motor mounts and bushings everywhere custom moog springs with 1" drop kyb agx adjustable struts/shocks pbr brakes granatelli lca's founders lcarb spohn panhard spohn torque arm/trans mount south side machine shop frame rails edlbrock strut tower brace j&m strut mounts ram air fiberglass hood 89 gta 140mph/8k rpm dash console and converted interior from grey to black but kept the factory electric pmd seats 'recovered' added power locks, mirrors, hatch, vanity mirror, cargo door daytime running lights module dakota digital sgi-5c vss converter c5 wheels
Recently i did the t56 conversion and while i was at it i stripped the undercarriage. With the car on jack stands and me laying on the ground turning my back into hamaburger meet i scraped, sanded and, scrubbed it bare. Re-sprayed it with undercoating and painted all the bolts and brackets. I cleaned up the fuel and brake lines with a wire brush on my drill then rubbed them down with steel wool to make them shinny again. Painted the tranny and exhaust with vht flame proof header paint.
Next on the list to be done is to get some new seat belts and nicer shifter boot and **** so as to finish the interior, ls1 brakes then finally getting it painted again
So after getting it painted and cleaning it up back when it was a daily driver in the 90's
These are all outstanding cars!!! Man I'd love to have either one of them!!!
The biggest surprise for me was Jupiter's car. Man, for being built on a shoestring budget, the car is pretty damn awesome. Hang in there Jupiter....and, you got my vote.
I'm going to take liberty to make this re-post from 2013 of Jupiter's car. If he ends up posting then I'll remove it. As some of you know, Jupiter has a lot on his plate right now with Stage 4 cancer. I hope he can drop by and enjoy this COTM thread
Very thoughtful and great idea to do! Glad to see he could be showcased!
@Jupiter Very sorry to hear of your recent challenges and I pray for you.
I'm going to take liberty to make this re-post from 2013 of Jupiter's car. If he ends up posting then I'll remove it. As some of you know, Jupiter has a lot on his plate right now with Stage 4 cancer. I hope he can drop by and enjoy this COTM thread, but very understandable if he's got much larger things to focus on.
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Thank you and everyone else for your support. I guess i should login more often. I don't get online much currently and i miss surfing this site and so many beautiful cars. I love my car but Scott's car reminds me of the blue Z my mom gave me for my birthday back in the 80's. I would like to say that this forum is amazing. This IS the best place for information and advice for anyone building or purchasing a 3rd gen fbody. I would like everyone to know i'm doing "ok". I believe i am winning my struggle. I haven't been able to work/play with my cars this year but i hope to get back at it by the end of the year unless things go south. I will ask anyone voting to please vote for the car not for me.
I do remember someone saying that 13x is a charm for participating in COTM , but Jupiter's car is making me think 14x, or maybe more, may be in order. I voted for Jupiter's car because of what the car started as, compared to where it sits today.
I can't believe there have been no more posts since a week ago! Looks like Jupiter takes this month. Good job Jupiter. Your car deserves the win this month, as it's come a long way.
08-15-2020, 04:31 PM
