Difflock

Here's the thread :-
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=298583

So Kevin was right

Cheers,
Diff.

GTA Jim

It's definitely a T/A .. Good lookin' car too.. T/A's were the only 'Birds to get the "air extractor vents" on the fenders behind the front wheels..

There are a couple of things not quite right.. 1985 T/A's came with ground effects and for 85 they started using the flat hood with vents instead of the 'power bubble' hood. They also had the aero nose with built in fog lights. You could get the large fin spoiler in 1985, but it was an option.

Here's a shot of a 1985 T/A I found on the web.. Don't know who's car it is, it's just for illustration purposes

http://www.firebirdgallery.com/3rd%2...s/85ta16.2.jpg

I'm *guessing* someone removed the ground effects and changed the nose and hood...

The aero nose and hood could have been damaged in a small accident.. I imagine in England, there aren't a lot of Ponitac dealers or Trans Ams for parts in the junkyards so all that could be found for replacement was the pre 85 nose and hood..

You'd have to take the ground effects off for the pre 85 nose to look good because the 85-90 nose is molded to match the flare of the ground effects.

(Unless it was somehow made that way for export.. That's a possibility too)

Difflock

Jim, your explanation does indeed sound extremely plausible, but could there have been another reason? Say, for instance, one of the last 84 models which finally rolled out of the factory in 85? I don't know how GM did things back then, but if that could have happened, then it may also explain the 1985 year on the VIN.

Also, the pre-85 nose on Morticia has the remains of the old chin spoiler (black plastic, set back about a foot from the front of the car). Most of it has been cut away, presumably because of grounding. In addition, the rear wheel arches have the small, ground effect "flare" in front of them.

Mark.

Guest

No, someone swapped parts.

82RECAROTA

..

Difflock

Tail lights have the horizontal ribs on them, together with Pontiac in the centre of the reflector strip and the screaming chicken below the boot (trunk) lock.

Cannot find a label in the console. Will have another look at the door sticker when I get home. Sticker has faded quite badly though

Thanks for the replies. Beginning to feel like I'm in an episode of CSI

Mark.

82RECAROTA

..

Difflock

Yes - door label too faded I didn't find a metal tag on the rad. support when I removed the A/C cooler...
Seems like the VIN may not be legit, everything about my car screams 84 T/A now.
But hey, she'll never be a concourse car, just a clean example of a cool 3rdGen
I quite enjoy this kind of automotive "archaeological dig"

Cheers,
Mark.

MR.GTA

How about the interior? Pontiac changed out the console, radio pod, dash, and guages in 1985.

Difflock

Interior is 84 I'd say from looking at pics on TGO. The light switch is next to the dimmer switch rather than one on top of the other. Passenger's side of dash has a wood veneer panel with a screaming chicken on it. Radio pod homebuilt anyway before I got her.
Seats aren't Recaros. Steering wheel not a three-spoke. It has the spokes either side of the central boss. They are almost horizontal, 2 spokes above the boss, two below. Must get new batteries in camera!

Mark.

82knightrider

iTrader: (1)

heres an 82-84 style console

AaronIROCZ

iTrader: (5)

That console looks very similar to the camaro console.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

Sure does looks like my camaro console.

okfoz

THe 82-84 console looks like that in the Firebirds

Notice that the power remote mirror switch is in the console, did not the Camaro put it on the drivers door? Also the remote rear hatch release appears to be on the dash, Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought camaros got the switch on the center console.

I looked at another 85 Trans am that had the old dash...I thought it odd.

The pic of the console is from an 82 I am 90% sure of that.

John

Difflock

Thanks 82KR, that's my dash and console alright.

Mark.

okfoz

It seems almost more likely someone changed the VIN tag under your windshield at this point.

A few questions for you:
1) what transmission do you have 3 or 4 speed auto or 4 or 5 speed manual.
2) Your VIN tag sais you should have TPI, wit ha Vin code of F in your 8th didget. Take a pic of your engine... I am REALLY curious.

John

Difflock

Pics soon!

Ok the transmission is a three speed thm350. I have receipts from the company who rebuilt this tranny (for a previous owner) and they commented that it was a replacement for the normal overdrive tranny (thm700?). The centre console has the overdrive markings on it.

Engine is a pale,washed out red colour with a Holley 4 barrel on it and a mechanical fuel pump (green in colour) down at the bottom front corner of the block. If the weather's not too miserable tonight I'll search for the actual engine no. and run it through the engine record checker (someone gave me the link in another thread).

Cheers,
Mark.

82knightrider

iTrader: (1)

Hows your car run Mark.Reason I ask is because in my 82 SE.I wanna install a 350 tranny in there.Right now it has the th200c(3 speed also)

Difflock

She runs great at the moment as far as I can tell. Reasonable performance, but won't spin up those 255's on the rear unless the road's wet. Maybe the box needs adjustment, but partial throttle changes are sweet and smooth - great for burbling down the high street . Full throttle changes are good but don't slam you into the seat. Kickdown cable (TV?) need adjusting, but I think there's a bit missing from the cable bracket. She won't drop into bottom gear unless I'm only doing about 20 mph or less, most of the time I manually select 2 or 1

Sorry I've no hard, actual performance figures yet. Oh and being an 80s US car, the speedo stops at 85mph. She doesn't though! I need to get on the motorway with my friend in his Supra then he can tell me what she's doing flat out (Supra? Don't knock it til you've tried it, proper ***** car...)

Also I reckon the tacho is reading out, just need to borrow an accurate one, or get the shop to plug her in to the tuner.

Sorry no pics yet - weather absolutely miserable, not going under hood to look for numbers. I did fit my new (old, but good condition) steering wheel though - a proper '82 onwards 3-spoke wheel.

Cheers,
Mark.

Difflock

PIC OF ENGINE BAY
it's functional...


INTERIOR



Cheers,
Mark.

okfoz

Difflock,
The only thing that I see right away that really looks 85 is the dash pad and apparently the VIN... Everything ilse is 83-84

you have one odd car

Difflock

YAY TO ME!
I've got a RARE 'bird

Oh well, at least she's over here in the UK, with a V8.

I'll post up the numbers on the metal plate in front of the rad (finally scraped the grime off it! Didn't realise about it until then.)

Cheers,
Mark.

Jproz1167

iTrader: (3)

That car is either a 82 or 83 it can't possibly be a 84. Look at the wiper motor my 82 has one just like that and I know for a fact the 84 and later wiper motors will not just simply bolt up and the wiring is different anyways. Also look at the vacumn storage tank, this is also a 82-83 style mounted up on the firewall.

However his seats look more like what 83's had as does the shifter ****, the gauges have orange needles all 82's had white needles ( correct me if I'm wrong )

I'de say his car is more stolen than RARE LOL

Difflock

Oh well, I've still got the only Trans Am in the village!!