This is the kind of post I've been looking forward to making since I first registered on this site 9 years ago! It's taken a long time, but after 6 years of ownership my Trans Am is finally repainted! Here is a link to basically a day-by-day diary of the paining process: http://www.earlythirdgen.com/forums/...php?f=25&t=188 The following sums it up pretty well though I found my 84 T/A on the classifieds here. I picked it up in Delaware on August 16th 2003 for $500 with the original 305 in non-running condition. I've since put thousands and thousands of dollars into it... more than I care to add up! Here is a quick photo history of my T/A: Before- Engine Compartment when I bought the car: Summer of 2005 after swapping in a 350 TPI and getting the engine compartment painted:

Getting it's second engine swap, an LT1 and T56:


Here it is last winter with replacement body panels before going in for a full repaint:


While at the shop this April, my T/A witnessed a horrible fire that damaged much of the shop. This picture actually came from the local news website. There was a video that went along with it too. I was fortunate to have had my bird parked outside at the time, but it seriously delayed the paint job while they rebuilt their shop:


All panels were stripped to bare metal:


Parts in Primer:

Starting to see the color:

And FINALLY I took delivery yesterday!

At their shop:

And in my garage last night:

I did a lot of work on the garage while it was in the shop. I put up insulation and drywall and I resurfaced and epoxy painted the floor. I figured it deserved a nice room to come home to







The hood bird and the "Trans Am" lettering on the fenders and the nose is all painted on and cleared over. I'm still debating a few options for the rims right now. I'm just so excited to have it back home and to have it finally look the way I've imagined it for years now! Let me know what you think!

Very nice! The first few pictures I thought you were going the same color scheme I have wanted to do for years, but it's a bit different. New wheels will definately help. Which ones are you looking at? Also if you don't mind sharing, how much did the whole process cost(for the car, not the garage)?

That looks great!!! I love the color.

Do tell us how much it costs. My car will be getting a nice repaint in a few years hopefully and I would like a general idea of how much I'd have to shell out for a nice paint job like that one

That looks sick bro. I would really change out those wheels. At least get the formula 16x8 rims... I think some Black GTA wheels would really compliment the black on the nose piece.

Hey guys thanks for the feedback so far. The wheels that are on there were just an extra set that I only put on for it to roll around while in the paint shop. There's NO WAY it will be wearing those wheels come next spring when it goes on the road again. I'm looking at either refinishing my 16x8 crosslace rims and having the centers painted platinum (I'm half-way through refinishing them actually) or going with aftermarket rims. I was considering Year One 17x9 snowflake rims... they look like this:



I was also considering Centerline Lazer rims 17x8 up front and 17x10 out back. They are by far the most expensive option of the three! Here's what they look like:



As for the price.... the body and paint work that was just completed was in the neighborhood of 6k when all was said and done. The engine compartment was done several years back... that was 1k and included both painting and smoothing the inner fenders. I had it completely emply at the time.

wow

It looks good. Definitely the way to go when it comes to prep work and painting. Nice looking bird!!!


Jay

I like the mods on it! Nice job. Nothing like sticking it out for the long haul (long build). I think it makes the car that much nicer when it is done.

That's one of my favorite colors and along with that body style it truly is amazing!

Excellent, so that's what platinum looks like on a Bird. One of the nicest I've seen, rims would def add to it, snowflake in 16" or 17" may be the way to go but there are others that will also compliment your ride. Update with pics often. Later.

That just looks great. That sort of care and disassembly and prep in a paint job is just amazing.

I agree with Bully on back rims being a great compliment, any path you go though, that's got to be the nicest '84 Ive seen.

Edit: Even the paint on the inside of the hood is amazing, it looks like a mirror in there with the engine compartment reflection

Totally awesome, will be a real stunner with the rims.

WOW!
nice looking car.
the color really sets it off.
but you NEEEEEED new wheels now.
i love the look of the snowflake wheels, but honestly, even some chrome TT2's would look awesome.
oh, and dont get plain black wheels either.
if it were me i'd get high polished or chrome wheels with black accents (like the snowflakes)
either that or full chrome wheels would look awesome.

BTW, im totally digging the rear 3/4 shot from the shop with no tail lights.
makes me think that clear tails might be in your future.
if only someone made clear tails for birds

A lot of work and effort diffinitly payed off in the end. great job

Wow, I didn't even realize you could see the reflection of the intake in the hood! I was very happy to see how well they painted the underside of the hood though... now I don't have to go out and buy an insulator to cover it :-) I'm really leaning towards the snowflake rims now. I like that it has black accents but the design of the rim isn't hidden. It'd make lots of room for brake upgrades in the future but also not expose my currently ugly stock brakes!

As for the tail lights, I have a set of 85-90 grid style Trans Am lights that I plan to put on after I polish them. I'll probably tint them too. First drive in the spring will be to the tint shop to get the rear hatch and windows tinted 35%.

Has anyone noticed a few things that were removed from the car and not to return?

you got a different spoiler and the front quarter panel reflectors a missing and the antenna looks to be shaved. you used to have t/a rims on the car too in the early pics. this is the exact color i have been wanting for my 88. maybe with black ground effects and spoiler. love your car dude looks absolutely beautiful.

The car looks great but definitely needs different wheels. I think a set of black GTA wheels could look really good on it as well.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. This paint job was a long time coming and it's still kinda surreal! Those rims will NOT be on the car come the spring, trust me! I'm gonna take my time over the winter and put it together well so I don't have to tear it apart again. theimpaler68, you're right about the shaved antenna. The other thing that was shaved is the lock cylinders on the doors. I'd caution you about the black ground effects idea. I considered that myself, but then realized by looking at some pictures that they'll pretty much disappear at night and make the car look like it sits very high. It'd look cool in the day though, especially with the original stripe kit that came on the 84s.

so how will you unlock the car?
you have a remote unlocker?
why not go the extra step and get shaved door handles?


on the one hand i see what you mean about the ground effects, but on the other hand, i think it would look sweet... your choice though
also, i dont think tinted tail lights would look good on that car.
nor would tinted windows IMO.

its way too "clean" looking for the tinted look. if it were me, id start figuring out a way to get clear tail lights with LEDs or at least colored bulbs

I'm installing an alarm that includes a remote to unlock the doors. I never use the door look cylinder on my daily driver, so I figured why not clean up the look a little while it's being repainted. If anything goes wrong like a drained battery, I can open the hatch with a key and the battery has been relocated to the hatch.

I didn't want to shave the door handles because I still want the option of going to the track. I'm pretty sure outer door handles are required to run at any track. Also, I didn't want to have to get door poppers and honestly I don't mind the look of the handles. I did go with 4th gen handles that have a completely smooth face instead of the 3rd gen version that has an indentation.

As for the tint, here's the car that inspired me for my paint color. It belonged to a member here named Flyinlow89.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/156767

I think it looks pretty sweet tinted!

That paint's a nice color.

wow looks great , any plans to get a prokit and lower it some . But lokks freaking great , thanks for taking the time and money to make a nice trans am again .

Thanks man. I love how your bird came out too! It actually already has a prokit installed. The before pics were taken before the prokit was installed and the rim/tire combo on it now kinda ruin the look.

Wow that looks amazing, excellent looking paint job. Such a nice clean car!

Wow. I love that color, great job man. I also really like those Centerline Lazer wheels.

awesome, man! this is soo beautiful *drool*

what exact spoiler is that? compliments very well with the overall shape of the car with the aero package!

Great job. I love the bird on the hood. I don't hate those wheels because they are my factory wheels. Maybe I'm biased. Have you added wheels since?

~Matt

wow , it looks great. Another trans am saved . I cant wait to see some new pics when you drop it down a little and get some new rims on there.

That paint looks great.

The spoiler is a reproduction made by Wings West. I believe they refer to it as a wrap-around style spoiler. It was originally available on the 1984 Firebird 500, which was basically a "special edition" created by one dealership.

Thanks for the new compliments :-) I don't have new wheels on it yet, but i've been looking at C6 Z06 style rims with a bit of a lip to them, 18x8.5 up front and 18x10.5 out back.
Here's the front:


And the back:

Just pick some wheels already!!! i wouldnt be able to look at that nice shiny smooth paint with those wheels. God that car looks great

Absolutely beautiful! ..I want a '84 now.

HAHA! You have to understand that I just shoveled a foot of snow this morning. This bird isn't driving anywhere for a while! I have a few months still to decide. And I'm now leaning towards continuing to refinish the crosslace rims after adding up the cost of the 18" rims, tires and adapters. This is a tough decision, but believe me, one way or another i'm getting out and enjoying this car this summer!

That's an awesome bird. I have the same year but my body looks horrible. And I'm using it as a daily driver. Can't wait to get mines painted

that is a nice Trans Am. what was ur car a parts car before u bought it. lol
u really cleaned up that engine bay nicely, wish i could make it that clean. nice color too, i like it

they did an awesome job on that paint!!!

absolutely LOVE IT! those old wheels kinda kill it for now though

I agree.. or paint your current rims to match the body color!

Great color choice too, looks wicked.

WOW! it looks amazing!!! I have to wipe the drool of my chin!! Very nice!

thanks guys :-) I'm 90% sure i'm going with my 16 inch crosslace rims that i've already started refinishing. The centers will be powdercoated some shade of silver/gray.

So after much thought, debate, reconsidering, research and changing my mind 20 times, I FINALLY decided on what rims to go with! These 17x9 Year One Snowflake rims will be on my car shortly. I just ordered them last night


I'm going 245/45r17 in the front and 275/40r17 in the back. I'm thinking chrome center caps with the silver 3rd gen bird emblem in the middle. I can't wait to post pictures of them installed! Here's a great picture to show the shine and the size compared to the 15x8 version:

Paint job looks amazing.

thanks, maybe I'll see you at the wnyfbody spring BBQ. I just commented on your build thread over there, nice looking formula you have :-)

Nice job.

Post some pics when you get the wheels on.