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Just picked it up today. 89,000 miles, Has a carburated V8, auto trans, with cowl induction, power windows, everything is crunchy and all the rubber is old and disintegrating. Should be a fun project. Doesn’t run but everything is there. All original down to the wheels and centercaos. I’m not too crazy about the turbine wheels but it’s OG so I’ll just blast and powdercoat them. . Got it from a friend who didn’t want it in his yard anymore. I stopped to get some diesel and the guy pumping next to me already asked if I was looking to sell it. I may do a stock resto. I don’t really wanna go crazy mods. Gonna search for some newer TTops and headliner etc
Last edited by ThatFordGuy; 07-03-2021 at 04:50 PM.
1983, I have typed that text into searches a thousand times. The journey begins. Welcome to the fun.
Lol thanks. I’m searching through my mental Rolodex all the info about my 1989 Camaro and working on carbs. Cause it’s been a long time since I touched a carb.
And I’m not sure if these old Firebirds are rare because i stopped to get some gas for my truck and a dude asked if it’s for sale. My buddy thinks I should sell it.
I plan on getting it running and fixing it up eventually. I have a 1989 GMC I need to finish up first
Has Trans Am fenders & hood, but I've never seen one with the rear wiper...
it has the cowl induction cause the air cleaner with the hole and the rubber gasket is there. He said that was how it was bought. He didn’t add the fenders or hood.
yeah i never knew they even came with rear wipers. The only non original parts are the T tops. The originals were stolen and he got some other ones. Everything else is original. The body is really straight. Some rust around the t top area but I can take care of that. I may start doing some of the body work
Last edited by ThatFordGuy; 07-03-2021 at 09:41 PM.
Oh wow locking gas cap door. Always wanted one of those for some reason.
yeah learning a lot about it. Found a factory GM service manual. At first I thought he drilled it and added the lock but it seems it’s factory. I’m cleaning it out tomorrow. Lots of rat poppies. The interior isn’t that bad. Needs a headliner, visors, seats are threadbare, but carpet is ok and so far the plastics seem ok. Won’t start but I need to get a new battery.
The thing I’m happy about is that it’s a complete car and not hacked up like some get after 4-5 owner all adding their own custom touches. One owner helps.
Vacuumed the engine bay. Didn’t pressure wash it yet. Vaccumed the interior. It’s really not that bad. The carpet is fine. The front seats need to be reupholstered. Not sure what that’s gonna run.
I’ll pressure wash the engine bay next weekend. I’ll get it on my rack abd pull the tank drain it throw some fresh fuel in it and pick up a battery see if that gets it cranking. It’s got a 4 barrel carb….not sure if I wanna mess with it or just buy a rebuilt one already. Are those Rochesters or Holly? I would need a legal one to pass smog here
The plastics with the exception of the dash really aren’t bad at all.
It’s got a functional cowl induction from what I’m reading. And I found the owners manuals in the center cubby storage. Must be a base model. It doesn’t even have a cassette it’s radio only.
Last edited by ThatFordGuy; 07-05-2021 at 10:32 PM.
The factory carb is a Rochester Quadrajet E4ME.
What's that on the console between the power window buttons?...
it’s power mirrors. It has power door locks and power windows and power mirrors but a radio no tape deck.
I was afraid it was a Quadrajet. I only did one of those in my life and it was 35 years ago.
Originally Posted by chazman
Cool car! The only thing that would make it cooler would be a 5 speed.
yeah true. I already have a F350 with a ZF 6 speed with a gear vendors overdrive. . I get enough stick time in that
I’m assuming it’s got a 200R4.
I’d recommend you finding a reputable carb shop and have the one already on the car rebuilt. I know there were many different variations of the Quadrajet (even for thirdgens) so at least you’ll know the one on the car right now is probably the right one.
I’d recommend you finding a reputable carb shop and have the one already on the car rebuilt. I know there were many different variations of the Quadrajet (even for thirdgens) so at least you’ll know the one on the car right now is probably the right one.
yeah unfortunately finding a carb shop is a challenge of its own. There is a old school mechanic down the street I may go talk to him. I had him do some work on my cars when I was crunched for time and he was always fair in prices.
Nice car .Looks solid definitely a good starting point. They should have kept running those hoods on Tran Ams throughout the run of Thirdgens IMO. Should have kept the console too instead of going to that separating rubber crap they went to later. They need to offer a replacement for it seems like there would be a market but Ive been waiting a long time..
Well just wanna give a update. Threw in a battery primed it with a bit of gas in the carb. Damn thing fired right up and purred smooth as new. Shut it off. One tire rotted so I gotta get a cheap tire on the wheel so I can move it around. Bought a 34 foot enclosed trailer so I can put the TA and the GMC inside for storage. Ordered the seat covers. Tryin to find a t top headliner fiberglass piece ( as far as the trailer was gonna use a big 40 foot connex box but they wanted 12k fir it. The trailer was 11,800 and my buddy is moving and picked it up in Georgia gonna use it to move to Washington and drive it down. )
found a guy to rebuild the carb so I’m gonna yank that off here in a few weeks and making a list of all the stuff that’s gonna be checked replaced r rebuilt before it goes on the road. Found a set of T tops and. bought them but they are the wrong latch style/type. But that’s ok I should be able to swap the mechanism over. If anyone has a steel wheel and tire they aren’t using for a s10 or camaro in the inland empire pm me.
that’s all for now. Thanks
07-03-2021, 04:12 PM
