formula91

Hello everyone, been awhile since I've been around here. Heard Kevin got married, congrats!

Unfortunately its also been awhile since I've driven my 3rd gen. It developed some problems and I didn't have the patience to deal with it. I had actually contacted Dyno Don to get it fixed but at the last minute I decided to just buy another car. I ended up buying a used 2001 Altima. Stupid mistake.

My car has sat in my dad's backyard ever since. It'll be 3 years this summer. I've attached a picture of its current condition. Took that this weekend so it didn't come out so well because it was overcast.

So I'm at a crossroads. I currently own a 2007 Toyota RAV4 Limited V6 which my wife drives and a 2000 Durango SLT with the 5.9L V8. The RAV4 has more horsepower in that V6 than either the Durango or my GTA. New cars are just better and better. A coworker just bought himself an Infiniti FX45 with the 320hp 4.5L V8. The gauntlet has been thrown.

What should I do with my GTA?

I want a hot rod. In this day and age though, you can buy one new from the dealer. I am very interested in the Trailblazer SS. With GM's new 5 year/100,000 mile warranty its unbeatable to be able to get that on a 400hp SUV.

Or I can spend a few grand on the GTA and get better performance. Which way should I go?

I guess the question depends on how much fixing up the GTA would be. It would need a new engine, transmission, and the suspension needs work. The paint sucks but I can live with that. How much would it cost to make it a 12 second car? Reliably, daily driver, passes smog type? If I can get that from fixing the GTA then it should be much cheaper than buying a $35k Trailblazer SS.

The other question I'd have to answer is, if it makes more sense not to fix the GTA, would I ever get rid of it? I'm not sure. I don't think I got over selling the Formula.

In the picture you can see my dad's '64 Ford Pickup in the background. He's had that truck sitting in the backyard for years. I think it has a cracked head. I don't want my car to end up just sitting in the back yard for ever.

Thanks.

1989GTATransAm

iTrader: (3)

You can easily make your car a 12 second machine. Don has proven formulas for engine builds that will do the trick. The price will be way less than a new car. The car will be a daily driver, pass smog and get decent gas milage. He can also fix your transmission.

formula91

For how many of you is your 3rd gen your daily driver?

I just realized that I'm coming at this from the point of view of only having 1 car for me to drive. So its either or. There's no reason I can't both fix the GTA and get a Trailblazer SS (or whatever) later on down the road.

The only wrinkle is that I've read that Don has a 2 year waiting list. Is that true?

Juan

langss

Untill my 86TA was taken out by a Truck it was my daily driver.Now I drive a 92RS.

ringo234

My IROC is at his shop now, I had about 2 1/2 week wait. He's replacing fuel pump, injectors, his own custom headers and 3" Catback, and He's installing LS1 front brakes for me. Kevin is going to burn a custom prom for me also, I hope to be done a few more days.

This my daily driver, but while it's at his shop I'm driving the company's 20006 Tahoe.

Russ-So Cal

You don't need to buy a new car for a daily driver. Your Durango ought to do fine. The GTA can also be a good daily driver. In my opinion, the cost of repairs for older cars is vastly overrated. People run out and spend $20,000.00-30,000.00 for a new car because they don't want to spend a lot of money to fix up a car they currently own. If you finance that new car, it will cost you $50k-$60k by the time it is paid for, at which point you will want to buy another new car because this one is going to cost money to fix. I got a 87 T/A that was sitting in an alley and Don and I went through it and Don and Kevin put a custom chip in it. The car went to Mexico for a paint job. I've got a little more work to do on it. I want to go through the interior and restore that completely, and I have a bunch of stone chips in the paint on the bumper cover, so I'm going to get the cover repainted one of these days and put some sort of impact coating over it to protect the paint. I've got a total of probably $5k-$6k invested in the car, and I figure another $2k will probably finish it. If I wear it out, I'll rebuild it again. I figure that at $10k per restoration, I can restore the car into a nice driver at least 3 times for the price of a new car. The final thing to consider as far as I'm concerned is that next to a 3rd gen, new cars that I could afford all look ugly, and old fashioned.

If you want a new car, buy a new car, but it won't ever be less expensive than fixing up your old car.

InsaneIROC

Kevin91Z

iTrader: (1)

My car is my daily driver and it will probably stay that way until I buy a Cobalt SS or Solstice GXP or a baby gets in the way.

Don's wait for an engine swap is probably 6 months. Put your name on the list now and start collecting parts and money. By the time you get both together he'll be ready. Mine, his, Allen's, Vince's, Ken's, Brandon's, Julie's, (who else am I forgetting?) engines are all 12 second runners and all pass CA smog easily. Gas mileage on the highway is all 20+, too.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

I'm still on the list. Engine and tranny.

Lon

JulieGTA

My car is my daily driver, (when its running.)

You're asking the 3rd gen board, so of course, keep it!

If you want to turn it into a hot rod, maybe you should look into what you need, like parts. There are a different options. But I recommend Don to put it together.

formula91

See, that's what happened to me. I got married and started having kids. I sold the '91 Formula and started selling some parts I had accumulated for the GTA. The kids are 5 and almost 3 now. In a way I think its almost time that I can start having this car again. My 5 year old remembers being driven around in it. Every time we go over to my parents and he sees it he asks when we can drive "the car that goes vroom, vroom!" again.

But it will only happen if Don can do it. The Formula was a disaster that took way too much money and over 2 years to complete, and it was never even finally finished. If this happens it'll all have to be done by the same person. Don's the only person I would trust.

I'm getting a lot of pressure from the people here at work to buy a new car though. They pay really good here and one way to show it off is to get cars. My boss bought his wife a Lexus in October and then himself the FX45 last month after the yearly raise. Another guy just got his wife a Mercedes GL450. Not that I could afford one of those. The new car thing is just contagious.

I guess its time to start collecting parts then.... I do still have a set of SLP runners brand new in the box. And I never got rid of the Firehawk wheels.

Js92RS

Great advise! I know it took me well over 1 year to get all the parts together. I am hoping that when the new motor is all tuned and dialed in that it would net me high 12's. I am already getting 23mpg, 6 mpg better than when it had the 305.

langss

[[Quote]] I'm getting a lot of pressure from the people here at work to buy a new car though. They pay really good here and one way to show it off is to get cars. My boss bought his wife a Lexus in October and then himself the FX45 last month after the yearly raise. Another guy just got his wife a Mercedes GL450. Not that I could afford one of those. The new car thing is just contagious.[[Quote]]

I get the same thing where I work.I have a 2000 Camaro SS Thats plenty new enough.I drive the 92 everywhere. I love the car. I still wish the 86 was fixable,but since its not I guess I will have to find another 86 to put the parts on.If I were you,screw the new car payments, fix up the GTA and put the extra money in an account for your kids Education. just my

formula91

I was prepared for that

What parts do I need to gather though? I guess the basics -- engine size (basic 355 or 383), heads, cam, intake.

I see someone has a Superram for sale in the classifieds section. $875 for the base plus upper. Should I buy it? Hmm.....

BretD 88GTA

Hey Juan! Glad to see you back on the board.

Don't give in to that "keep up the Jone's" stuff from your co-workers. You have a truck for a daily driver, so why not fix up the GTA. I still remember your stock GTA pulling 245hp at Bob Jennings Dyno. I think Tom K. reeled from that one for 6 months.

My GTA is still going strong. I did end up buying a GMC Sierra truck and put the GTA on "fun only" use. No plans to sell it. When the time comes, the stock engine will go and a new, faster one will get dropped in.