I bought a 1984 trans am from a friend for $800 dollars. The car overall is in pretty good shape. It has no rust anywhere, and the interior is good except the front seats and console cover.
I know that the car needs new guages, brakes at some point, a windshield, and an air inlet on the passenger side. It also probably needs a blower motor and there is something wrong with the heater valve. There is an exhaust leak in the area. It needs the usual tune up and I need to adjust or replace the TV cable too.
The previous owner scraped a guard rail, which caused the left side to have a few dents in the front fender, a scrape in the front of the door that is pressed in, and a slightly bent in rear fender. These scratches in no way affect the functionality of the car. There are three pictures below of the car. It has an L69 305 carbed in it.

here are my questions:

1) Is this car worth 800?

2) How would you fix my driver side and how much would it cost.

3) What do I need to do if I have a bad heater valve?

Thanks

 

another

 

engine... not as bad as it looks... the picture was taken at night.

 

im getting a car cover soon...

 

Hey, 1989 2.8L Bird, welcome, you're new.
I'm afraid to say that the car is probably better suited for parts than driving. Sounds like there's lots of work ahead to make it trully roadworthy. How many hidden repairs needed ? Snow won't speed up the work either. Cut your losses now and see if you can resell it whole. I'm not sure what kind of market there is in NH for parts off an '84. If you can drive the car now, as is , go for it and then walk away if it dies.
It's gonna take lotsa time and money. Good luck.
Patience is a virtue.
Pacer...

 

I wouldn't pay $800 for that... I'd pay maybe $200 and sell it for parts. But if you want a project, you got it

 

I wouldn't have paid more than $500 I would say, but ehh, just depends on what you want really.
If there is no rust, but considering where it's from I doubt that, then good deal.

I've seen worse deals before.

 

i am definitely with these guys in saying its better for parts, but if you want to tackle a project you got one.... 800 is alitte high though..

 

Holy **** ,That is my cars twin.But mine was the evil twin.
Mine is a 305,but the interior and exterior are identical.
Plus mines in a lot better shape

The only dif now is the out side is black

 

Yep, no way i'd pay 800 for that. That's way to high. I'd say $500 max.

 

wow, does that motor run?
Good luck with your new car dude!

 

YES, and damn decent too... its in the dark and it looks like **** but its really pretty decent...

 

Don't sweat the others brother.... you've got a decent ride. Here is what I would do if I were you.

Take some "Simple Green" and a brush to that engine and clean that Shiz-nit out!!! Doesn't have to be show car quality but will diefinitely help while tinkering under the hood and be a little more presentable.

School yourself up on body work and prepping and do it all yourself and then take it in for painting, you'll save hundreds by doing that.

Now if you want to upgrade the car here and there. I'd start with the suspension for better handling... all the while keeping an eye out for a decent engine you can build up for it. That way you can still drive the car untill the new motor is ready.

Sounds simple yes.... but it will take a while though... just do things one step at a time.

 

I thought that white one was a car cover?

 

Car looks great man! I know how it is starting out with a project car, and mine still is....until i take the transmission out of my 83 Z28 parts car to put in my SC. I am planning on putting a 350 in mine, it is motorless now so check out the link in my sig for pics and info.

 

Don't get discouraged. Only you know if $800.00 is more than you should of paid and really since you already paid it, it's too late to do anything about it. Seems like you want to do the work so here's my opinion.

1. Fix the exhaust. This effects gas mileage and the fumes can be deadly if they get inside.
2. Spray your engine with a degreaser, then power wash it. You need to see what you got there for future leaks, wires and repairs.
3. Not sure what you are calling the heater valve. If you mean the heater core that produces heat, you will need that in New Hampshire. This is called a creature comfort and you want to be warm, don't you? Is it snowing there already.
4. Make sure your car is running mechanically sound first before making it look pretty. The body looking good around a crap engine is stupid. Do the reverse - engine then body.
5. Fix your guages. If need be go to the junk yard and start swaping. The yards are a cheap way to get your car up to speed fast.
6. Once the mechanical is done, start preping the body yourself and you will save. Research a good body shop. If you plan to keep the car then don't cut corners in this area or you will be repainting in 2 years.
7. Set a timetable and goals that are realistic. If you stay on this site you will get lot's of ideas talking to other members.

Good luck.

 

Is it just me, but that engine doesn't look like an L69 to me. As far as I know the L69 had dual intake ducts. Looks like a plain LG4, I may be wrong though.

 

You know if you wanted to rod out the engine you have in there, I found this site that has a pretty decent way of doing it...

http://www.goingfaster.com/spo/325_h...chevrolet.html

325 HP is a pretty respectable amount of power for a daily driver.

But I would go along with 86 and get right on those things that are in need of repair ASAP... especially the heater core if that "is" what you are taking about. I did mine and it took a fair amount of time... also I'd have a friend help as an extra set of hands is very helpfull with that sort of fix.

 

Oh and $800 is a decent price for a car in need of minor repair...

I picked up my formula for $1200 in roughly the same condition yours is in...

a little elbow grease and you'll have a hot rod you can enjoy

 

are you sure its an L69?? I thought they all had the dual snorkel?

 

sorry guys its the LG4... i made a mistake... when i said a heater valve, i ment the heat riser valve... my grandfather said you can take it out and replace it with something?

I found taillights for it for 15 bux plus shipping, cuz one is cracked... and i found a daytona style hood for 250, and im buying it because i LLOOOVE the daytona style hood... i know others dont agree, but that doesnt matter to me...

thanks for the help... keep writing

TOM

 

I think you have a potentially nice bird there.. You will feel much prouder of it if you complete it and make it look truely awesome Good luck! :rockon: