It's here. The biggest COTM event of the year:

The 13th Month - "I Am Thirdgen"

This is for everybody that has never been able to participate in COTM. Maybe you have a cool car but don't fit in with the show n' shine crowd. Maybe you have a race car, or you've got a project in the garage that's not finished. Perhaps you're excited about a barn find you just brought home. Or you've got a trusty old daily driver with 400K miles. It's all good and we want to see it.

Rules

• This is for everybody with a car that normally would not make it into a Car of The Month. Nice cars are welcome, but no COTM ringers please.
  
• No nominations are needed. Just post up.
  Share pictures, story, cool video, links to build threads. Please try to contain it to 1 post so nobody else gets drowned out.
  
• This is the voting thread. Voting will be done with LIKES until Christmas. Like as many as you want, there will probably be a lot of cars.

I am going to place the winner in the COTM Winners sticky. Honestly though, I'm pretty sure most people just want a chance to get some recognition and have the camaraderie of sharing with others on the forum. Have a fun time!

 

My submission



Originally built in 2006 and raced until 2012, then put and storage when they blew it up. I bought it and redid the cage and it is has a custom front and rear long travel suspension with Fox 2.0 Pro coil overs, Wilwood brakes all around, stock L31 Vortec, Richmond Super 5 trans, 9" with spool.

 

Very cool!

 

84 Z28 with an 408ci LSX, T56, Vintage Air Magnum IV HVAC, and a full coil-over front and rear Corvette suspension with Baer 6 piston brakes. It’s still a project, so this is my only opportunity to compete for COTM.



Front SLA suspension

Rear IRS suspension

 

My project...

 

Alright, first post already got my interest big time. There's a lot going on with that car and I want to know more about that bad boy!

 

added build info to original post.

 

I'd like to throw my car in.
It is a 92 base model in Jamaica yellow. I put in a 4.8 LR4 with a T56 all stainless exhaust, GTA seats, LS1 front brakes w 12" rear disc on a 9 bolt. I have done many other improvements and upgrades including some minor rust repair.
It is my daily driver and I have put around 20K miles on it since I completed the work 3 years ago. I also entered it in one of the Optima courses

 

Removed post as requested by qwktrip.

 

Asked to delete

 

These couple above this post are regular COTM caliber...

 

Maybe I don't really understand the idea. I thought it was open to anyone. If it doesn't qualify for the contest, that's fine.

When I was nominated for COTM in 2018, I was almost embarrassed because I nearly won. All I had done was to recenlty purchase a car. I didn't restore it and modify it. I hadn't even taken care it it for years. I just bought a car that someone else cared for very well.

I don't think of my car as being some prize winner. Don't get me wrong, I love the thing. But it's not like it's a show car, unless just by having survived so long it gets in that category, which I guess I understand. Most car shows are filled with cars exactly like that, ones that have survived the typical life span. Maybe when you've spent much of the past 30 years driving and enjoying the same model of car, you don't realize that you are actually driving a COTM-caliber car.

 

So cool that you're the original owner. 33 years. Have always been a fan of the two-tones with blue like yours, or the darker red.

 

Beautiful car that I don't recall ever seeing before here on THO. As an original owner myself of 32 years ('88 Maui Blue Trans Am) set-up very similar to yours I'm intrigued to learn more about your car.

Interesting background for a photoshoot. : )

 

Way cool !! Awesome car, love the color, IMO, this is a perfect candidate for the normal COTM catagory

 

This is for people that normally would be excluded from COTM by its rules. I expect to get a range of cars from those needing some serious TLC, to some pretty damn cool rides.

There's going to be a grey zone at the upper end and I'm not going to worry about that. But I gotta say, this one is a pretty straight forward call....

 

Maybe I took the "normally would be excluded" thing a bit differently. Not so much excluded but not considered. I was nominated a long time ago because I posted pics of my recent purchase. Unless people have long memories, it's not likely that I'd get nominated again. No worries, my misunderstanding.

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I interpreted this COTM would be for project cars, "beaters", and 3rd gens which go to the beat of a different drummer.

 

Or how about 3rd gens that were COTM worthy but have since had the wheels driven off of them? You know. Busted windshields, cracked dash pads, semi-blown up engines. That sort of thing to go along with the brake upgrades, terrific transmission, nice rear end (so to speak).
Not that I can think of anyone in particular...

 

Here's my "beater." 1989 Firebird BASE 305TBI with currently 172,000 miles on it. You can read more and see additional pictures here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...-firebird.html

This car is called the beater because, well I drive the holy hell out of it and it's the most reliable thirdgen I've ever owned. It doesn't matter what day or what the temperature is, I can get in this thing, start it and go where ever and back with no issues. I've had it since 2012 and have done a number of upgrades to it and some neat but tactful modifications. The paint is a 20 footer with your hands over your eyes! Seriously, it photographs well, but if I were going for best paint award, I'd be kicked out of the car show. The paint has specs (trash/dust) all over it. Dude I bought it from painted it himself in the dustiest garage I've ever seen. Don't let the paint scare you though, the GTA wheels and rear louvers really set it off. I replaced almost all of the interior and painted some of it. I opted to keep the faded almost white carpet for now which goes well with the wal-mart floor mats. The engine bay is daily driver dusty and that's the way I like it. Everyone once in awhile when I get a wild hair, I'll dust it a bit, but quickly grow bored of it. The engine bay is basically stock, even the smog pump is still hooked up and works fellas with the factory cat. It gets washed once a month, otherwise the rain washes it off. It does clean up well though.

 

The good news is over the last year I've greatly improved access for people to play in COTM so you should be able to find a slot in the future if you're interested.

 

QwkTrip - Keep up the great work, it's much appreciated

 

You've put a lot of thought and effort into this. It's appreciated. It's always good to see activity on the site.

 

There are definitely some cool cars here, but.....TABBOO's blue 87.....OMG......can't.....stop.....staring.....I've seen so few TA's in that color. So few in fact that I wasn't positive it was a factory optioned color. Wow. Amazing. ...and original owner to boot!

 

Finally! I just happened to pull the Car out last Saturday to wash the garage dust off of "Staci" for some pictures for this COTM... I've been trying to bring her up to true COTM specs, but I'm happy with where the car is for the most part.

I got Staci on trade for a snowmobile in 2013. I had freshly mangled my back racing mx and wanted something to do for the summer since racing was off the table. At the time, the car was a T5, 305 Carb car. Wasn't fast, I figured no big deal just a nice car to cruise with in the summer and I won't mess with it much... Well, the "may as wells" kicked in and ended up with what I have now.

An LS1 with long tubes and a 228/232 TSP cam. Running the GTP injectors (32lb) Custom mandrel 2.5" dual exhaust with super 10s out the back... It is possible to build it on your back with the car on jack stands. Just under 400hp but I think I can hit 400 with a few small things.
T56 Trans with bronze fork pads, steel 3-4 fork and other similar upgrades.
My fuse block came from a mark IV VW. It powers all the engine stuff AND has a big enough fuse for my sound system. Nice simple solution.



Interior: Seats from a Saturn! Sound system is my first system build. I built the kick panel pods and the subwoofer enclosure. Kenwood Excellon head unit, a 5 channel amp, 10" sub. Nothing crazy but it is loud and clear enough for anyone.




Wheels are AR924 in 18". 1 3/4" spacers out front, and running an 02 LS1 rear end. I have LS1 brakes all around. I have a custom drive shaft in place since the stock one shredded on the dyno in 4th gear at 6000rpm... Which tore up the floor and bent the torque arm. So, I'll be pulling the interior back out to repair my floor... Which I had just fully replaced in 2018. Not happy.
Rear suspension is all tubular adjustable stuff.

My next few plans are new carpet, all new suspension/steering, possibly weight jacks.
It does need a repaint as I had a tarp garage fall down on it in a freak spring snow storm. Usually the car is in the real garage, but I had put it in the tarp garage to use the real garage to build my circle track car. I thought I had waited winter out, but it got me!
I did paint this car in 2014 in a garage on my own.

It seems this car just fights every thing I do to make it a better car. Eventually I will overcome, and some day it will be a truly COTM worthy car.

 

^^^ Hey! You have white carpet like me! Love how the gauge rings are recessed. Looks good.

 

some really awesome cars posted so far!
so tempted to enter my '84 project TA in this competition, but i'm leaning towards waiting till it's finished for an official COTM nomination.

 

Here's my 87 GTA. I've wanted one since I was 8. I had a K5 that belonged to my mother who I lost to suicide and I just couldn't drive the k5 without thinking about her. I traded it even for the GTA which was in poor shape. New carpet, 4th gen seats, painted the hood, lots of cutting and buffing on the rest, new injectors, new tank, all new brakes and suspension bushings. Have a new hawks spoiler just haven't got around to it.

 

This is what I basically started with

 

Not perfect but a good daily driver and a great 20 footer

 

1988 Trans am 305 TPI. Bought in 1990 with 18000 now has 173000. Still cruising with my wife whom I also found in 1990. Lol

 

Those are speedhut gauges in there. They couldn't have fit any better!

 

Are we still to second the nominations? If so I second this nomination!
I'd like to see more of this creation.

 

 

I thought so too. I would’ve like to see more project cars.I thought about entering my junk but I’m gonna pass....

 

And I thought...

I'm pretty sure there are a lot of projects to show off.

 

This is the only reason I posted the racecar. It gets alot positive attention, unless it's from actual 3rd gen/older die hard gm guys.

 

Mine probably fits this criteria, it has 172,000 on the odometer but it hasn't worked in the almost 4 years if owned it lol.

 

This is my 88 Formula (Story and more photos below).


This is the 4th Firebird I’ve owned (3rd Thirdgen, 2nd 88 and 1st Formula). I had sold my 95 Trans Am just prior to getting married, and my 88 GTA about a year later. This car came about after another conversation about getting rid of the Saturn we had at the time, when my wife chimed in with “What about another Firebird? What about a car you would actually enjoy driving?” That got the wheels turning and I started what would be about a year long search for an 88-89 5-speed Formula.

I found this one on Craigslist about as far away as you can get: about 2800 miles away in Alexandria Virginia. Would never have called on it, but it was the first choice color, had all the options on the ideal car list (T-tops, 5-speed, TPI, 3.45 rear disc 9-bolt) and only 72,698 miles on it (I am the fourth owner). The paint is a little rough and it does have some surface rust on the roof, but overall in really good shape. I even really like how the Cragars look, though I have never been one to care for aftermarket wheels on f-bodys. Could be a subconscious deal there as my Dad has the 15” version of the Cragars on his 67 Mustang.

I purchased the car sight unseen and had it shipped cross country to our home in North Western Washington. Even saved $100 on the freight by meeting the driver in Seattle (about an hour south of us). Since the Formula arrived nearly two years ago, I have put about 8,000 miles on the car and have started fixing it up. I have Replaced the sway bar end links with Energy Suspension components, added a TDS wonderbar, Pro 5.0 Shifter and Engraved Shift ball, ACC floor mats, replaced the cracked dash pad and fixed up the surface rust on the roof.

Plans include a paint job, new seats and headliner and the hope is eventually a LS1/T-56 swap. For now, I am just enjoying driving a Firebird and shifting my own gears again after about a 10 year hiatus. More photos below.

Just arrived in Washington after about 2800 miles on the back of a car carrier:

Getting ready for the older kids to get their first ride:

Pro 5.0 Installed:

Old floor mats/Cracked dash pad:

New Dash Pad:

New Floor Mats:

Sitting outside, coloring due to the high levels of smoke in the air from the fires this year:

 

My Camaro, 5.3 LS, T56 swapped.

 

so skinny, where the hell's yer car? keep wait'n to see it

 

Well, presently it's sitting underneath a very expensive car cover but outside covered in snow. The first time in the ten years since I picked it up as a nice roller that this has happened. (New old house to me and as of yet NO GARAGE!)
Best I could do are the build pictures and maybe a few of the broken bits. Dented door and all.
I was thinking of letting this subtly pass but then again there's been a real dearth of well used and beat up projects filing through this thread. I was expecting an avalanche of similarly well worn hot rods.
I've got few days before the deadline. I'll see what I can do.
Thanks for asking 427.

 

Well, let's see if I can't get a little more traffic moving through this thread. Like I said, I thought there'd be a deluge of projects and misfits on display.
So here's what a Coupe that might have had the chops to enter into the formal COTM a few years back but now looks like a better candidate for the 13th month competition.

The story: This is number 6 or 7 of the 7 or 8 Camaros I've owned. Some where very brief and were parted out. Others were built and developed and then later harvested for their best hot rod parts and moulded into the 86 Sport Coupe.

It started with a Craigslist purchase while on a golf holiday in Virginia. That's about 10 hours and an international border away from where home used to be.





After finding the car while on holiday, I returned with the trusty "Franken-van" and trailer to haul it home.

That's a 1986 Sport Coupe with a grenaded V6 but otherwise prime in terms of body and chassis condition . Dirty but solid.
It was stripped of the entire drivetrain, underside degreased and sandblasted as needed then repainted. Did the engine bay as well. The topside I deemed good enough. The 3/4 re-paint was in remarkable shape.


Off the the chassis shop to get it in the air and cleaned up. Added the Spohn SFC's at this point too.

Once back in my garage all the good bits were fitted, painted as needed and installed. Some of it came out really well.


LS brakes



Other shiny bits and the tried and true headers that were in the previous '86 IROC



The Dana 44 was another score from a trip to the U.S. Picked this up (in very used condition) from an SCCA racer and Dana employee in Indiana on one of my trips to Chicago.

That chassis was fitted with the engine plucked out of the IROC mentioned earlier. A 353 with modified but unported Vortec heads and a XR276HR provided a personal best and not since repeated the first time out to the track.


August 2011. Maiden pass. 12.75 @ 105.93, 1.74 60’.
DA: 2046’.
12.449 @ 108.551 MPH corrected.
This on borrowed ET Streets from the BBC 86 Trans Am

From that point on it was one step forward and one step backwards in it's evolution.
That engine gave way for a built 355 and aftermarket heads. Eventually a bigger cam and was hoping for even better results at the track.


355. 10.4:1. XR288HR. RHS ProTorker heads ported by AMS engines.

The result of that was a shredded torque converter. After the fresh install with the upgraded engine, a top end 1-2 shift at around 6500 RPM led to a big bang and then a transmission full of neutrals. It took some investigating but eventually determined that the splines on the TC input were smoked.
A new transmission followed along with the next step up in converters. But there were multiple build problems not the least of which was the issue that arose when my transmission guy mistakenly put $2500 worth of new GM and Sonnax parts into a Corvette case. Under normal circumstances I would have left the transmission at his shop to be corrected but this was a cross country deal. I had already moved at that time and got the trans while on a trip back home not realizing the error until installation day. That resulted in a rear trans mount that wasn't in the right place (Vette's have the rear mount in the extension housing and there's no provision for one on the case itself). This necessitated a Hooker crossmember and then a redo of the exhaust. That part has been on hold due to other issues.
I still managed to get a little enjoyment out of the package but things started to unravel.
Fragments in the oil.


Stuck to the magnetic drain plug


Pretty good indicator of where this came from using a spare cam as a template

The engine is still intact. Starts and idles like nothing is even remotely wrong. 3500 and up is a different story though.
That's the mechanical misgivings. There's also the presentation.
While I've have no pictures to share of the ugly side, take my word for it when I mention the now split dash pad and cracked windshield (both of which are the result of the first extreme winter storage this car had ever seen) are the first things you notice when getting behind the steering wheel. The new carpet and headliner are nice. As is the custom gauge panel.



All Auto Meter. I may have to address that silver bezel one day.

The drivers door got crunched courtesy of a runaway mini van. I have two pristine doors waiting for paint and prep but that's all on hold.
There's probably further tales of woe but all in all, it's been enjoyed, had the wheels driven off it, made more than one cross country trip, was reasonably quick for it's day, gets 24 MPG (Imperial gallon) on the highway and oddly plenty of thumbs up. Just don't get too close.
Mostly my handy work for the the builds and rebuilds. Farmed out the engine shortblocks for assembly. Same with the 2 or 3 transmissions. The chassis shop I've mentioned was where the SFC's were welded in. But the rest done in the garage.


The laboratory. Wish I still had one.

Plans are: New shortblock and exhaust and back to the track. Warts and all. Once the time slips come rolling in again, I'll address the appearance. Maybe even make a run at the real COTM.



Thanks for looking.
Now post yours.

 

My 1991 Z28
Built all forged 406ci with Dart SHP block, Accel Superram ported and polished, 80lb injectors, AFR 195 Eliminators, Comp 280 xfi 1.6 roller rockers, Scat 6.0 hbeams, Icon flat tops forged Pistons, Eagle forged crank, 88mm On3 turbo, Snow meth injection, T56, Spohn chrome moly driveshaft, QP Ford 9" rear with 3.50 gears.,Ls front and rear brakes, QA1 rear coilovers,, PA Racing front coilovers and K member.

This was the car when I first got it. It was kinda rough inside and out by my standards.



And after the build

 

Wifeys 1987 Iroc Z228
This car was a rust bucket when I first bought it. Pennsylvania car so floorpans were rusted out. Replaced floorpans, repaired rusted rockers and rear quarters with new sheet metal. Replaced battery tray which was rusted through and battery was hanging by the cables. Redid the entire interior with new carpets, seats, door panels, dash, and refinished interior trim. Stripped flaking clearcoat and wrapped the whole car in cardinal red Avery vinyl wrap.

These are before pics





And after pics

 

Here is my beater. I picked it up in the spring of 2020. Bone stock when I got it. I swapped out the CC carb and dist for regular, fixed up a few things to get it road worthy (brakes, sway bar links, wheel bearings, trans cooler fix, etc.) and drove it all summer. Next year it will get some love and much needed upgrades. For now, this is it.

 

This is still open another week for entries and voting.

 

Thanks to everybody that shared their cars and stories. Merry Christmas!

cmm7v3
soloc4
T.L.
scooter
kentuckyKITT
WTR388
Jbuchanan
88 TA
Crusader
RubberDucky
skinny z
pwdbychevy
nckid4u