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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
A couple of weeks ago I was working on my T/A and forgot to fully latch the hood before test ride, needless to say after car went a little sideways after hitting second, at about 50 the hood flew up and bent the **** out of it along with denting the top of the fender, took a trip to Lancaster NY today to guys shop I found on ebay, picked up a clean fender, hood, and a set of hinges for $410 bucks. So now I gotta get some estimates for the paint work. I'm still sick from the damage but at least I'm headed back in the right direction. If anybody needs parts for a 3rd gen this guy has a ton of stuff.
It really is an amazing looking car, the blue just stands out on it.
Thanks for the compliment! It really is a nice color, I love this thing, I've had it for a little over a year now, wanted one so bad in high school, took me over thirty years to get one but she's all mine!
So I stopped at three body shops today to get some estimates, first two didn't want bothered and the third place was an old 3rd gen guy at heart, reminded him of his old 87, told me he'll have an estimate for me in a day or two. He just kept walking around my car and admiring it, I think he'll be a good choice.
So I stopped at three body shops today to get some estimates, first two didn't want bothered and the third place was an old 3rd gen guy at heart, reminded him of his old 87, told me he'll have an estimate for me in a day or two. He just kept walking around my car and admiring it, I think he'll be a good choice.
I agree with your choice. It sounds like he CARES about your car. That would make a HUGE difference to me, too.
UPDATE, The shop I've been waiting for an estimate from never did give me an estimate, called two weeks ago and he said he was almost done with it, stopped last week and his helper told me was out back of the shop cutting wood, told me he would have him call me, he never did call me, well I'm done waiting on an estimate from him, found a new shop today, 40 years in business, told me bring it in next week and he'll be glad to fix it for me. What an experience this has been! Hopefully I'll be back to enjoying it next month, just in time for summer.
You probly lucked out that guy flaked, imagine how long it would’ve sat waiting to actually get fixed if the estimate was taking that long...
That's what was worrying me, how freakin hard is it to do an estimate? He seemed promising at first but after a month of waiting I'm done. I've missed a lot of nice weather lol
If you would have stopped by our shop, you would have had an estimate written while you waited... I guess they do things differently in different parts of the country.
If you would have stopped by our shop, you would have had an estimate written while you waited... I guess they do things differently in different parts of the country.
That's the way it should be! Not many shops where I'm located, but finally be fixed soon!
Hey guys i have a 1982 camaro Z/28 with the factory hood, i want to go steel because the fiberglass is starting to split apart and it is cracked, any opinions on what looks the best, im leaning more towards a 2in cowl but let me know
Hey guys i have a 1982 camaro Z/28 with the factory hood, i want to go steel because the fiberglass is starting to split apart and it is cracked, any opinions on what looks the best, im leaning more towards a 2in cowl but let me know
You may want to start you're own thread to get an opinion, your car should have a steel hood if it's factory, fiberglass was never offered from the factory. Not sure why you posted in this thread lol, this thread is about my T/A and getting the front end fixed after a minor incident.
Sending warm wishes you get your ride all squared away, and better than it was. Make sure you’re happy with the repairs before paying in full...jus sayin. Keep us updated 😉
You may want to start you're own thread to get an opinion, your car should have a steel hood if it's factory, fiberglass was never offered from the factory. Not sure why you posted in this thread lol, this thread is about my T/A and getting the front end fixed after a minor incident.
Not to add to the hijacking, and this is going to surprise you, but ALL 1982 Z28's have factory fiberglass hoods. For real. Whether they're LG4 cars, or the Crossfire with the flip up hood thingys, they're ALL fiberglass. They even had their own under hood liners with an aluminum backing that was supposed to eliminate static electricity, complete with grounding straps. Here's a pic of my old, all original, 20,400 mile (at the time the pic was taken in 2018) 1982 Z28. Factory fiberglass hood. And if you look where the hood insulation is worn from the fan shroud, you can see the shiny aluminum backing from the insulation. 83 and 84 Z28's had steel hoods. You will never see a 1982 Z28 with a dented hood.....well, as long as it's the original hood. And, they are known to split at the seam where the top half meets the bottom half.
On the outside, they look absolutely identical to the 83-84 steel hoods. The 1982 Camaro Sport Coupe and Berlinetta hoods were steel. Only the Z28 got the fiberglass hoods.
Anyways, back on topic.....did you get your estimate yet??
Not to add to the hijacking, and this is going to surprise you, but ALL 1982 Z28's have factory fiberglass hoods. For real. Whether they're LG4 cars, or the Crossfire with the flip up hood thingys, they're ALL fiberglass. They even had their own under hood liners with an aluminum backing that was supposed to eliminate static electricity, complete with grounding straps. Here's a pic of my old, all original, 20,400 mile (at the time the pic was taken in 2018) 1982 Z28. Factory fiberglass hood. And if you look where the hood insulation is worn from the fan shroud, you can see the shiny aluminum backing from the insulation. 83 and 84 Z28's had steel hoods. You will never see a 1982 Z28 with a dented hood.....well, as long as it's the original hood. And, they are known to split at the seam where the top half meets the bottom half.
On the outside, they look absolutely identical to the 83-84 steel hoods. The 1982 Camaro Sport Coupe and Berlinetta hoods were steel. Only the Z28 got the fiberglass hoods.
Anyways, back on topic.....did you get your estimate yet??
Wow, never too old to learn something new, I never knew that! I don't know how I never knew that! Interesting info. Too be clear I wasn't upset about him posting in this thread, just thought he'd get more info and responses with his own thread.
No estimate yet but found a shop to do it next week, been in business forty years and specializes in older cars. Went with numerous recommendations I got from friends. Totally forgot the place was there. He was glad to do it, said he'd have it a couple weeks but will be done right!
Well it took FOREVER but it finally went into the shop today, should have it back in a week or so, as soon as it's done there it's going to a long forgotten buddy of mine that's pretty good with TPI and he's gonna figure out what my hesitation is when it's at operating temp. So hopefully within the next few weeks I'll be back on the road.
So, finally got a good hood last week, the hood I bought was white and I couldn't see the bondo in it, my body man ordered a used hood from Hawks and it wasn't to our liking so he shipped it back and they sent back a really nice hood, it was getting to the point where I was ready to just get a Harwood fiberglass cowl hood, finding a good stock Trans Am hood is a pain in the ***! I've been missing a lot of good cruising time, I've been putting a lot of seat time in C4, It not the T/A though, just something about a 3rd gen. Here's a pic of my C4
The ball is rollin now FINALLY! Got my estimate today $3458, adjuster coming tomorrow or next day. I can't believe what an ordeal this has been, I suppose it wouldn't have been such a pain in the *** if I wasn't dealing with insurance, but hey, that's why you pay the insurance bill. I can't wait to get back on the road and get them T-Tops out!
Well check is finally on the way, decals arrived and body shop is starting on the car Monday, I'm going to get quotes from Grundy and Hagerty for classic insurance, I'm currently insured with American Collectors and the customer service is horrible, emails were not returned nor phone calls, they are paying for the repairs but it was a complete ordeal, I had to get my agent involved to get things corrected. Anyone have any experience with Hagerty or Grundy insurance?
Well I've not bothered posting about this lately, getting a hood was a nightmare, the guy that's doing the work is doing a great job however he's taking forever, partially my fault for telling him to take his time and make sure everything fits together right, I guess he assumed I was in no hurry and pushed the limits of taking his time. I should have it back this week hopefully. So I've got no seat time this summer at all and pretty bummed about that. I'm still gonna have to figure out my hesitation issue, guess that'll be a winter project. Oh well I'll post up pics hopefully this week.
Thanks! Yes he did a great job! On a side note it's running way better with a new battery, not quite right yet but only acted funny on the first few miles and seemed to get better as I drove.
Originally Posted by DynoDave43
Look at the shine / gloss on that thing! Beautiful!
Thanks! Yes he did a great job! On a side note it's running way better with a new battery, not quite right yet but only acted funny on the first few miles and seemed to get better as I drove.
Very very happy!
Wow that's gorgeous! Did he put a fender and hood?
It could be the ECM was doing the relearn after disconnecting the battery.
Wow that's gorgeous! Did he put a fender and hood?
It could be the ECM was doing the relearn after disconnecting the battery.
Just a hood, he was able to save the fender. It's still not quite right, still has a hiccup once in a while, it's way better than before. Thanks it came out fantastic!
