I need some advise on what to do about the underbody on a new project or just some general comments an my plan. And typing it out might help me decide what to do.

My car, that i did a major amount of work to last year, was stolen and totalled My own fualt in a way, it was too cold outside to put the viper in. Theres only two wires on a wall-mart alarm system. Damn them damn them all to hell.

I bought it back from the insurance company and put it aside for now. The passenger quarter panel is caved, hatch is shattered.

I purchased an 85 firebird a few weeks ago. I drove it home for $550, a bit too much. It had 300,000km, but on my first couple of inspections the underbody was solid, thats all i needed, an insurable shell.

I stripped it down already. took most of the interior, including carpet and dash to the dump. Most of the duplicate good parts are for sale right now. (If anyone in Sask needs V6 parts, e-mail me) I like my 87 Blue interior better.

It (85) had a recently rebuilt engine. I got 175-180 compression out of each cylinder. Almost as good as my rebuilt engine that I have in my wreck. The tranny is replaced it has " 84 Camaro r700" marked on it. This will pay for the car and some beer, it's all already on my garage floor.

I planed on restoring this one using my parts car but i'm finding bad things as I get deeper into this, and some good things.

Pro's

The front suspension is all new, I wouldn't have to carry over my '87's front end, I can just shelve the parts as back-up. The k-member is in perfect shape even though the oil-pan is dented in Still, I'm considering an aftermarket one, but have done 0 research so far - any comments?- , I know safty is questionable with a lighter wieght. The passenger door is in new condition, recent paint even though the rest of the car is rusty, the inner weather stripping on both doors is excellent. Passenger QP in very good condition, recently painted, looks like the pass side took a hit and was fixed proffessionally recently, shiny paint on one side, dull and rusty on the other.

$45 in bills and coins was found

Con's

Drivers door is unusuable half bondo and rust, both side's hinges need replacing. I have the parts
Dead things. Hanta-Virus
Rear suspension needs complete servicing. I have most parts.
I threw out what was left of the exhuast.

* Floor pan has a small rust-through, very fixable with fiberglass.

** hail damage on roof. I can use my hood and fenders.

**The bottom of the drivers quarter panel is more bondo than I thought and the shaped sheet metal part behind is rusty too, leaving hole you can see out through from inside the car (interior removed). I would say 10" of the bottom of the qp needs new metal.

*** The underbody rocker panels had new paint, deciving, i caved them in with my hands. The part under the door's needs to be cut off and new panels welded in.

My friend that did the body on my 87 wont be around for a few weeks. We can do all the structural stuff, is certified, and does work in his shop after hours for cash. He painted and put a new windshield in my 87 for $1000 using high-quality paint and having to do a fair amount of body work, but not like this.

I'm wondering if I should just pass on this car and find another cheap one for under $1000. Thats my budget for now, I'm looking for an insurable Firebird with a blown MPFI V6 motor, that way it's cheap, but not too old, not fast, not slow.

I want to get this car in great condition, and I have big plans for next year and want to keep this body in good condition. I seen a a GTA at the salvage yard, It had stereo theft damage, and no wheels, 110,000km, $800. This car will assimilate a similar GTA i plan to find and the 350 or the 307 I have (possible 329??), i plan to build the engine and get an aftermarket TPI or TBI whatever suits it. From now to the end I could see this costing $9000, the car would be an 85 v6 VIN so it would be worth only $3000 to someone freaky like me. $1200 trade in value.

Is it even reasonable to expect this car's body to last, at least 5 years after I get this fixed. I want it to hold it's value for a time, and not rust out.

Paint, windshield, normal body work, high quality paint would be $1000. He figuired it would cost me $3000 to fix my 87. Insurance repair estimates were $5500, I got $4200, buyback was $700 I have $5200 worth of parts and rebuilds into the car and I bet at least a 1000 hours of love.

I'm trying to save a few thousand on getting the acual car on the road and spend those thousands next year. Sound sane? I could do it, but hmmmmm.

Plan B Sell off all the Firebird crap except my perfect dash pad. I'd get maybe $2000 off the 87, right now stuff i have for sale from a previouse parts car, the stuff from the 85 total $1200 at cheap prices.

An 86 and an 87 GTA recently were listed at $6500 theres a newer low km one now for $10,000 from a dealer. I can see a decent 4th gen selling for that much. but that doesn't match my spare parts bin very well.

I could take out a loan for half the cash, I don't think real banks usually lend under $4000 for cars. something to check. or maybe use the Bank of Dad. Use the money from parts cars i have to pay for gassing a 350 over next couple of months. And enjoy my sweet ride.

I have as much fun working on F-body's as i do driving them. Easy to work on and parts are cheap and usually plentiful. I have another Pontiac to drive daily so, i don't mind too much being out of a Firebird periodically, especially in the winter. I like paying as I go too. What if i bought the gta and the original engine blew, I'd want to spend big $$$ building a 327/329 TPI. On second thought i'd bet id start schemeing that sort plan as soon as i got the gta.

My bodywork guy isn't around for me ask how much the 85's body repair will cost. what are some guesses on the cost of that much work at cash/after-hours prices. I can deal with the floor pan and swapping doors/fenders etc. I was prepared fix the hail damage, but rocker panels and new qp metal, i think, maybe are the last nails in this project car's coffin


I think, wait I know i am obsessed. My head hurts.


Comments, Suggestions??

Later, tia

 

If the dealer is asking $10,000 for that GTA, it must be in GREAT shape. If it is, I'd go that route. Rocker panels are the as much frame as anything on a 3rd gen car. When you start cutting all that rust away, you'll find MORE. You'll end up having almost the 10,000 in that car by the time you're done. Just my 02 though. That is UNLESS you're bored and have nothing to do. Good luck on your decision.

 

First, you're dealing with SGI, correct?

I'd really just sit and look around for a car with a decent body on it. Forget the engine, driveline, interior, just look for a good body. You should be able to find a decent body car for cheap enough. Now, between the car you will find, and your other 2 cars, you should be able to combine all your panels to give you a good set. Take those panels to your friend, have him paint them off the car. While the're off being painted, swap all the best suspension parts onto the project car, then put in the rest of the driveline. When the panels are done, mount them on the frame you've chosen, and be careful to align everything as best as you can. Now swap in the interior, and you've got a new-body car that'll be in better shape than that of a car you drove into a body shop with, since the panels have been removed.

I'd probably use that GTA as the project car, if it's in decent shape.

Sell off some of the other parts you don't need to help offset the cost, and you've got your beer money!

 

http://www.canadatrader.com/trader/r...4000&pa=4&pr=1

That GTA is seriously overpriced. For some reason when i wrote my last post i thought it was low km, but no. It'll need rebuilding soon if it already hasn't been done. It's two hours away from me, so it's not worth even looking at.

This what I've decided to do, what i should've done in the first place, except last year i was in no position to take out a loan, so I payed-as-i-went;

I'm going to wait for a decently priced GTA, it must be a black one with gold trim. It will be 305 TPI 5spd. I will spend $6000 on that idea including insurance ($600 -$750). Add $1500 for goodies: bigger amp, get a box to use both of my 10" subs (just happend to not be in the car when it got stolen, they took the cd-player but left the 6x9s that cost me more), more modules for my viper, if they still make em, a better remote start, cd-player, tint or louver the back window, and but on all new exhuast.

Sell off all V6 related parts. I've got $1800 into a preformance 2.8L, it'll hurt selling that cheap, but really insurance already paid me out for it and sold it back to me cheap. Use that money to upgrade the suspension with SFC's, etc.

I may have to hunt out of province if i'm going to be that specific, and want it any time soon. Damn, I'm kicking myself for not just grabbing the one i found last week, it was exactly what I want. But I didn't have the money rounded up.

Everyday, after work, I walk by a 89 gta black/gold, in mint shape. I really want it, it's not for sale though.

I'm excited, but it's proly going to be a long wait, these cars seem to apear and sell on a day I happen not to check around. And I gotta ditch the 85, there's too many cars here, even withe 87 in storage. It'll be very nice to have a V8 and t-tops again.

Ramble, ramble, ramble, at least here people kinda care, my friends are just sick of it , and right-fully so

 

Just seen the other post,

I've been looking for a long time for a decent shell thats insurable. Total loss cars need structrual inpections since last year. They cost $350 and you need alot of work done, every weld is checked, frame is tested and straigtend (more $$ if needed) and it's done in three phases.

That GTA I seen was in so-so condition and was sitting on it's rotors. It was at SGI, yes. If it didn't need that structural inspection, I'd be all over it.

I'll keep looking for shell, one very good thing is my 87 has mint interior. I'd be happy doing that, even though I'm on a Trans Am kick now. That can wait for next year.

So I guess i should get off my ***, and find some coil spring compressors so I can grab the front end including k-member before I sell the car as scrap steel. 300,000km, the rear end is probably done.

I feel bad about killing a drivable F-body, but it was this car's time to be restored or scrapped. And being a V6 with hail damage, it's future was grim anyways.

I tried that idea about taking the body panels in to get painted but was told it would be much easier for them to paint them on the car. I would take them off of the project car and sand, rustcoat, re-undercoat the wheelwhells.

Yes, I have a massive amount of parts for sale, lots of beer money If i was evil I'd go smash out someones windows, wreck the column, blow the engine, and offer to buy the car the next day, or sell em the the parts for $1200. Then do it again the next week. I have three hatches and two engines, about eight headlight motors from all years, a few sets of perfect weather stipping, two hail-damaged hoods, 1 good one, two mint dash pads, t-tops, cargo covers, steering columns. maybe i should list this stuff in the classfieds section. My ads didn't show up the autotrader for some reason, and I'm getting sick of looking at it all.

My garage is where firebird go to die