What do you do with your first thirdgen that is rusting to pieces? I was underneath it tochange the clutch and now I'm almost crying (not from the 85lb tranny or the tranny fluid in my eye). The floorpanels are just about gone, I can see driver's side carpet, the panels under the doors have holes, the metal partof the hatch is held together with paint. I think everyone gets the idea... Now heres the problem(s)

it's my first car. I HAVE to drive it till it falls apart or until I can get another car (I estimate 2-4 years from now). It will last to get me where I need to go until I get some greens.

I'm quite attached to the thing. I keep imagining a new paint job, new doors, etc. I feel that if it becomes undriveable, I'll be forever tormented by the fact that my baby bird doesn't fly.

My dad seems to think everything can be replaced.... when he hits the lottery. Now, I've heard of patching up a frame so it holds, this might buy me a few more years, but at what cost? Or should I enjoy it while it lasts, and try to find another when it dies and part it out/keep certain things for the new bird. I see a small problem with that... I dunno how available 'birds will be during the timeframe when I think I would be able to buy another in good condition.

Heres what I was thinking of seriously doing. Buying another car when my current firebird dies due to frame issues/feet going through floor. Keep the bird, and gradually strip everything off it. Get the frame welded/retsored, and then gradually put it all back together. One problem, I don't think I am enough of an amatuer mechanic to do that.......... I wish i could throw money at the problem and change shocks as they go out LOL

I guess that was tonight's aimless rambling


EDIT: The engine runs great by my standards, which makes me a bit disgruntled too... Good running engine + falling apart chassis =

 

Take a trip down soulth buy a body out of the junkyard with no rust and transfer everything over to the new body, no more rust. I know I have seen at least 6 birds in the yards here in ga in better shape than the ones I have seen on the road up north, body wise. You are looking at around 500 for a good body.

just make sure you can register the vin on the used body.

 

Take your time. Study diagrams. Draw pictures and label everything you take apart. You do not have to be a master mechanic to do this. The engine and drive train part is the hardest thing.

Interior swap takes less than a day. Hatches and other body parts are about a couple hours each. You can give the car a new frame and body if you want. It can be done. Just be patient.

A third gen is not really a good car to own if you have 0 money and no income. So there is that problem. But what you want is very possible.

 

I have found that a camara works wonders too.. sometimes the pictures I draw I will say WTF is that... but pics are a good idea too...