Ok, I have been SEARCHING for a Camaro that is in my very small price range that was a stick shift with T-tops, and I found it!

1986
350
4 speed

The guy refuses to send me pictures (actually he is being a pain in my ***, totally not helpful.) but this is sounds like (FINALY) the car I been looking for. I was OK with a car that didn't run, or didn't run well, but apparently this one runs and drives.

Ok, now your all at the same place I have been. WTF IS WRONG WITH IT?! Well, the front bumper needs replaced as well as possibly one or two of the lights. I have replaced the bumper on my old old pickup, and that was simple, take the piece of crome off, go to a junk yard, get another one. This camaro has all the shock-absorber crap and stuff, how do you check damage to it, and how hard is it to pull that off of a junkyard car with the bumper? (I have never had my hands inside a newer vehicle)

The guy claims that the interior is "Showing signs of wear, but not all torn up"

Is it possible to see if the car body has twisted at all? Any other things to look for?

Bla bla bla.... I wouldn't waste my money on it, w/e, coments like that are not helpful. I know people that can help me with minor body work and paint, that is not an issue. I am not going to just save up till I can offord a better one, w/e. Manual T-tops are hard to find around here =/

 

Does sound too good to be true. Even at $400, I would be leary without at the least, seeing it. So many things could be wrong. Fame damage being one of them. If it is in too-too bad of shape, you could spend way more getting it in good shape than if you just spent a few more bucks for a car needing less.

Bottom line, without seeing it..... who knows. I guess you could always part it out if you were not happy in the end. IF he sends you pics, post them up. If it is close enough - go see it and snap your own pics to post up.

Good luck.

 

Its an hour and half away, I am going to look at it tomorrow, snap some pictures, any really important spots to get pictures of (problem areas?)


Also, I plan on test driving it, anything to look out for?

 

It definately sounds too good to be true. Whenever i have interest in a car, i ask all the questions. If infact this guy is being a ****, offer him an extra $40 to take it to the mechanic and get it inspected as if it were being safetied. Get him to mail, or send you a photocopy of the official form, check the date, check to see which garage it was inspected at, etc etc... if you really want, call the garage and confirm that they DID infact inspect the car. $400 is incredibly low for a 350, let alone and 86 with a 350 AND stickshift. Has this guy been selling the car for a while??? If so, others have probably passed up the deal for good reason. Ask him WHY hes selling it, see if you can find out what condition the frame rails are in, fenders, the strut tower braces, stuff like that. $400 isnt alot of money for a car, BUT its definately alot of money to throw away. Dont get caught up in something that belongs in the junkyard, maybe he broke something and is knowingly selling you a faulty car to make a quick $400??? Just be careful, sounds really fishy. The fact that he isnt being very co-operative says alot about the deal, the questions you are asking will probably have answers that will turn an AMAZING deal, into a NO DEAL!!! Which is probably why hes hesitant to answer. Buyer beware.

Just my 0.02, hope that helps.

EDIT:
You said 4 speed, im not sure if thats auto or manual, the 4 sp manual would be an interesting swap, so its most likely the direct bolt in auto. But still thats still really cheap. Maybe its just a 305?

 

I agree, I am not actually purchasing it tomorrow, just looking and taking pictures, possibly giving him some money to hold it for me till I can get my father, a professional mechanic (he just wants me to do the majority of the work my self) to come look it over and sign the papers.

The question I asking you guys is mostly where do I point the camera?

 

How are you so sure it isnt a 305?

 

Well, I havn't seen it yet, but that is what the guy said.

 

It's a 4 speed, in '86 - That's an automatic.
Don't give him any money to hold it, unless you are dead sure you're going to buy it, 'cuz you won't get that money back.
I don't think its going to disappear very quickly.

So, is it ratbagged? I'm guessing there's very little left.

Check if the suspension is worn out, like if it needs shocks/struts. Hell, bring your dad along if he's a mechanic.

Get a picture of the engine bay, one of the interior, the drivers view basically. The underside, from the tailpipe view. A view from under the drivers seat, towards the engine, if you can. etc etc

 

86 4-speed? Sounds like a 305 auto and a very misleading seller. If he's being difficult to a potentiaol buyer, what makes you think he's even telling the truth? $400 is still a good price, but don't rush into something with your hopes high. Check the floor pans where your feet go, check rear quarters near the wheels, check strut towers, check for a straight radiator support.

 

Definitely check for a straight radiator support since there is nose damage and always check the rear quarters above the wheels on these cars.

 

Did you see the car yet? Keep us posted. If you dont have problems with memory space on ur camera. Constantly keep snapping pix. Get a 360 degree view of the car. One of the roof, one with everything open, trunk lid, hood, doors, take a jack along if you can, raise it up at the diff and snap away. Anything that looks wrong, take a pic. Anything seems odd, take a pic, anything seems shiny and cool, take a pic. Try to read the casting number, take a wire brush, and also get the engine code. Wanna see how this turns out.

 

Well, I got one picture of it, then the camera lost battery power.

The thing was a piece of crap. Rust over the drivers side windshield, oder inside the car, 2 quarts low on oil, pieces of the interior just missing, and the clutch was just flopping around, no resistance. Both the front seats looked like the T-tops had leaked on them, then some one had spilled a cherry slushy on them, then puke on them, and then **** on them. Both tail lights needed replaced. The hood, front bumper, and both quarter panels needed fixed.

I was still considering it after sitting inside and seeing all the **** inside (pop cans everywhere) but the engine was two quarts low. I popped the hood, reached for the dip stick and there was literally ONE DROP of oil on it.

He wasn't there so I wasn't able to take it for a test drive, but at this point, I will offer him $200 for it.

Also, its a 5 speed. This guy was just retarded....
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I will post the picture i got later.

 

Steel,

For the sake of wasting your money, please save your money and try to find something that is more worth while that you can drive and enjoy right away. I hate to see you sink any amount of money into something thats going to take every dime you make to get it to what you want when there are better deals out there. Take you time and look around for something better. Remember every deal you pass up their is always a better deal waiting.

 

Ya, its just proving to be really difficult to find manual transmission F-bodys around here.

Also, in reference to another Ad I'm looking at, how much does it cost to put a clutch in one of these cars?

 

Where do you live btw? Manual Camaros are kinda hard to find but there are some out there. But just because they are hard to find doesn't mean you should buy up the first one you see.

Just what you described above, it would cost well over a few grand to fix it. You'd have to replace the entire interior, weatherstripping, and any panels that are damaged. It wouldn't be worth it. Plus you didn't mention how the underside looked or anything like that.

 

I never got to the underside, I gave up when it was out of oil.

I think I found a better deal already, Link
They said the interior is in "rough" shape, but its $700, and I just got paid

So, can you guys give me an estimate on how much weatherstripping and interior cost are? As I have said, I am mechanically inclined, but a wrench only goes so far all by its self

BTW, I live on the Seattle side of Washington, out in hick-ville.

 

hey that firebird from craigslist dosnt look half bad. that one looks like a better starting point than that toher camaro. just depends on if u wanna camaro or firebird

 

weatherstripping would depend on the car, aka if it's a t-top or not. You're looking at probably $400-500 depending on where you go. I know that alone the t-top weatherstripping costs $250 so you would also need door weatherstripping and hatch weatherstripping.

Interior is all up to you though. I've spent about $1500 I think on mine. But I switched colors. I went from gray to black so I had to get all new interior pieces. If you plan on keeping it the same color the cost would be less.


As far as that Firebird goes, can't tell much from it but if it's going for 700 I'd be weary of other problems than a new battery and clutch, especially if it's a 5 speed and a 350. Go ahead and take a look at it and take tons of pictures like everyone has mentioned. Don't give him any money yet until you have the whole story.

 

They didn't offer the TA in '87 with a 350 and a 5 speed so they probably did an engine swap at some point. Take a real ggod look under the hood and make sure they didn't hack everything up. If they butchered the wireing or emmisions stuff during the swap it could be a real headache getting it to run right.

 

Thanks for the update. I agree with the poster above, just pass on this one. You will spend a TON more than you really want to. Even more than finding a nice $2500 car somewhere.

Only way I would consider it is if I felt it would make a good parts car for my third gen and then I would offer him $100 to tow it away.

Good luck.

 

It's easy enough to put in a manual transmission, I wouldn't let that limit your search.

 

easy enough, that can mean alot of things... Easy enough with a couple jacks and a garage?

I mean, there are a ton of automatics around here, so please, more info would be good.

I looked up some prices last night, and if I was to replace all the seats, buy a dash kit (if its cracked) and new carpet, supposedly it would be about $600-700. I wouldn't have to do it all at once, $200 from now I could have a good running one seater, if that is indeed all that it needs.

Edit, that was in reference to the $700 trans am

 

I think that trans-am is good. You guys are a little off on ur prices i think. These cars are pretty cheap. If you find a car around $1500 thats a good start. Remember you can always bargain down, and with private deals, you dont always get what you paid for. But check to see if the car is solid. Frame rails, floors, and drivetrain.The rest can be fixed. If it runs, take it to a garage and put it up on a hoist. Stab the floors with a screw-driver. If it goes through, he has holes.

Ever go to swap meets? Alot of guys on here selling good used stuff. Weather stripping you could get cheap. Just gotta make sure you have a solid start point. Id say for the TA if you can. However, remember when someone advertises online, alot of othe rppl see it. So if it isnt sold yet, theres prolly a good reason. The $700 deals are usually a steel, when you see a car hiding in the bushes as ur driving by on a one lane highway, and talk to the owner that says, yea thats my car, its for sale i never use it.

 

im going to look today, i will snap lots of pictures,

Where are these swap meets you speak of?

 

Any news?

 

There is some 5-speeds out there. I bought a 86 Firebird 2 years back. They couldn't get it to run. I found it on the For Sale site on our web site at work. Called the guy and he was in my building. We went to look at on our noon hour. I bought if for $200 dollars. Took a trailer the next weekend to pick it up. It had a bad starter. I took a tire tool and hit the started and it started right up, Loaded it up, took it home and my son put a tune up on it. He was 15 at the time...He drove it for 6 months after he turn 16. We sold it to buy a 2nd gen Z-28. We still wish we would of just kept it and had fun with it.
I just bought a 86 camaro for $500. Drove it home. I am going to stripe it out and race it. So will have all of the parts to get rid of in the next week or so. It has a 350 w/350 turbo in it. After I take some picture's of it will have all of the parts on here for sale.

 

Well, so far no luck on a third gen, but a guy with a 79 trans am (manual with t-tops) got ahold of me. This is what he said:

"I have a 1979 trans am with a 400 4-speed 323 rear disc posi. Car runs, has been sitting, started to paint, lost interest. If interested give me a call at: ------------------ Dave"

I then confirmed it had T-tops, Im now awaiting pictures and then i will go look at it.

 

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Looks like it needs all new interior and probably new T-top seals, I know that it aint a third gen, but any of you got any guesstimates on the prices??

I don't know how much to offer him for it... My total funds currently stand at $850, so I know it will have to sit for a little while before I can get into Tip-Top shape. Any info you got would be awesome.

 

Steel, as a 17 yr old from washington state i have looked at my fair share of 3rd gens that were too good to be true. i can honestly say that i wouldnt buy one for under $1500 dollars around here. maybe 1200 or 1000 if u really find a good deal and are looking for a fixer upper. for that you should be able to find a rust free one. make sure you remember to take the t tops off and look under the hatch for rust. even check out the door jams and undersides of the doors. i will agree with you that 90% of the cars around here are auto. good luck

 

You guys are so lucky over there.
Where i live you can't get a third gen for under 5-6k and that will still need thousands spent on it to get it right.
A lot of the car's here have been butchered when the left to right conversion was done.
Just my 2c.

Jeff.

 

Well, I went out and looked at the 79 trans am, I decided I'm going to buy it. He promised to not sell it for two weeks while I scrape together the remainder on the money he is asking.

The hunt for an F-body has ended.

 

Nice find. Good luck on your project!!

 

Thanks

 

hey, do any of you know if seats from a third or forth gen will fit into a third gen?

 

4th gen seats fit in 3rd... and hmmm.. 3rd gen seats fit into 3rd. >.>;

 

this is a second gen car though... I typo-ed

 

Nice looking. Cant beat a second gen. I tried trading my third for a second but had no takers.

 

parts on those cars are expensive. by the time you have a decent version you could have bought a nice lower mileage 3rd or 4thgen. good luck with it but your getting into a big project.

 

Its really not all that bad. He had all the lights and door handles, and it runs fine. The only money it needs is the exhaust needs patched, and the seats need seat covers. The rest is just time...

 

well you can pretty much make any seats fit into anything if you ahve a welder and skills lol if they dont match up make a solid metal frame to bolt to the current holes and then bolt the new seats to