I have an 82 TA that I got from a buddy of mine cuz I thought that I'd be able to put a motor in and go, but now I'm getting a little discouraged as I am finding more and more wrong every time I go out to look over her. The T-tops are leaking a bit in the front, the glass on the doors doesn't meet up with the weather seal up by where the mirror is on each side, the floor boards are dented up from someone putting a jack in the wrong place, at the rear of the t-top where some type of Antenna used to be is filled with body filler (poorly at that) and the T-top strip down the middle doesn't look right, it looks like an off cut of metal put there as a quick fix. So after all that venting... Can someone perhaps tell me ways to address each item (door windows, weather stripping, getting the floor boards back the way they should be, getting the t-tops to seal right and how to replace that strip in the middle of them) I'd appreciate it, and fyi I don't have hardly any experience with body work, hence the title "to keep or not to keep" should I try to find one with a better body and sell this one or use it for parts? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Hey man, my opinion is keep the car and do all the work yourself. U will be amazed at how much u learn and how much that knowledge will allow you to help others on the board. Also it will make it so the car is exactly how u want it. Do a search on this site for each specific issue you have and I'm sure you will find exactly what you are lookin for. As for the t tops, they all leak, and a lot of ppl have fixed them. I suggest getting unique and do a "targa top", like what's on the corvette where the whole top comes off in one piece. Like I said and I'm not much help with the spefic issues just search on here and you will find exactly what you are looking for and once again I say keep it and learn as you go. It will mean a lot more

 

I am going to assume that given the year and the condition that you didn't give a whole lot for the car if anything. I think that it is definitely worth fixing up and that is probably what just about everyone on here will say because we don't like to see another bird die and hit the junkyard. It is just up to you whether you have the funds to support the project. The chances of finding a third gen car that doesn't have something wrong with it is very rare and if you do then you are going to pay for it. If you do not decide to fix it up, I am sure there are plenty of people an here that could use the parts, so you can make some money that way. Either way good luck.

 

hello, My two cents is to keep the car, and do the work that it needs for it to be right. As it's been said, you will learn a lot about your car, you will have fun as you learn and do the work yourself, you will save tons of money by doing it yourself, and you will see your progress as it nears completion of each job with excitement and a sense of pride.

Pick up either a Chiltons or a Haynes Manual for your year car. This will give you a great starting point, lots of specs for your car, lots of how to info, some pictures, descriptions, step by step proceedures, and it will act as a guide to help make a lot of things clear to you than they are now. It Does cover some body work as well, and it will be a big help to you I'm sure.

As was also suggested, look here among the many threads and you will get lots of insight from others who have already been there, done that, and they can help you to avoid some of the pit falls they went throuigh by showing you an easier way of doing it than the first time they had to tackle it. The people on this site are pretty cool and always willing to help out a fellow, ( or sister ), 3rd Genner owner along the way. Just take your time, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and have fun as you see your dream car coming alive.

Good luck with your build brother. know that when you;re done with it, depending upon what engine you put in it, that ytou'll end up with a car that can beat a Porche that will cost you much less than one, ( Porche ).

Camaro-454

 

i agree with what has been already posted.
if the car does not have significant rust/rot then it's definitely worth keeping. the few things you mentioned seem like they could be fairly easy fixes. like others have said, every third gen you find now-a-days will have issues. if this car only has the few problems you've mentioned then you are off to a good start.