Hey guys

I am about to buy an 84 Firebird. Originally a 4-banger, now a 355 Carbed. Anyways the car looks nice and clean. Great paintjob, TA clone, and no visible rust. The guy seems to take real good care of it. So I got a couple of questions:

Realistically speaking what are the cances of this car being rust free when its this old. Its stored in the winter.

Also another big concern is the wiring for lights, wipers, etc... Does wiring deteriorate over time (my dad is convinced it does) and did anybody have sudden electrical failure due to this on the older thirdgens?

Finally what would you offer for this car:
84 Bird (85-90 TA clone) - 150K on body
355ci Carbed, Ran a 13.8 at 110 (I think) -60K on engine
Worked tranny with shift kit, cooler, 2800 stall TC - 30K on rebuild
3.73 Posi, LCA, SFC, body bounted torque arm, bigger sway bars, etc...
New paintjob, cowl hood, new rims, tires.

The only problem is the interior is shot and speedo doesn't work, plus the concerns I mentioned above.

So If anybody could help me out give me a ballpar estimate. I'm thinking around 4200$.

Thanks

 

If he's confident in his car, no hurt in taking it to a garage, gettin' it up on the hoist, and having a look underneath...also, wiring can deteriorate with time, but if it DOES it's usually easily fixed, simple do it yourself job...I'd wait for some replies from more experienced 3rd gen members first, though.

 

my wiring is fine.....an old guy had my car...no rest on the body and its a wisconsin car

 

I've had my 1984 Trans Am for over eleven years. The only two wiring problems I ever had was the fuseable link down by the starter. I blew the fuseable link twice (in 1991, and in 1998.) Other than that, I've had no wiring issues.

As for rust, my Trans Am has had only minor rust that formed when an ignorant mechanic in Florida stuffed plugs into the drain holes of my spoilers and I didnt catch it. Dirt piled up in there and it caused a rust hole about the size of a fifty cent piece. Other than that, there is no rust other than a couple dime-sized surface rust spots that are just beginning to show up. My car has 17 1/2 year old paint, by the way.

I cannot help you on what a car with a fast engine like that is worth: It varies by season and location. Around here, I couldnt even sell my T/A for $3900, and it has a PERFECT interior. Thus, the 4-cyl. T/A clone (which is probably missing the good stuff like springs, swaybars, and fast-ratio steering box) would price much less, I would guess.


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Daniel Burk
View my third-gen hobbyist performance page!
View my reader's ride!
'84 Trans Am WS6/L69
KB SFC, Moser axles, Torsen Diff., Spohn Adj. torque arm,
Ported 305 heads w/1.94"intake valves, Comp Cams XE262H, Griffen alum. radiator,
Turbine Technologies 2500 stall converter, underdrive pulleys, Crane Hi-6 & more.
1.05g skidpad verified.
Best of 14.039 at 100.82 MPH in Stanton, MI
New!Full 1LE brake upgrade! Details at website above.

 

ws6transam you definately have a beautiful car, I saw it up at St Ignace this year.

As for wires going bad, I have a 1967 Buick Riviera that has the original wiring, I have had no problem with the actual wires in that car, the only "Wiring" related problem I have ever experienced is how they attached the wires going thrugh the firewall. They are getting a little brittle, but not bad enough to change. Thats completely different than that clone T/A.

My 83 T/A 7 83 Camaro both have perfect wireing, as far as I can tell.

As far as rust I would look underneeth, The rear axel will undoubetly have some rust, just because GM seems to have failed to paint them in the factory. Look at the front suspension, the rear suspension these WERE painted from the factory...But you said he changed some of that...

Still look underneeth, like suggestd before... get it up on a hoist & take a look around.

Good luck

John

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G O D BLESS AMERICA

http://www.3rdgenformula.com
87 Formula 5.1 TPI Auto Modified (Yellow/Black)

87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK

14.8sec 1967 Buick Riviera
1990 Buick Riviera (driver)
83 Camaro
83 T/A

 

I have an 84 T/A (and recently sold the 83 t/a). I never encountered any major failures due to wiring. The only problems I had w/ the 84 was a fusible link in one of the taillight wires. Otherwise the car has been great. As far as the body is concerned, it does have minor rust in the "usual" thirdgen locations (lower 1/4's, and 1/4 lip) it is minor and easily repairable. This car has been driven through many NJ winters. Hopefully when the car was painted the correct procedures were taken to prevent/ stop any rust. It sounds like an OK car, but because of the interior I would only pay 3,000 for it (unless you really really want it )

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1983 TransAm *Sold*
1984 TransAm
1994 TransAm GT
1994 25th TransAm GT
1999 TransAm
1990 T-Bird SC
1971 Boss 351

Four TransAm's are not enough. Firebirds for all.

 

take a big a@# magnet and walk around the car holding near the body to see if its a bondo car

 

This is my opinion so don't get offended, but I wouldn't go near anyones backyard engine swapped car. Typically projects go one of two ways, either money is no object and the car turns out 100%, or money is an object and the car is cobbled together. If you can find anythign wrong with the car after a quick inspection, chances are its been cobbled. Regardless with as many original thirdgens as there are around, buying a molested car isn't worth the trouble. Also FWIW I wouldn't pay more than $3000 for any thirdgen earlier than 85 unless its in nearly mint condition with low miles and original equipment. For reference my formula with minor interior problems and 96,000 miles was listed at $4900 on the dealers lot when I bought it a couple years ago. As it was, I still haven't touched the engine at all and its been on several long trips and its run the 1/4 at 14.3 without having had any significant problems.

Keep looking, you'll find something that will work better.

 

Well...sounds almost like my car. I have an '83 TA...and it was somebody's project. It is a TA clone, with the oringinal functional powerbulge hood. It has black GTA rims on it. Umm...I am missing the side gfx...and I wanted to paint it. Mine has t-tops...which I bought the replacement weatherstripping for. I have a problem with the electrical. Most of it has been fixed. All the tail lights and signals were all messed up...but I had it all rewired...the only thing wrong is that when I press on the brake the right brake light lights up and the left doesnt...instead the front right parking light does. I was told it had to do with switch under the dash. I recovered the headliner in black...and I was going to buy the black GTA seats from you...remember????? Well...I couldnt since you had the split rears. Well...I bought a leather t-top holder...and replaced all the gray plastic interior panels with black ones from a '91 TA. It is my first car...and I decided that I would put the money into it...but realized that it would be a hassel to do since I will be going off to college soon. SO all I need to finish off my interior is a black back seat cover and a set of black seatbelts. Umm...my headlights are stuck up since the motors arent working. I replaced the original '83 tail lights with ones from an '88 GTA. The car has a carbed 350 in it...that needs to be tuned up badly. It has an edelbrock intake and a holley carb. The guy says it has a shift kit...but I dont know how to tell...I didnt really car at the time. Well....I am thinking about selling it. Make me an offer. I want to get a digital camera to take pics soon. I mean..my car does need work...and since you know a lot about thirdgens...or at least since most people can help you on here...then I would rather sell my car to you. I am only 17...and am looking for a TA that needs less money to fix it up...I wanted to paint it. But college may be a problem...depending on where I go. Well hopefully I get into Cornell University so I can go on to be a mechanical/electrical engineer...and someday engineer a car. email me at

jimbo1184@hotmail.com

James

 

Sorry Jims83TA, it looks like I'm going to buy this car. Good luck with selling yours, but I am also a 17 year old on my way to college who needs a nice car with very little engine work involved.

When I said interior is shot I meant it still has the stock instrumentation from the 83 4-Banger, plus all the essential gauges (temp, tach, oil pressure) mounted underneath. The seats are not that great either.

The underneath of the car looks very clean and all the suspension parts seem to be coated in some hard rubber (definetely not dirt) and the guy seems to have taken real good care of it.

Drew: The swap isn't a backyard job, he's got receipts from a shop that did it and the specs on teh engine, tranny, rear. The car is set up for drag racing and its obvious the guy knew what he was doing.

Thanks for the help everybody, I learned that teh wiring is prolly ok, and cnances are there is no hidden rust. I'm going to buy the car. I'll offer the guy 4200 for the car with the stereo included and see what happens...

 

ws6transam, your car is beautiful! I love your wheels, and for 11 year old paint, wow! Very nice!

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"I have the car, now I need a license!"
217 days 'till temps as of Nov. 7th! yeah, I'm only 14.
1982 Firebird S/E
sbc 307 with summit cam and lifters, Performer intake, 305 heads, quadrajet, all smog equipment removed, soon to be silver.