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Hi guys, new member here. I just got a 1988 Pontiac T/A for $500. Mechanically she runs great but does have some rust problems and I will be addressing it myself, love the t-tops.....been watching a lot of DIY on youtube about fixing rust making it look good again. Anyway here's a couple of pics of my new/old ride!
Last edited by 1988PontiacT/A; Jan 9, 2021 at 05:27 PM.
Reason: Title correction
I have an 89 twin of yours. Looks like a great deal from your pics. Good luck
Thanks, it's been running good so far...just changed the cap and rotor and put in platinum spark plugs and new wires. My fuel economy improved and it idles nicely now too.
Last edited by 1988PontiacT/A; Oct 11, 2019 at 10:38 PM.
this is definitely bad for it, you know that right? time for a winter toylet...
I have a different philosophy, nothing last forever so might as well enjoy it. It's been snowing lots here since end of september and so far with 150 lbs of weight in the back, good all season tires and sensible driving style for the road and weather conditions.....I haven't been stuck anywhere yet with it, knock on wood. I'm not obsessed with keeping the car as pristine as the day it came off the factory, I'm more focused on enjoying driving it day to day while maintaining it mechanically as good as I can but to each his own.
It's overall health notwithstanding I too drove my 1st 3rd gen through the winter. Unfortunately, one, I had an accident when I slid into a truck while I was making a right hand turn and two, after a repaint, I drove it to the U.S. east coast (from Ontario) with the nice fresh paint job. Mountain roads, snow and sand certainly didn't do the paint any good.
On the flip side, I picked up a beater 3rd gen Coupe, fitted it with four winter tires and taught my daughter a little car control while we slalomed in icy parking lots. That was her daily for at least a couple of years. Perhaps not so surprisingly, given that it IS a sports car (to some degree anyway) it handled very well in the snow.
Last edited by skinny z; Nov 20, 2019 at 11:17 AM.
Update! my car is now getting a well deserved fresh paint job and bodywork after driving it during the winter months.......I will be changing the insurance to collector's once everything is done and will just be driving it during the summer. Can't wait to get her back!
I'll be curious as to who you choose for your insurance coverage and how they handle the estimated value. I'm in that situation now however I doubt if my current provider would be receptive to an appraisal.
I'll be curious as to who you choose for your insurance coverage and how they handle the estimated value. I'm in that situation now however I doubt if my current provider would be receptive to an appraisal.
Hi, I work for an insurance company and we get about 60% off our insurance rate because I am a staff of the company. Why wouldn't your insurance be receptive to an appraisal? I mean if it's in good condition they shouldn't be.
Hi, I work for an insurance company and we get about 60% off our insurance rate because I am a staff of the company. Why wouldn't your insurance be receptive to an appraisal? I mean if it's in good condition they shouldn't be.
I'm not saying they wouldn't be necessarily but past experience says that unless the company specializes in classic or modified cars the conditions tend to be too restrictive (as in driving it across the country ) and the rates out of line. Companies like Haggerty (and one other specifically whose name escapes me at the moment) tend to be more flexible with better rates.
But working for an insurance provider would be the ticket.
I'm not saying they wouldn't be necessarily but past experience says that unless the company specializes in classic or modified cars the conditions tend to be too restrictive (as in driving it across the country ) and the rates out of line. Companies like Haggerty (and one other specifically whose name escapes me at the moment) tend to be more flexible with better rates.
But working for an insurance provider would be the ticket.
Oh I see, my company's only restriction as far as I know when a car is classified as "collector's" is that you can't drive it more than 8,000 kms a year.
Seeing as you're an employee the rates may not be relevant however I would be interested in how you went about and the results of your appraisal. If you wouldn't mind posting back, that would be great. If not, that's cool too.
FWIW, my round trip to Ontario (from Edmonton), which I've done several times in the hot rod Camaro, would burn up the 8000 km allowance in one shot!
Seeing as you're an employee the rates may not be relevant however I would be interested in how you went about and the results of your appraisal. If you wouldn't mind posting back, that would be great. If not, that's cool too.
FWIW, my round trip to Ontario (from Edmonton), which I've done several times in the hot rod Camaro, would burn up the 8000 km allowance in one shot!
Oh yeah that 8,000 would not last long for sure if you drive cross country a lot. I won't get my trans am back til June 20th and I'll get it appraised hopefully after that.
Just as a point of reference we have three cars, an RV and a house and it cost us $170 a month to insure all of it. The employee discount does help a lot when it comes to our insurance rates.
170! Yikes! One house (small), one 06 Tahoe (no collision coverage, just PLPD and comp) and the Camaro with comp only (it's in storage) is pushing $270.
Yep. Your job does pay dividends.
You guys wanna have comfortable insurance rates? Come move to Ontario. I'm 23, got my license on my birthday at 16, haven't had so much as a parking ticket, and still pay $300 per car for basic liability. It also just continues to increase because of (??)
Lived there for nearly all of my 6 decades. Insurance in Ontario was one of those things I tried never to touch. Even if it was a legit claim. I got stung once (on house insurance) so never again.
And Ontario has that delightful $10,000 fine, car impound and instant license suspension for 50 kph over too. Or did anyway. They're talking about that here in Alberta too.
Do they still crush cars?
Lived there for nearly all of my 6 decades. Insurance in Ontario was one of those things I tried never to touch. Even if it was a legit claim. I got stung once (on house insurance) so never again.
And Ontario has that delightful $10,000 fine, car impound and instant license suspension for 50 kph over too. Or did anyway. They're talking about that here in Alberta too.
Do they still crush cars?
No need to ask. Everything that makes life difficult for the average individual, we still have + some. My girlfriend was in a minor accident a few months ago, and even though she was deemed 100% not at fault, her premium went up from the already obnoxious $4K a year that she was paying.
Lived there for nearly all of my 6 decades. Insurance in Ontario was one of those things I tried never to touch. Even if it was a legit claim. I got stung once (on house insurance) so never again.
And Ontario has that delightful $10,000 fine, car impound and instant license suspension for 50 kph over too. Or did anyway. They're talking about that here in Alberta too.
Do they still crush cars?
if y'all think u have it bad, come try it in B.C...…
Hello right back at you. I'm a new member as from Calgary as well and just picked up a solid steel 85 Z28 with a ton of new parts. Friday Night dragged a 74 2nd gen in Calgary until they closed in 2011. I was a volunteer out there too. I'm planning a "sleeper" but literally just got the car into my garage and signed up on this board. Used to a member of the Nasty Z28 .com group and noticed Damon, the Rochester guru is still here and going strong.
170! Yikes! One house (small), one 06 Tahoe (no collision coverage, just PLPD and comp) and the Camaro with comp only (it's in storage) is pushing $270.
Yep. Your job does pay dividends.
Man...those are expensive rates. I would've had to pay those rates too were it not for me working for an insurance company and I have full coverage too for everything. Working for an insurance company don't pay much compared to oil and gas but the discount you get on your insurance sure does make up for some of it.
Old car and old engine are relative terms I would say. If it's mechanically fit, then go for it. My concern isn't so much the engine as the SBC is pretty tough but the automatic. In stock form the 700 is pretty weak. It'd be a shame to pin it at the track (or anywhere for that matter) and you end up with a gearbox full of neutrals. But I'm a racer at heart and I've gone through a few transmissions (the latest I feel is bulletproof with respect to my present and future power levels), a couple of engines and many engine parts, two differentials (now on my 3rd which like the transmission is now up to the task) and I'm in the process, albeit very slowly, of building a new shortblock. No Castrol for me until this time next year but I'm game for a 3rd gen meet when the time comes.
DRIVING it up to Castrol or the Hat is the long term plan. That'll be next year maybe when I start going on this thing. I am starting on it now but its a long way from here to there. Lots of research to do yet.
Rather than start a 2nd Calgary new guy string I'll just jump in here again.
Engine machinist when I wore coveralls. NAIT Industrial Heavy equipment Tech 1977. Grew up in Osoyoos and high school in Rutland which is now part of Kelowna. I had 2 cars when I was 17, 63 chev wagon and 66 Acadian Canso 283 4 spd and gears..
Fast forward to 2002 working for Cummins and built my 2nd gen. Ran it until 2011 when Race City closed. I was a voluteer out there as well. After I put AFR 195Es on it ran a best of 11:56 114.92 mph and 1.58 60 foots.
I did this video with music years ago and it was my pal who posted it to you tube, not me. Its a rush for anyone from Calgary and area that went to the Friday night heads up drags "back in the day".
hope it works. Thats my 2nd gen. if it doesn't work type: "race city camertom 2007"
Looked at a ton of junk before finding the 85 Z28 I just bought this week. The owner injured his hand and had surgery mid project. Amoung the "extra" parts: Complete brand new in the box interior, new control arms and panhard bar w/poly, very good overhauled 305 (which will be gone next spring replaced by a 350).new door and window mouldings, new hardware, complete new exhaust and it has excellent Heddman hedders on it now.and much more.
I wanted solid steel and complete and sure got that. I wanted a 700r4 and an original QJet factory installation. I wanted a hardtop. Got all three. The car is a keeper and i will start by with completing the fender and nose and get it ready for a safety. Then I'll get to the suspension and rear axle. I'll stick with the 7.5 however it'll get good 3.73s, an Eaton posi, axles and a girdle so coupled with the automatic should handle a 350 hp 350...I think;-) I'm one of Damon Rochestor students from the Nasty board and have in fact raced a $25 wrecker Roch off an 80s pick and will run a Roch again. I plan a sleeper type street highway strip car.
Anyhow that's my plan and I already know joining these boards is a huge help when its my first 3rd gen. This is the 85 I just bought
Anything is fixable, and all the power to ya if you're planning on taking that on, but I'd personally consider finding a better car to start with. With rust that severe, there's no way the rest of the common spots are solid.
Anything is fixable, and all the power to ya if you're planning on taking that on, but I'd personally consider finding a better car to start with. With rust that severe, there's no way the rest of the common spots are solid.
What's the plan? Are you swapping the roof, or at least the windshield frame? I suppose you could patch those holes but it seems like way more work than just swapping a clean windshield frame on
What's the plan? Are you swapping the roof, or at least the windshield frame? I suppose you could patch those holes but it seems like way more work than just swapping a clean windshield frame on
He fabricated the pillars with metal supports to strengthen them.
RIght on. Sent him a message. Looks like he does some very nice work.! Maybe see your car at some shows in Central Alberta some time.
Yeah he's a really nice guy but you have to be patient because he does take his time with the cars that he works on to make sure nothing gets missed, he also own a home renovating business and with all the damage the houses here sustained because of last weekend's thunderstorm he's busy working on home repairs so he won't get back to my car til thursday but I know my car is in good hands based on his client references. On a side note, can I ask you guys something? what's your opinion on decals? should I put them on or just leave the car all black? He said it's really up to me and that if I changed my mind and wanted to put the decals at a later time I can still do so? so what do you guys think? All black or with the decals on? Thanks friends!
Did he cut out all of the rot and then weld that replacement piece, or is he putting that over top of the original metal? If it's over top, that's going to lead to a nightmare of trying to get the windshield to seat and seal properly, no?
