Hey,

A local junk yard near me had a guy drive in a 1992 Pontiac Trans Am convertible with 140K. It is red with grey cloth interior and a black top. It also has the TPI 305 and a 700R4 and 10 bolt rear.

Here is what’s up. The car has some damage. It will need 2 front fenders, a new nose cone, one headlight, the lights in the bumper, and some minor body work (small dents and dings) on the rest of the car. The rear bumper cover can probably be saved with a tiny amount of bondo and some paint. The top itself looks in good shape with only a tiny bit of fraying on the left edge near the quarter panel. It has one missing cross lace wheel on the left front I am assuming it got hit right there in the corner and probably flattened the tire. The wheel might be in the trunk but I didn’t get to open it. It will need new carpet and probably seat. The dash pad is cracked and the center console is missing the lid. The bags are not blown. I looked under the rear and saw that one of the factory holes in the bottom of the rear frame was ripped open a little more either by a frame puller or a tow truck. There was no apparent rust except the usual stuff on the driveline parts.

The Manager said the JY owner was asking $1500 but I could probably get it for $1000.

Well let me know if you think it's a good deal or not!!
Are there some important parts I need to check out as well.
Nada lists the car a $4,000 low retail or $2,800 private seller in fair condition.

The manager said it runs and drives but could not tell me if the title was clean or salavage yet.

 

I would pay $1000 for it. Those early 90s trans am verts and kinda sorta a little rare. i'd be all over it like white on rice in a blizzard!

 

NADA knows nada. Buy it! Well worth it. Even if you part it out. Vert parts are like gold. I have a nice '89 RS vert -No title I want 3,500 and I will get it if I hold out. Buy that car!-Mike

 

is looking like I probably will get it. The wife gave me the semi OK for it. Please give me some info on what to look for as far as problems only convertibles have. I am pretty familuar with thirdgens but I know squat about the verts. I may need some parts too so If you guys know about some of the stuff I mentioned that would be great.

Thanx alot guys, It helped with the wife to see your support.

 

If you can save it ... go for it. Do you have any pics in the current condition? Hopefully you decide to fix it up instead of parting it out. Too Few Third Gen birds out there as it is.

 

I do plan to fix it back up for the wife to drive to the shows with my other bird. The only pics I have are on my cell phone.

I thought it was kinda odd to have grey cloth interior in a vert T/A. Is this uncommon or did someone swap it out?? How can I tell if it's an actual T/A and not something someone made into a T/A. It's got the T/A tail lights and vented hood. The stickers say T/A and it has a 120 speedo with tuned port injection.

Are the tops manual or power?? Any specific parts that T/A Verts had that other birds didn't, besides the obvious.

I am going tomarrow to get it so any info today would be appreciated.

If someone want a pic I can pic message it to them for analysis.

 

Probably just what it is, a TA vert with cloth seats, LB9, 120 speedo. Top is manual (all factory thirdgen verts are). The fenders are convertible specific, but you can modify the non-vert fenders.

 

If you'd like, send them to me and I can upload them to my photobucket account and post them for you.


Do you have the VIN? I just ran mine to double check and Carfax will tell you if it's a Trans Am based on the VIN on their free search. It said mine was, but came back with a TBI engine?? Definately the TPI and VIN shows F for LB9. Also if the 5th digit is a "W", it is a Formula or TA according to this site:

http://www.fbodydomain.com/VIN/VIN.asp


All the tops are manual. Real easy to put up and down though. As far as specifics, other than the obvious... I am mechanically declined, so I'll have to let others check in on that.

Hope that helped

 

Here are the pics from my phone. I was able to send them to my Email thanx to some help. Please let me know what you think.


madmax: Probably just what it is, a TA vert with cloth seats, LB9, 120 speedo. Top is manual (all factory thirdgen verts are). The fenders are convertible specific, but you can modify the non-vert fenders.


What is specific about the fenders on the 91-92 other than the ground effects?? What makes the vert ones specific. Also how do I modify some to work. I won't be able to find vert ones probably.

Anyway here they are.

 

wow!!yes,please save it!If I found that car in a local j/y I wouldn't be going home without it for that price with a tpi engine and all.looks like a real t/a.Please let us know how everything turns out

 

You are going to spend a pile fixing it. You won't get your money back out of it for some time. So if you're looking for an investment ... ehhhhh ... maybe. But if you're looking for the coolest T/A ever ... GET IT NOW!!!

 

Hey was that over in Mt Airy JY? Havent been there in ages...but good find id be drooling if i found that. I would have heard $1500 though and probably taken the tail lights and left though. Its sad but probably a fact. Id love to pick up a z28 vert right now and build off that but verts in general are very hard to find. For $1000 you could make that back in parts very easy, $1500 is pushing it for what the car condition wise is actually worth to bring back to life.

But that is cool, 92 T/A vert is definently an un-common car, and i think thats really cool that your going to save it.

-Steve

 

Not in Mt Airy. I will let everybody know how it goes tomarrow. I got the car dolly loaded up, the battery jumper and air tank is on board. After work I'm headed straight there. Hope it's still for sale. I called today to ask if the title was clear and he said as far as he knows it's good but he'll have to find it. Also it runs and drives. I didn't ask if it knocked when running or if it shifted out of first though. Guess I'll find out.

L8R

 

Thats the vert at ez pickins u pull it in baltimore.I saw that car last month.Wanted to buy it but had no way to get it home

 

Definately going to take some $$$, but it may not be that bad.

#1 - Top appears to be in pretty good shape besides that back window. It appears to be yellowed over a bit. I THINK there is some stuff out there that will clean that up for you, but don't quote me on that. If there isn't, a shop that installs tops should be able to install a new window for you for around $250 - $300.

#2 - Body work / Paint. Do you plan on making this a "show car" or a "driver"? I knew mine would be a driver, so I went with a Maaco Paint job on mine. I was REAL reluctant on doing it initially, but it came out pretty good to me. I went with the base / clear, so it wasn't the $300 job, but I had it done for around $1,300 which included a color change and painting the insides of the doors and hood / trunk. I knew I would never get the money back, so I couldn't justify the $4000 + paint job on it. I'm also assuming you'll be putting the front body panels on your self.

#3 - Definately lose the chrome fender things... My opinion.. they look like crap. That would probably be the 1st thing I would do actually

Those are all the cosmetic things I just noticed. The mechanical may add more cost, but I'm guessing you're going to end up with a decent TA Vert with just a few thousand in it. Gonna be a GREAT car when you're done!!

 

save that car!!!!!!

 

it looks a little rough, but I would have to agree with everyone else save it I know if I had a extra grand to spend I would be all over that

 

WELL,DID YOU DRAG THAT THING HOME TODAY?

 

ive been silently following this, and i really am curious to find out if you have her or not.. I'd of saved it if it were me.. that TA is begging for a good home.. lots of potential..


So.. update us!!!

 

patiently waiting...

 

He said it runs and drives.. .maybe he's out enjoying it as is.

 

Sorry to keep you guys waiting.

I don't have much to report right now. I went down there with dolly in tow and air tank filled. I got the keys to her and hooked up the jump box. It started to crank over but I got no fire. The fuel tank read empty. I don't know if it was truely out of gas or if there was no fuel or spark to the engine. The fans came on though like it was being put into diagnostic mode??? Anyway it didn't fire before my jumper pack got drained down completely by the dead *** battery. The short of it is I had the money in hand ready to go and the manager couldn't find the title. He called the owner up but he didn't answer. The guy told me to come back tomarrow and he would have the battery charged up and the car running and ready to go with title in hand. He said he would hold it for me until I got off work. So I have to make another trip down tomarrow to get her. I did get to look in the trunk but there was no missing wheel. So I'll be short one crosslace wheel. I have a line on some 16" Torque Thrust IIs though. I also checked the floor pans for rust and did not see or feel any. I took a better peek under the front end, the bumper bracket was mostly fine except for a little bend on the pass side. The engine and driveline seemed to be untouched. Not even an exhaust upgrade. Still has the crinkle bend factory pipes.

Oh yes the chrome Ghetto wheel moldings will be coming off along with the "AINT SKEERED" stickers on the lights. It did have an after market CD player but no face in sight. The center console was missing it's door though.

L8R guys.

 

If you decide that you are not going to purchase it, can you see how much they would want for the taillights. I need them for my 92 Trans Am conv. and would be willing to offer you a finders fee (profit) to purchase them and ship them to me if they were a reasonable price.

 

good info.. cant wait to hear the results today. im sitting here waiting

 

Yeah. What he said on the lights! I'll give you another 10% what he pays.



Kidding. If the wheels were all there, they and lights on that car alone are worth the 1000 bucks. Then again, only freaks like us would consider them valuable.

 

I would have taken the tail lights and stripped that car last month but the guy at the jy wasnt parting it out.He wanted to sell the whole car intact.

 

Well, it's a good thing they wouldn't let you strip it then. Well good for me anyway.

IT'S HOME!! I went there right after work again. I got the keys and hooked up my fully charged jumper box. I told the manager that the fuel gauge was reading empty, so he had one of the yard guys bring up a couple of gallons of fuel. They filled her up and I flipped the power switch on. I got in and hit the key a couple of times to prime the fuel system. I cranked it over and she fired up right away. It stumbled a bit but smoothed out shortly. So far so good, it runs!! I put her in reverse and she backed right up. I put it in drive and way I went towards the tow dolly. I loaded it up and strapped it down. I went back up to the office and paid my money. I got a receipt, but no title as yet. The JY owner could not find it so far. The manager said they were still looking for it and would call me when they find it. So, I got a car with no title right now. I trailerd her home nervously thinking I didn't strap it down right or something. I pulled it off the trailer under it's own power an parked it next to the other bird. Immediately I took off the ghetto chrome fender flare things. I also washed the months of dirt and dust off to reveal a very nice clean top with a clear plastic window. It looks much better now clean except for most of the front end being slightly mangled one way or another. I found that most of the bumper lights were fine except for the right turn signal lens busted.

So now I have to make a laundry list of parts I need to fix her back up. I also need a front wheel and lots of sheet metal.

Here is the V.I.N. # 1G2FW33FXNL217138
Here is how it broke down:
1= USA
G= GM
2= Pontiac
F= F body
W= Trans Am
3= 2 Door convertible
3= Manual belts Inflatable restraints
F= 305 ci V8 LB9
X= 1992
L= Van Nuys

I will have some pics tomorrow hopefully

Thanx for all the support
P.S. Anyone know how the top works??

 

That is really cool man!!! Congrats on pickin her up. Did he take $1k for it?

That is great though, good luck and get some better pictures up for us! Hit up Kris, i believe he has like 2-3 16" GTA wheels laying around. Let me know if you need any TPI parts.

 

wish i could find something like that, any 82-92 fbodys for $1000 around here are rust buckets. nice find

 

$1000 cash is what I had to give and all I got back was a yellow receipt..

Kris410 has the 16" GTA wheels?

Seve, I really need to focus on the looks before the wife has it towed back to the junkyard. I don't know if i'll be getting into the engine too much. Especially since I have the entire exhaust system off the purple bird. I would like it to have a L98 but I got no more dough. Exterior and interior are priority.

I really just need to find a good high school shop program that want to do the body work for me!!

Pics are coming soon. You'll be able to see her blemishes in digital clarity.

L8R

 

Great price on that car...cash talks when its in people's face.

Good luck with it, if you were closer id give ya a hand with it.

 

As promised here are some better pics. She looks a little rough up front but overall it will be nice when I'm done.

Please let me know what you think and if you have any parts I could use.

thanx

 

A couple more.

 

I'm glad that you picked up that car and saved it! (Not that I'm partial to a red 92 TA Vert or anything!!)

If you have any questions on it....feel free to PM me.

 

Dude. You got your hands full with that one.

Good luck!

 

Yup,

I'm thinking, front Bumper cover, fenders, front GFX, little body work and a Macco spray. She'll be pretty from 50'. Then a interior swap to black and some black painted crosslaced or new wheels. It shouldn't be too hard. As long as I don't have to dive into the mechanicals it should be ready by late spring. I have no garage you see! Send all donations to the Save a Vert Foundation. Cash and Money Orders accepted.

 

Late Spring?

That's ambitious. Let us know how we can help.

 

What do you mean late Spring??? He'll have it done by January!

 

whoa whoa....

Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. I am not going for a show car restoration. My aim is to get her runnig and driving reliably with a good from a short distance finish. Most of my work is replacing sections of sheet metal. So as long as I can find some replacements pretty much everything is bolt on. The rest of the body isn't bad so a little plastic filler hides the minor imperfections and a body hammer does wonders!!!

If you guys wanna help, keep on the look out for some parts for me. You know by the pics what I need probably better than I do. The hard stuff is gonna be the nose, a turn signal and some of the GFX parts the rest is pretty common. The mechanical stuff is cake for me, it's the shiney side I need help on.

Thanx for all the information and words of encouragement!!

 

Congrats on the purchase. Glad to here it's mechanically sound. Should be looking good by spring.

 

This link should inspire you. I've talked to Kevin several times. He's a great guy and has done and amazing job with his '92 vert! His car started out with worse accident damage than yours.

http://www.ms-fbodies.com/jade_ta.htm

 

1 of 663.

TOO cool man...take your time get it mechanically straight, then start looking for some body parts. The hatch or decklid looks a little tweaked?

 

THe Tail lights alone if in really good condition should fetch a minimum of $300 on ebay... $1000 heck yeah its worth it.

John

 

Better late than never to the thread, John?

 

I would so buy that car from you if you need to sell it down the road !!!!

 

Nice, looks like a twin brother to mine, good luck with the project, keep us posted on your progress.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2913386/1

 

While I appreciate the offer, I hope to keep her in the heard for awhile. I'm gonna put it next to the purple bird, maybe I'll let the wife use it on occasion.

Yes, I believe our cars were seperated at birth. It is identical, except yours looks good!! Maybe the interior is/was the same. I like what you did with the seats from a 4th gen in cloth. I am thinking of switching to black. I have the black stock seats from my Formula in the basement. I always liked black interior. It maybe hot in the summer though.

Here are some progress pics of the body work I am doing myself. (cross fingers)
I wish I had more knowledge on body repair to make it look real good. I am handy with a BFH though.

I didn't take any before pics on the front end fix and the hatch to trunk alignment. The rear bumper pic is still waiting to get fixed. I also have to fix one crack in the fiberglass wrap around spoiler.

Thanx again for the support. Let me know if you wanna help??????

 

You are a brave man! I have two '92 T/A verts (one is a WS6). I have been looking for a trunk lid, side and rear spoiler pieces, seat belt guides, the piece that goes under the dash/steering wheel area, mechanics for the top, etc. for almost three years with no luck. And when you do find a part you need, you pay out the whazoo for it! The front end damage you have is the easy part to take care of -- the interior and rear end are another story altogether.

I wish you lots of luck on getting her back together and please if you find a goldmine of parts, keep me in mind or I might be parting out one of mine.

 

good save.. keep us updated with your progress. congrats man! and dont get discouraged.. youll maker her purdy again.

 

Looks like a great project. I will definitely be checking up on this thread. Lets see you get this thing on the road already...