This yr I was planning on putting down 8k on a 2002 TransAM. I wanted to get something new and reliable. Now the new car kick is out the way I thought about rebuilding the bird I already have.

Atm I have a 3.1L V6 1990 Firebird. I figure drop in a
305 for 2k (professionally done)
New paint 3k
New Interior 1k
Thats roughly 6k I've spent. Money isn't the issue I just really want to keep my 3rd Gen. Now my question is in rebuilding should I look for a different model better yr? What are some of the things you pro's look for and are concerned with when restoring a car?

Any help you can offer is greatly apprciated.

FYI I consider my car to have aged well

 

Dude,
I have a weakness for clean white thirdgens, that car is nice and I would invest in that one if it is sound. It's your money and if you enjoy your car as much as I do mine it's worth every cent you put into it as long as you can enjoy it.

 

OK im sure others will come in and say this, but here is possibly a better plan:

Dump that 6k into a mint thirdgen that already has a v8 and is in very good condition with low miles. Keep your Bird around as a beater/daily driver.

Im not gonna go into specifics but when my father and i purchased my car last april we payed alittle more than what your looking to spend on restoring your bird, and got a 92 heritage camaro in immaculate condition with 45,000 miles. That was from a NEW CAR DEALER no less (through a lot of negioatation though)...so a private party would have probably been cheaper.

 

I agree, sell or keep the firebird and get a low mile mint GTA. I would start off with the best platform possible and upgrade from there. In the end you'll be much happier you did.

 

I have to go along with the good advice already given. Your $ would be much better spent on a TA or bird with a strait, clean body already equiped with a V8. A GTA or a nice Formula 350 would be a great place to start. You should look around on the V6 board for someone who has done a V6-V8 swap and see how much they really spent on all the small parts to convert to a V8 especially if your having a shop do alot of the work. You'll see they really add up quickly and it always ends up costing more than you think. Unless there is some special circumstance where there is sentimental value(like you're the original owner of your car), sell it and by a v8 car or a cool TTA pace car.

 

keep your clean 6 banger bird as a daily driver and invest in a good IROC, you can't go wrong!

 

if you are going to do a v8 swap, why would you not go to a 350? It would basically cost the same and be much more worth it

 

I've done the V6 to V8 conversion. I would not do it again. It's nothing short of a complete pain in the ***, and in the end you will spend more money than if you just sell what you've got and buy a nice V8 car. I had my reasons for doing it at the time, but when I look back on it I realize there were better options I should have considered.