I just bought a '85 Trans Am, 5.0TPI, 4-wheel discs, t-tops, it runs but has a high idle, a bad intermittent shake in the front end, othewise the body is nice, it has faded paint, and some surface rust above the rear wheel opening, but other than that, the body and floors/shock towers are nice. I paid a 1000 bux for it. any thoughts on this? also is there production figures on the '85 T/A somewhere? I'm a lot more familiar with Camaros, but this is only my second Firebird (17 Camaros) Thanks, Chris 95 Z28 convert, '87 Camaro conv. 1 of 263, '80 442, 92 Mustang 5.0 LX conv., '85 T/A , '06 Solara

 

As long as it stays together for a few weeks the price is right. There are LOTS of cheap TPI cars out there. I gave $500 for a 86 T/A LB9 WS6 hardtop. Worked great for two days before it chunked a rod bearing. After two engine swaps the transmission went out. After 3 used 700R4's I sold it for $2000.

 

THere is an 85 TPI T/A down the street that has been sitting for several years, its silver, but it no longer runs... It has the deluxe interior, TPI, A4, Cruise, Power Windows, Locks, hatch release, rear hatch defog... Its silver with the 2 tone silver & Gray interior. The problem is the engine has been rebuilt 3 times The original engine was rebuilt then they blew it up. THe second engine has now seazed and will not turn over... Unfortunately is not WS6, othewise I would be knocking on his door harder.... I will offer him $500 this spring, I need a hood, and the seat covers for another car.

As for the shimmy, have your tires balanced first...

Sounds like you got a good deal

John

 

Yepper about the tires. Im sure mine have flat spots from sitting for soooo long on concrete floor with flat or semi-flat tires. Balancing wont fix, but new tires should.

 

Usually the flat spots will work out, the old bias ply tires were known more for this than the newer Radial Tires. Actually I have ahd cars sit for 3 years and they did not develop lumps in the tires...

John

 

Flat spots may or may not go away. If the tires were left unattended long enough to go flat, you can bet that as soon as they get some heat in them the belts will twist and/or break and you'll get violent shaking over 55mph.

 

My tires never went flat, that may be why I did not have a problem.

John