I found a 1984 T/A with original paint in AWESOME shape. 2nd owner, the first owner is his best friend. Has all paperwork including maintenance records and original financing. The body is good, the interior is very good except for a seat rip that looks like it can be sewn back and that leg pad thing on the center console could be replaced. Other than that, just typical 3rd gen things....hood struts etc. But everything else works and operates as it should. I will check next time for rust.

Okay, so the car is good. Now for a performance question.

It has a 5spd with aluminum drums in the rear. What kind of gearing should/could be in it? 3.42, 3.73, 3.08? It feels torquey. What codes should I look for next time?

The car has 87k original miles. It's in really good shape and the seller wants $4500. For the condition of the car and how little it would take to make it actually showworthy, is that a fair price?

 

The title says L64, I am guessing LG4? I bought an 86 Firebird, LG4, 5 speed, not the TA, in sounds like in similar shape. Interior not as nice, the old man that had it smoked cigars, drank coffee and had a dog, but good shape none the less. I bought it in 2004 with 36k original miles and all papers for $3000. They had 3500 on the window. Lots of people will say too much, but it was ok for me. I have had a great time driving it and working on it. Of course you know, do the exhaust first.

Factory rear gears in my car were 3.23 Look for the GU codes in the RPO code sheet. GU2 is like 2.73 and go up from there, the higher the number the lower the gear. I think GU5 is the code for 3.23 Check out an RPO decoder. Most GU axle codes on any year or make GM car are the same. Or try to find axle codes on the front pass side axle tube, or pop the differential cover and look at the #'s on the ring gear.

Overall performance will not be that of a TPI car or something with a built 350, but I got mine to run a 15 even in the quarter with headers, free or dirt cheap mods and an exhaust cut out.

 

A torquey original LG4? Probably 3.73 gears, but here are the gear ratio codes which should be on the build sheet:

GT4 1983-1986 3.73 axle ratio
GU4 1982-1985 3.08 axle ratio
GU5 1982-1988 3.23 axle ratio
GU6 1982-1992 3.42 axle ratio
G80 1982-1992 Limited slip differential axle
G92 1982-1992 Performance axle ratio

$4500 sounds a touch high, but really the question is is the car worth it to you? 84s are not hard to find, even in good condition, and the LG4 is no great shakes as a motor. However, if its really clean and would need very little work to be showable, you might not have a bad deal then. Love to see some pictures.

 

I think the standard was 3.23's and with G92, 3.73's. So it's certainly possible.

JamesC

 

Very few are in good condition anymore around here. So I'm more than happy to pay for something that is kept nice. The Lg4 may be a dog in stock form, but it's reliable and it's still a V8. It will do the job until a real motor is built. I'll get pics up if I buy it.

I noticed two little white buttons on the little strip below the gauge cluster, above the radio and AC controls. I didn't play with them as I was too busy looking over everything inside the car. Do these buttons sound familiar to anyone? They looked to be the size of individual telephone number buttons.

 

Rear hatch release, rear window defogger and sub woofer.

 

Did you buy the car?

I disagree with 87TAairlineyard regarding they are not hard to find in good condition. I think good, original condition ones are not so common anymore. The interiors get beat up, the rubber is usually shot at this point, they get dings and dents from idiots in minivans, if it's an east coast car it's likely to be rusty now... These things are typical of any car this age that has been driven normally.

Not saying they're impossible to find or were super rare cars to begin with, but mint examples are not so commonplace, imo. Not anymore. They, like any other car of its age get used up, rusted out, crashed, parted out, etc. They're dwindling, just like any other older desirable car does in time.

Or, maybe I just don't know where to look...

 

Not yet. I lied about the car being perfect, the passenger door needs to be re-painted. That's it. A lady backed into him and the corner hit the door. So the door has been fixxed and it opens and closes fine. Just needs paint. I'll check it through carfax once the refinancing goes through.

My buddy is really pushing me to get a newer Fbody. He says I've had too many 3rd gens and that I'd be happier in a 4th gen. So I took a test drive in a silver LT1 auto T/A. Runs awesome even with 2.73 rear and 100k. I'm tempted, but I think building a budget 350 Vortec Carb motor would be fun. I know these cars and can work on them. But driving that silver bird up the on ramp to see what she had, and looking at the beautiful silver 4th gen spoiler, made me feel like I was in an F14!!! LOL!!!!!

Anyway, the guy is going to take a pic of the RPO codes and a few of the car and I'll try to post them up here.

 

I may have overstated the case that 84s in good condition are common, but production for 1984 was the highest for all years of Third Gens, and at least here in NW Ohio, I still see a fair number of nice ones on the road or for sale in the local auto trader. I also see quite a number of rusted out hulks...

I always have had a soft spot for 84s- when I was a punk kid just out of high school, the local import automotive place had this nice 84 TA with the ground effects, L69, auto, hardtop and all the interior goodies along with the 85 TA 16 inch wheels. The paint wasn't two tone like so many others, but just plain white which just really showed off the lines of the car. When I purchased my current ride, I looked at several 84s but could only find LG4s. Anybody have production numbers of L69s for that year? I know there was like 1600 or so in Firebirds in 85, and very very few in 86.