Hi to all, I have a86 2.8 5 speed plain janer, no power options, Silver with lower 2 tone black stripes, 180 thou miles on it. Needs paint and rust hole repairs in rear lower panel aft of tires, new carpets, all which I can do myself for free except part and materials as i have access to a experienced painter but no shop so it will a back yard job, but not looking for perfection just to improve the rust and primer currently on the body. Also needs struts and rear shocks. I just like the look of the car and is fun to drive and need some info to decide whether spend 2 g,s on it or buy a newer 95ish model on ebay for twice price. So Q.1 Do you think a 86 handles as good as a newer model, ( as i love the balance this car has in the corners even with shot shocks). 2. Upper windsheild/ roof has medium rust under the seal, has anyone had to deal with that before. 3. l/h upper shock tower has rusted right through when viewed from the wheel well. looks good under the hood. 4. does this car have aluimun heads as I keep blowing exhaust gaskets on the r/h rear as the rear bolt stripped a couple of years ago and required a thread repair and now leaking again. AS it has high milage I,ll probably need to rebuid it soon anyways but only drive it a few months ayear and never hard on the gas. I know this a long post with too many Q,s so mostly intereseted in first q. about handeling Thanks in advance

 

2 G's won't get you far in the restoration market, even if you do everything yourself. If you like the 86 model, sell yours, take that money and your 2 G's and go buy one in better condition. Look for an 87 so that you don't have that third brake light on your rear window.

Good Luck

 

I agree.

You'll be looking at close to $2g's just for proper body prep, and that doesn't even include the paint job. Sure, you could do it all for less, but in a year or two the patched over body work and corrosion will come through and the paint will look like crap, and you'll be starting all over again.
This equals short term money saved, long term money lost.
Plus there's all the other work that you'd like to do. Best bet would be, as Kevin84Z28 mentioned, sell it, pool your money, and buy a Camaro that's already in nice shape and/or one that someone else put money into. Let them take the financial hit, not you. You can still find really nice 3rd gens for not much more than what you've budgeted just to begin the modest restoration.
Plus you can raise the fun factor by getting the V-8.